(Trinidad Guardian) The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has moved to shut down a bikini party advertised to be held on an HDC compound in Arouca on Sunday.
Party officials of this weekend’s “Hula Cooler Bikini Splash” are now forced to have the party moved to another venue as a cease notice has been served on the one’s believed to be behind the La Vie venue.
The HDC, in a release issued yesterday morning, disclosed that the “unauthorised event”, is being planned on illegal structures at HDC’s reserve land, near Bon Air Gardens in Arouca.
It also stated that the Police Service has been notified of a highly-advertised event carded to take place this Sunday on a parcel of land owned by the HDC.
Guardian Media was told that after noon yesterday, officials from HDC’s security department served the notice at the venue.
The advertised event, which is scheduled to take place on October 27, from 9 pm to 3 am at “La Vie” has not been sanctioned by the HDC “and every effort will be made to ensure that this illegal event, does not occur as advertised”, according to the HDC’s corporate communications manager, Dike Noel.
The event, according to the poster, advertises two ladies on one ticket at $300; general $200 and at the door $250.
The dress code is “bikinis and board shorts.”
However, a party official, who could not be named, said that a contract was signed to hold the event at that particular venue and added that they did not know that there was an issue with the HDC.
The party official added that they were left confused as to why their party was singled out while many others went ahead successfully in the past at the same venue.
The official also noted that while they will be relocating the party to another venue they are currently in discussions with their attorneys.
According to Noel, over the last two years, the HDC has adopted a firm approach concerning illegal occupancy, trespassing and the construction of illegal structures.
“As such, due process will be followed in this matter to ensure that these structures are removed,” Noel said.
He urged all homeowners who are in breach and individuals who have decided to trespass and construct illegal structures on HDC-owned land, to do the right thing and remedy the situation before “the HDC resorts to its final position which is demolition.”
“The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has been notified and is expected to provide support and guidance in this regard,” Noel said.
Speaking to Guardian Media during a tour of Cyprus Hills, Union Hall yesterday, HDC managing director Brent Lyons said the fete was illegal and will be stopped.
“The HDC wants to advise the public that we consider it illegal to occupying the HDC land and we will be taking all action to ensure that this activity will not take place,” Lyons added.
Lyons said the HDC never permitted the organisers to host the party on HDC land.
Meanwhile, Housing Minister Edmund Dillon said he was unaware that the fete was being held on the HDC’s property.
Responding to complaints from residents about poor sewer problems and infrastructural defects, Dillon said he has been touring all HDC settlements since becoming Minister.
Saying he was seeing first hand the problems faced by residents, Dillon said the HDC will be addressing the infrastructural problems.
He noted that the contractors were on site and had already started replacing broken tiles and plumbing.
Asked what was being done to ensure that the work was done up to par, Dillon said the Ministry has put a 22 point quality control action plan to ensure that contractors meet the criteria.
“This has been successful in measuring the quality of work. We are addressing infrastructural issues as we find them and we will try to bring relief to the residents,” he added.
With regard to a faulty sewer at Fairfield, Dillon said this matter will be addressed in the next few months.
