Ex-Caroni workers warned: Don’t use land for commercial gains

Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Minister Clarence Rambharat has warned people who may want to use Caroni agricultural plots for commercial use, that this could incur millions in property tax.

Speaking at a lease distribution ceremony at the ministry’s head office in Endeavour last week, where 423 former workers of Caroni (1975) Limited were given agricultural and residential leases.

“What a lot of people are now finding out is when you make private arrangements to buy an agricultural lease from somebody, I hope you know when you put that land to use that is not agriculture...you will be attracting a different cost,” Rambharat said.

He said if the land is kept for its original purpose, the property tax will be a lot cheaper. He warned that even using the land for agricultural and residential use at the same time will incur a higher rate.

“If you retain your land in agriculture, not only will your annual rental remain at agricultural rates but your property tax, when it arrives and it will arrive, will be on the basis of agriculture.

If you are doing agriculture and you mix it with residential and you mix it with commercial, your property tax will be valued on the basis of all three.

So for those who are selling agricultural leases and then knocking on my door because you want to build an airport, a hospital or this and that...do not waste your time and my time,” he said.

He said if people ignore the warnings and try to develop agriculture lands for other uses, the equipment being used to transform the land can be seized by the Commissioner of State Lands.

“I want to send a warning to people who are dabbling in the sale of agricultural lands, a little while ago I was on the Rivulet Road (Couva) and I saw three bulldozers clearing the land.

“I’m not a farmer like my colleague Mr (Avinash) Singh but I know you are not going to use bulldozers to clear flat land that was recently cultivated.

So I took a personal interest in putting a stop to it and I was happy that the inspectors who went there told the contractors that by doing something that the owner of the land was not permitted to do, the Commissioner of State Lands has the right to impound the equipment,” he said.