Thursday, February 28 2008

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FOR SALE: A file photo showing a 'FOR SALE' sign at the front of the historical Gingerbread House....

GOVERNMENT has assured it will attempt to “iron out” the legislative process under which a landmark property can be listed on a protected properties register, as soon as possible. But no specific undertaking has reportedly been given as to when the procedure could be finalised, leaving the fate of the Gingerbread House, which has been short-listed for protection under National Trust legislation, hanging in the balance.

This was the partial outcome of a meeting between Culture Minister Marlene Mc Donald and Vel Lewis, chairman of the National Trust yesterday afternoon. It prompted Lewis to call a special meeting of the Council of the National Trust at 4.30 pm yesterday, moments before a pre- scheduled lecture by Professor Bridget Brereton at the National Museum, Port-of-Spain.

But Newsday understands that up to 6 pm, key members of the Trust Council, were unaware of any such meeting planned for the Trust to make its next move.

The issue of what is the correct procedure under which landmark properties can be listed as national “properties of interest” has seen delays, amounting to years, to the process of the listing of several properties.

Some of these properties not yet listed are government-owned.

Others, like the Gingerbread House, are in the hands of private owners and are thus not subject to checks and controls which could safeguard against the inherent risks of such ownership.

The Gingerbread House was listed for sale on the American website craigslist.org on January 24 for an asking price of US$10million (TT$63million). Ann Marie Aboud, the agent involved in the sale, has since said the price will be more in the range of $45million “negotiable”.