Caroni Bill goes to Joint Committee

GOVERNMENT yesterday acceded to the demands of Independent and Opposition Senators to have the Caroni Vesting Bill go to a Joint Select Committee. Community Development Minister Joan Yuille-Williams announced the decision during her contribution to the debate in the Senate yesterday. However, Yuille-Williams stressed that it was this “brave and strong (PNM) Government” which took the tough decision to close down Caroni. She said that while the UNC government  recognised that something had to be done about the State enterprise, that administration was  afraid it would lose its political base if it shut Caroni down.

Referring to statements made by an Independent Senator about the empty public gallery, Yuille-Williams wanted to know where the former employees of Caroni were, as a bill which affected them was being debated. “The same people are very happy today about what has happened,” she said. “Nowhere have I heard of a separation package so good,” she said, adding that former Caroni employees were getting a chance to own a house, land, an enhanced VSEP and opportunities for training. Yuille-Williams said the Caroni closure was done with a human face.