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LAND FOR INSHAN
Govt approves 8.3 acres for Muslims next to Divali Nagar site
For $1 a year, the Inshan Ishmael-chaired Muslim Social and Cultural Foundation (MSCF) has been granted a 30-year lease for 8.3 acres of land at the Narsaloo Ramaya Road in Endeavour, Chaguanas.
The parcel of land is adjacent to the Divali Nagar site.
The lease to Ishmael’s foundation was finally approved by Cabinet last Thursday.
The Express understands that the note was taken by Land and Marine Resources Minister Jairam Seemungal three weeks ago but had met strong resistance from certain members of Cabinet.
Ishmael, a former high-profile member of Jack Warner’s Independent Liberal Party (ILP), was a vocal critic of the Government in his talk show Breaking Barriers on his television station Islamic Broadcasting Network (IBN).
He stopped the show last December after he said a contract was placed “on his head” and that there were threats to burn down the television station.
“Threats to me have been ongoing, but what happened was it never reached to the point of them saying ‘I will deal with you. I will deal with your children. I will have you kneeling on the ground and crying while I deal with your children’. It has never reached that level,” Ishmael had told the Express at the time.
The Express understands the division within the Government to approve the lease to Ishmael’s foundation forced Cabinet to refer it to the Finance and General Purposes Committee where it was subsequently approved last Monday and granted by Cabinet on Thursday.
Contacted last Friday, Ishmael explained that it was a “gift to the Muslim community” and not to him specifically.
He said he was aware that there was “objection by members of the Cabinet of Hindu background” but he remained grateful.
He said that the foundation had applied a long time ago for the land and expressed his thanks for its approval from Trade, Investment and Communications Minister Vasant Bharath, Seemungal and former national security minister Gary Griffith.
He sought to make it clear that this did not mean he was “bought out.”
“This land is not for me. It will benefit the community. It should in no way be perceived that I am a sellout,” he said.
“I know it is an election year and gifts are given but this is something long in coming,” he added.
He said he had long lobbied for the land for the foundation even while he was on air criticising the Government.
The fact that approval was granted while he was no longer on air or a member of the ILP on air is coincidental, he said.
He said he had hoped to resume his show on February 1 but was diagnosed with dengue and plans to restart after that were stymied because his sister, who has been in a coma for five years, suffered organ failure.
“It would be an inopportune time for me to come back on air but I hope to do so by the end of March,” he said.
He said he was aware that the land approval would be viewed sceptically.
“People feel it is to shut me up and buy me out. But that is not so,” he said.
He said he would also seek to rent the land out to host events and even political meetings.
Asked which party he now supported going into elections, Ishmael said he was at present “neutralised” and would lend his support to a party only after elections.
LAND FOR INSHAN
Govt approves 8.3 acres for Muslims next to Divali Nagar site
For $1 a year, the Inshan Ishmael-chaired Muslim Social and Cultural Foundation (MSCF) has been granted a 30-year lease for 8.3 acres of land at the Narsaloo Ramaya Road in Endeavour, Chaguanas.
The parcel of land is adjacent to the Divali Nagar site.
The lease to Ishmael’s foundation was finally approved by Cabinet last Thursday.
The Express understands that the note was taken by Land and Marine Resources Minister Jairam Seemungal three weeks ago but had met strong resistance from certain members of Cabinet.
Ishmael, a former high-profile member of Jack Warner’s Independent Liberal Party (ILP), was a vocal critic of the Government in his talk show Breaking Barriers on his television station Islamic Broadcasting Network (IBN).
He stopped the show last December after he said a contract was placed “on his head” and that there were threats to burn down the television station.
“Threats to me have been ongoing, but what happened was it never reached to the point of them saying ‘I will deal with you. I will deal with your children. I will have you kneeling on the ground and crying while I deal with your children’. It has never reached that level,” Ishmael had told the Express at the time.
The Express understands the division within the Government to approve the lease to Ishmael’s foundation forced Cabinet to refer it to the Finance and General Purposes Committee where it was subsequently approved last Monday and granted by Cabinet on Thursday.
Contacted last Friday, Ishmael explained that it was a “gift to the Muslim community” and not to him specifically.
He said he was aware that there was “objection by members of the Cabinet of Hindu background” but he remained grateful.
He said that the foundation had applied a long time ago for the land and expressed his thanks for its approval from Trade, Investment and Communications Minister Vasant Bharath, Seemungal and former national security minister Gary Griffith.
He sought to make it clear that this did not mean he was “bought out.”
“This land is not for me. It will benefit the community. It should in no way be perceived that I am a sellout,” he said.
“I know it is an election year and gifts are given but this is something long in coming,” he added.
He said he had long lobbied for the land for the foundation even while he was on air criticising the Government.
The fact that approval was granted while he was no longer on air or a member of the ILP on air is coincidental, he said.
He said he had hoped to resume his show on February 1 but was diagnosed with dengue and plans to restart after that were stymied because his sister, who has been in a coma for five years, suffered organ failure.
“It would be an inopportune time for me to come back on air but I hope to do so by the end of March,” he said.
He said he was aware that the land approval would be viewed sceptically.
“People feel it is to shut me up and buy me out. But that is not so,” he said.
He said he would also seek to rent the land out to host events and even political meetings.
Asked which party he now supported going into elections, Ishmael said he was at present “neutralised” and would lend his support to a party only after elections.
Curtms wrote:So d man with dem blue trucks forget him ???
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