|
|
|
|
News from the Caribbean as of
|
Thousands of Tobagonians protest against foreign land ownership
Thursday, September 28, 2006
by Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad and Tobago Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Thousands of Tobagonians have formed a pressure movement protesting against the sale of land on the island to foreigners.
More than three thousand names have so far been collected by way of a petition from persons who want government to do something about the situation.
The group, calling itself "Sponsors of the Petition against Foreign Land Ownership", is striving to amass five thousand signatures to present to Prime Minister Patrick Manning on Friday.
Communities from Castara to Charlotteville have already registered 480 signatures, which the petition sponsors believe is an impressive response from the most affected communities in north-east Tobago.
Calls are also being received from Tobagonians based in Trinidad, who are willing to sign the petition.
The petition began circulating in a few churches on the island last Sunday. The petition team also held a public meeting on Wednesday at James Park in Tobago, in order to garner more support, before the document is taken to Trinidad, for additional signatures ahead of Friday's deadline.
The group is also calling for an immediate review of the country's Land Act. The protestors say lands are being sole "like hot cakes" at exorbitant prices to persons who they believe have not contributed sufficiently in an economic way towards the benefit of locals and development of the island.
Back...
Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed
 Printable version
|
|
