The West Landivar community was in an uproar; the area representative was opposed, so was the mayor, but the could halla that, because this weekend David Gegg moved ahead with plans to clear his sea front property in West Landivar. Residents expect that it is clearing the way for the marina they oppose, and they responded with swift legal action, getting a weekend injunction to block him. Attorney Tania Moody has been retained by residents and today she explained what they've done in reaction to what the developer has done.
Tania Moody, Attorney for Residents
"Mr. Gegg and his workmen were basically chopping down the mangroves. I immediately went out to the parcel and saw at least 60% to 70% of the mangroves already chopped down. At that time I called Mr. Wilber Sabido. He is the Chief Forestry Officer of the Forestry Department. I called and asked him if there
is a permit and what is the situation. He informed me orally that he only gave permission to trim mangroves. But cutting and trimming are two different things.
I informed him that the situation is that Mr. Gegg is cutting down all these mangroves. He told me would have come out there and nothing happened. At that point in time I advised the residents that it is time to file an interim injunction to stop this process. So I came back to my office and did the application, got the interim injunction before Justice Arana.
Essentially the interim injunction is in place to prevent Mr. Gegg and his workmen from cutting the remaining mangroves that are left at the parcel. It is a good thing it was in place because he did come back the following day with some chainsaws to cut down the remaining portions but the police was able to stop him.
The Forest Mangroves Protection Act section 5 says that you can't issue, the Forestry Department cannot issue a permit if it is contrary to the public interest. And for the past couple of months, the residents of West Landivar have made it national that they don't want the mangroves."
Moody and the residents will go to court asking for judicial review of the forestry department's decision.
