Six Arrested and Fined TT$36,000 for Entering Protected Area in Caroni Swamp Six Felicity men have been collectively charged TT$36,000 for entering a protected area in the Caroni Swamp. This follows patrols by the Forestry Division on Thursday 15th May 2014 where the suspects were observed collecting oysters from the swamp. Upon questioning, the men revealed their identities as: Suresh Goolcharan, Ramlochan Goolcharan, Deoraj Goolcharan, Manohar Goolcharan, Kenny Rattan and Ramdeen Heraman, all of Felicity, Central Trinidad. The suspects were apprehended by Mr. Dinesh Ramkarran (Forest Ranger 1), Mr. Jagdath Ramgattier (Forest Ranger 1) alongside Mr. Azard Fyzool (Honorary Game Warden) in coherence with Section 8 (f) of the Forests Act, Chapter 66:01 “Any person who…enters a prohibited area, is liable to a fine of twenty thousand dollars if the act was committed in a Forest Reserve or State lands.” The Caroni Swamp, a protected Ramsar Wetland Site is the largest estuarine mangrove system on the island comprising 5,996.3 ha of mangrove forest and herbaceous marsh. The six men were taken to the Caroni Visitor Centre and then to the Chaguanas Police Station. They appeared before the Chaguanas Magistrate’s Court on Friday 16th May 2014 and they were charged as follows: 1. Suresh Goolcharan - $5000 2. Ramlochan Goolcharan - $8000 3. Deoraj Goolcharan - $5000 4. Manohar Goolcharan - $5000 5. Kenny Rattan - $8000 6. Ramdeen Heraman - $5000 All defendants have forfeited their boats and engines to the Forestry Division, to be auctioned and funds placed in the Division’s Consolidated Fund. The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) is urging all citizens to report such illegal activities including the hunting, consumption and distribution of protected animals using the Ministry’s Wildlife Hotline 800-HALT (800-4258). Notes to Editor § The Caroni Swamp is located 13o 30- 39’ N, 61o 25 – 30’ W, which on the west coast of Trinidad, 3.5km south west of Port – of – Spain. § It is developed along the banks of the Caroni River and its tributaries and is associated with wetland types which include freshwater and salt water marshes to the central section of which has been designated a wildlife sanctuary of 324 ha. § The Caroni River along with the Churchill Roosevelt Highway forms it northern boundary and separating it from the Laventille Swamp Area. On the east is the Uriah Butler Highway (formerly Princess Margaret Highway), which was built on reclaimed land from the swamp, on the west by the Gulf of Paria and on the south by the Chandernagore River. § Read more about the Caroni Swamp as a protected Ramsar Site: biodiversity.gov.tt/home/protected-areas-and-species/ramsar-sites/caroni-swamp.html
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 02:49:40 +0000
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