$3,400 Rent for Five Islands - Chaguaramas [PP/UNC]

Former CDA chairman speaks out: 'I am not bipolar' - Trinidad and Tobago Guardian

August 30, 2016

"I am not bipolar and I have not lost my mind. However, I have accepted my fate."

So said Anthony Pierre, who resigned on Saturday as chairman of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) after the board of directors said he had acted without its approval when he issued letters of comfort to two tenants whose leases from the CDA had been deemed illegal.

The two tenants were Fouraime Enterprises Ltd and Starburst Parks Ltd. Businessmen John Aboud, Richard Smith and Joseph Rahael are the directors of Fouraime while Dr Sree Venu Potluri is listed as the manager of Starburst.

Pierre said he was guided by legal advice.

Yesterday, Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis under whose purview CDA falls confirmed that its board has since rescinded the letters of the two tenants.

Robinson-Regis said Pierre issued the letters without the board's authority.

So really speaking, the park is located in an area where according to the law, it should not be," Robinson-Regis had told reporters following the tour with Pierre and a technical team.

Pierre had also disclosed that the CDA was also re-examining 44 leases given out under the People's Partnership administration.

"A number of those (leases) were entered into the week leading up to the 2015 general election. A lot of those leases were dated September 4 and 5. Even the day before the election, which was September 6, which was a Sunday... those leases were dated. The leases were finalised on those days," Pierre said.

He would now resume his responsibilities as a chartered accountant.

"In addition to that, it was not in keeping with the CDA's 1974 approved plan. Let me also state that there is a report by Senior Counsel Elton Prescott that stated quite clearly that these leases may be deemed illegal because they did not follow the process.

Govt seeks further legal advice on leases - Trinidad and Tobago Guardian

September 09, 2016

The Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) is seeking further legal advice on the 22 "illegal" leases issued under the then People's Partnership government.

This was confirmed by Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis

Rowley made the statement … that all leases entered into during the period 2014 to 2015 be "deemed illegal and null and void."

Pierre resigned on August 27, after the board said he acted without proper approval in issuing letters of comfort to Fouraime Enterprises Ltd (FEL) and Starburst Parks Ltd.

Fouraime chairman John Aboud who sunk close to $100 million in developing a water park in Chaguaramas said he had no intention of abandoning the project and viewed his 30-year-lease legal. Another businessman, Raymond Habib, who is setting up a safari park, also said he was not going to give up one square inch of land leased to him.

Five Islands still paying $3,400 rent: State addressing ‘illegal’ Chaguaramas leases granted by PP - Trinidad Express

March 02, 2019

IT HAS been 18 months since the of Five Islands Amusement Park in Chaguaramas, Trinidad has been opened to the public and yet it is still paying a monthly rent of $3,400 to the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA).

The sum of $3,400 was the initial rent negotiated when the lease, given to John Aboud-helmed Fouraime Enterprises under the Chaguaramas Development Plan by the People’s Partnership administration, was signed on April 25, 2014.

Five Islands, world class - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

August 09, 2019

Five Islands opened its doors on August 5, 2017 with attractions such as a ropes course, trampoline jump zone, go-karts, ice skating rink and an arcade.

Upon completion, Aboud said Fouraime will have invested $350 million on the whole park; $90 million of that has been spent on what's open so far.

Five Islands was the first of its kind in TT but with the opening of Skallywag Bay Skallywag Bay Adventure Park (Skallywag Bay) on July 14, consumers now have two adventure parks on the Chaguaramas peninsula to choose from.

Aboud also told Business Day they plan to market the park to the rest of the Caribbean and to offer special packages for guests of The BRIX hotel in Cascade – Aboud is chairman of Superior Hotels Ltd, parent company of The BRIX. The hotel, originally set to open in January 2019 has a new projected opening of the third quarter of 2019, likely either November or December.