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Cell tower still standing
Trinidad Created: 23 Jan 2007
DIGICEL has successfully blocked the Ministry of Planning and Development from removing its Cellsite On Wheels (COW) at Jerningham Street in Petit Bourg by obtaining leave to apply for judicial review to challenge the Ministry’s decision to force them to take down the tower.

The telecommunications company also obtained an injunction against Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis preventing her from removing the tower.

Unaware of this action, the State instructed officers from the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment to remove the COW on Thursday night.

When Newsday visited the site on Thursday, security guards stationed in front of the enclosed area where the COW is located, produced legal documents which they said were delivered to them during the day.

The document stated that on Wednesday, Digicel filed for application for judicial review before Madame Justice Judith Jones who granted the request.

A release yesterday by Digicel stated that in addition to the review application, the company also acquired an injunction which allows the COW to remain in its present location.

In a separate release, also dated yesterday, the Planning and Development Ministry stated attempts to remove the cell tower failed due to this injunction. The release stated that Regiment officers arrived at the site at 11.30 pm and were proceeding to dismantle the structure when Digicel officials arrived 15 minutes later and presented the injunction.

The officers were successful in disconnecting cables and other wires from the tower, the Ministry release stated, but they were unable to dismantle the COW. The release also stated that Robinson-Regis, up until early yesterday afternoon, had not been served with the injunction.

Nevertheless, the Ministry release stated that Robinson-Regis is committed to remove all towers, which do not conform to the planning Policy for Public Mobile Telecommunication Services.

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Source: NEWSDAY-Daily News Limited

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