45 ex-Caroni workers get leases

SEETA PERSAD

FORTY-FIVE ex-Caroni workers were presented with leases for two acre plots of agricultural land promised to them over 15 years ago. The presentation took place at the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries in Chaguanas yesterday.

Upon receiving their documents, many of the former cane workers lamented that the plots allocated to them are not suitable for planting or rearing animals. Some said it was a case of’ too little too late’ by the government.

“The fact is the government is moving very slow in distributing the leases,” Kartic Dass said, adding that he was given two acres of land at Mon Stewart which is some distance from where he lives in Cedar Hill Village, Princes Town.

Dass who worked for 23 years with Caroni 1975 Limited, said he is not happy with the location of the plot. “The area is not yet developed as there is no access road, no water supply or electricity.” He said from what he knows, that area will not be developed any time soon.

After 15 years of waiting, Dass said he was given a lease but is still not able to begin planting.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry, Avinash Singh who deputised at the distribution for an absent Minister Clarence Rambharat, responded to Dass’ claims by saying, “a lot of these complaints centre around infrastructural development of the land and the ministry and government is currently in court proceedings for many of these sites.”

Singh in distributing the leases said although quite a few of the ex-Caroni workers have passed on, those who are beneficiaries can take the documentation and do the development in investing in agriculture.