A Call to All Residents WITHIN THE RADIUS OF THE ARANGUEZ SAVANNAH – Mt. Lambert, Mt Hope, Mt. D’or, The Villas, Petit Bourg, The Croisee, Champs Fleurs, San Juan Hill, Silver Mill, All Our Farmers, Our Vendors, Bushe Street, Aranguez / El Soccorro from the Eastern Main Road to the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Lovers of Our Aranguez “Open Green Space” Savannah…

The Ministry of Sports / The Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) are conniving (planning(?) to desecrate our Aranguez Savannah by trespassing on 40% of our open green space to put a Regional Indoor Sporting Facility, a Tennis Court and a Parking Lot for Sixty (60) Vehicles on property that was left by the Aranguez Estate Limited, by deed, to be used by the surrounding communities “as recreational grounds, to be used by the PUBLIC”. Their intention, from prior correspondence between the Estate and the Local County Council, was to continue a tradition that the Company had instituted and maintained for at least eighty years prior.

Property owners in the surrounding communities have identified several Reasons why this project must be stopped:

1. The Aranguez Savannah is “intended to be used as recreational grounds to be used by the PUBLIC” i.e. the surrounding communities’ unrestricted use; and NOT as a location for Thirty Million Dollar ‘Enclosed’ ‘Regional’ Sporting Facilities.

2. Increased Flooding e.g. in Mt Lambert and surrounding farming areas will result as extensive paved areas in the Savannah will prevent rain water from filtering down to aquifers below the Savannah and therefore will add significantly to existing flooding problems.

3. Too much Green Space will be lost. Such spaces clean the atmosphere of these closely built communities. Much research has been done on the value of open green spaces to human health and well being. The Minister of Sport should consult with his cabinet colleague, Dr Fuad Khan, Minister of Health on these facts.

4. Dust Pollution from increased vehicular movement in the area.

5. Noise Pollution for those people who live very close to the Savannah, some of whom are 70 – 90 years of age.

6. Security Issues - too many persons unknown in our communities will be frequenting our areas – some with criminal intent.

7. Too much space will be taken away from current and future Savannah users as our population continues to increase.

8. It will affect the aesthetics of the Beautiful Open Green Space that is Our Aranguez Savannah.