Planning minister clears the air on erection of structure within PMA
|
|
|
Contact: Chris Satney
Monday, September 01, 2008 – Minister for Physical Planning Honourable Richard Fredrick has concluded that the construction of a residential structure within the Piton Management Area (PMA) in Soufriere may not be in contravention of any laws.
At a much anticipated press conference on the matter last Thursday, the minister disclosed that an Alien Landholding License was awarded to erect the structure by the previous administration, and named Cabinet Conclusion 502 as evidence of his assertion.
The PMA is an area surrounding and including the Saint Lucian Pitons. The entire area is further divided in seven policy areas and the minister says not all seven policy areas which fall within the PMA are no-build zones
“So the assertion that the entire PMA is a no-build zone is a fallacy—that is incorrect. Policy number one for instance is protected from any sought of building save for enhancing foot access. Policy Number three, which is the policy are within which the current construction is being undertaken, permits development for tourism, leisure, resort related residential use and construction for essential navigation and infrastructure,” the minister explained.
The construction came into question after its erection was made public just over a week ago, but the minister is adamant what is in the public domain on the matter, do not represent the reality of what the situation really is.
For instance, the minister says, the plans for the structure, was submitted to the Development Control Authority (DCA) in November of 2006 and the Authority deliberated on it in June of 2007. Under law, he says, the DCA should have responded to the applicants within ninety days.
“It means therefore at the time when the DCA deliberated over the approval of this plan, for in excess of ninety days had elapsed, and the applicant could have deemed his plan approved and commence his construction at that point. I will venture to say the development would not have been deemed an illegal development. In that situation the most that could have been done is to serve a stop and enforcement notice on the individual,” said Minister Fredrick.
The minister says a stop and enforcement order was indeed served on the builders in March of this year. Subsequent to that the DCA filed courts charges against the builders, for a breach of stop and enforcement order.
World Heritage status was conferred on the Piton Management Area by UNESCO in June of 2004. It is felt the construction will compromise the status of the Piton Management Area as a World Heritage Site. |
|
© 2008 Government Information Service. All rights reserved. Read our privacy guidelines. |
