Municipalities are mere custodians of reserves

Dear Editor,
I would like to suggest that an urgent and serious investigation be launched into what obtains on the strip of state reserve land that is located on the northern side of the Aubrey Barker Road all the way from east in South Ruimveldt westward to way past Roxanne Burnham Gardens’ area.
This reserve area, which was developed after the canal was filled in, belongs to the state, and not the Georgetown Municipality, who are merely custodians of the area. It has, however, disturbingly been cut up and sold by operatives of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown to sundry business persons.
The Council had first proposed that parcels of this area be leased to car dealerships, so that they could showcase and display their vehicles, without the placement of any structures allowed. The next thing one observed, however, was that this land was being parceled out and sold to Tom, Dick and Harrylall; and structures began popping up, businesses that were unrelated to car dealerships.
Now an attempt is being made to take away the playfield that is extensively used by youths in the area, in order for it to be sold to a business entity. This ought to be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back.
The businesses operating on this reserve ought to be made to show what documentation they have that gives them the right to occupy these spots. They ought to say how much they paid, and to whom. The open spaces in our capital must be maintained as open spaces.
Something is extremely wrong at City Hall, where a ‘cabal’ there has embarked on a land-grabbing exercise has illegally converted the specified use of designated open spaces, and is profiting from the illegal disposal of these state lands into private hands.
This situation is reminiscent of the Farnum Field fiasco, the Bel Air Park playfield debacle, and the Lamaha Park ignominy.

Sincerely,
James Mc Onnell