Growing food must be priority

THE EDITOR: To the Minister of Agriculture, I wish to draw your immediate attention to the long overdue (over 14 years!) wait for these two-acre agricultural State-vested deeds. Many have become ill and passed on and others now have become disenchanted and disappointed with further delays.

Please Sir, there are productive, agricultural-abled people who are also desirous to work these parcels. Surely you are aware TT’s food import bill is ridiculously high and the Government’s initiatives to reduce such by encouraging farmers to “grow local” should be our national paramount concern now! Your expert guidance from your ministrial office is stategically critical to ensure “food on our tables” now and for future generations! We must not allow ourselves to degenerate like our Venezuelan neighbours with our continued economic dependency on oil. A great president once said, “A nation that cannot feed itself is on the demise.” Of course since these are State-vested lands, all approvals must be given by the Commissioner of State Lands.

Please if possible, use your good office to expedite the transfer or assign the conveyancing processes.

Colin Ghouralal, Chaguanas