Arima councillor Linette Ramcharan has apologised following concerns raised over the extensive cutting of decades-old almond trees outside India Grounds in Malabar, acknowledging that too many of the branches were removed.
Her response came after a Malabar resident, Joel, expressed distress over the condition of the trees, which he said he and his father planted approximately 25 to 30 years ago.
Ramcharan explained that the work was part of a wider effort involving the councillor and the Disaster Unit of the Arima Borough Corporation to identify trees that could potentially become dangerous during periods of high winds as Trinidad and Tobago moves through the hurricane season.
According to the councillor, the almond trees outside India Grounds were identified for pruning because of concerns surrounding overhanging branches.
“The branches of the Almond trees outside India grounds were supposed to be pruned,” Ramcharan stated.
However, she acknowledged that the work went beyond what was intended.
“I agree that too much of the branches were cut,” she said.
Ramcharan also indicated that she was not informed about the extent of the cutting until after the work had already been carried out.
She explained that the original intention was to remove overhanging branches that could potentially break during high winds and cause injury to pedestrians or damage passing vehicles.
The councillor subsequently apologised directly to Joel for what occurred.
“I apologise to the man and sir please note that the intention were to prune the overhanging branches which could have broken and cause damages to pedestrians or vehicles. My apology,” she stated.
Joel had earlier contacted TG News expressing frustration and sadness over the condition of the trees following the work. He said the trees had been growing in the area for decades and were normally trimmed when necessary.
The councillor’s response now provides clarification that the trees were identified as a potential safety concern and were intended to be pruned rather than subjected to such extensive cutting.
While defending the safety reasons behind the planned maintenance, Ramcharan’s acknowledgement that too much was removed and her subsequent apology have addressed one of the central concerns raised by the resident.
