No justification for displacement of 10,000 of the nation’s workforce

THE EDITOR: Whether the government’s decision to cut back on the work force of Caroni Limited is politically or economically motivated is of little consequence.

However, whatever this government’s motivation to further displace 10,000 more of the nation’s workforce, there can be no justification for it at this time in our country’s history. If the government’s motivation is political, then it is the most diabolical politics played by the PNM to date. If it is economical, then it further emphasises the lack of imagination and intelligence to deal with the issues that face the people and economy of this blessed land. I must admit that I am not intimately familiar with the problems that surround Caroni and I am uncertain as to its current ability to service the $3billion debt constantly advertised by the PNM.

However, I do know this: UWI has a premier faculty of agriculture in St Augustine. It was, I understand, the very first faculty set up by Imperial College of London here in the West Indies and was the forerunner to the UWI itself. Students from all around the world attend this facility and take the latest farming technology back to their respective countries. Why then doesn’t the government turn to this facility for a viable solution to the sugar cane crisis? With the requisite will power, I feel quite certain that they could devise a way to produce a more economical crop that would yield greater returns. In the interim there is nothing seriously wrong with government subsidising the production of sugar in Trinidad and Tobago.

The USA subsidises its farmers as do other governments around the world. It is not like the farmers are on the job two hours a day accomplishing little or nothing. Whilst on this topic, I should also like the government to consider subsidising the farmers in other areas of the country such as Paramin.  These farmers have the potential of providing a substantial chunk of the food we consume, but they are seeing hard times for a variety of reasons, which should be investigated. As the USA takes the world to the brink of another war, it would be prudent to address the issue of self-sufficiency, instead of aiming to increase our dependency on foreign markets for food.

The retrenchment of 10,000 farmers at Caroni conservatively translates to the hardship of approximately 70,000 persons. Thus further deteriorating the delicate social fabric that now exist. All for short term gain. Government officials cannot continue to run our country in such a short-sighted manner. They shouldn’t be allowed to. It should also be noted that a company with a $3 billion debt says nothing in itself. Some of the largest conglomerates in this country and the world operate with huge amounts of debt, it is the basis of trade financing. What we must hear from the government is the projected income and expenses of Caroni and the value of its assets.  We must also hear what reasonable steps it intends to take to protect the jobs and livelihoods that depend on these jobs. Selling out lands directly or indirectly vested with the State wily nilly is unacceptable.  As citizens, we are all shareholders in any venue funded by the government and so the government must properly report to us the citizens. I await your report.

GARVIN  NICHOLAS Port-of-Spain