More than 500 former Caroni (1975) Ltd workers collected their agricultural leases for two-acre parcels of land on Wednesday, 11 years after the company was shut down. The workers, 510 in total, were invited to a distribution ceremony at Rienzi Complex, Couva, where Minister of Land and Marine Resources Jairam Seemungal handed out the leases.
As his ministry prepares to celebrate its first anniversary this month, Seemungal boasted that in the past year over 1,500 leases were distributed to Caroni workers, with 4,000 more distributed by the People’s Partnership Government before that.
“In the past year alone, my ministry has located and given out over 1,500 leases. I want to apologise to all of you for the long wait you had to endure under the previous administration,” he said. He urged recipients to use their land to aid in bringing food security to T&T. “Make the best use of these lands. Those of you who are too old to work the land yourselves, employ the youths in your area,” he said.
“These lands, if put to proper use, can strengthen the country’s drive to diversification away from the oil and gas industry.” He added that 10 per cent of the land should be planted with local fruit trees, as children now do not know most local fruits.
“They don’t know what is sapodilla or fat pork. We need to create an environment where future generations will not forget where we came from.” He also sent out a warning to those squatting on land belonging to the former Caroni workers, telling the workers to take action against squatters. “Those lands are yours, because you worked, sacrificed and toiled for it. Do not let people exploit you, and prevent squatters from occupying your land. If you have to take them to court to get them out, do it.”
Workers glad for land
The T&T Guardian spoke to several recipients, who expressed joy over the distribution. Golin Ramkhalawan, 64, thanked Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Government for her lease. “I want to thank the PM. If not for her we would not get this lease today,” she said. She added that the land will be passed on to her sons-in-law, as she is too old to plant on it.
“I used to cut cane at Caroni, I work real hard in my life. But now is time to pass it on, I too old to plant anything again,” she said. Former factory manager Arjune Singh, 66, who worked at Caroni for over 43 years, said while the wait for the lease was long, he is grateful for the land. “It became a headache, waiting on this lease, but I welcome it now and I intend to make the best use despite any challenges I may face,” said Singh.