Meeting to discuss farmers’ compensation

This was revealed by Sheep and Goats Association president Shiraz Khan who also slammed statements allegedly made by senior HDC officials who described the farmers as being “greedy” saying the association is hoping Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar intervenes in the issue.

“We are still hoping the Prime Minister use her good office and call us because the agreement for the compensation was settled in the meeting with Minister (Vasant) Bharath and (Roodal) Moonilal,” Khan said. Moonilal, as Minister of Housing and the Environment, is the line Minister for the HDC.

Speaking following a May Day march by trade unions, under the umbrella of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN) through the streets of San Fernando yesterday, Khan who is also a FITUN executive member, said the association is baffled by the “greedy” remarks leveled at farmers.

“I don’t know where that statement came from as Minister Bharath said the compensation package has been finalised between the Ministry of Agriculture and farmers and that process has not started so we couldn’t understand where those statements that there are greedy farmers came from,” Khan said.

During his address to hundreds of workers who engaged in the May Day march, Khan said the time for a public apology from Moonilal had passed and instead called for either Moonilal’s suspension or expulsion from the People’s Partnership administration.

Khan also reiterated that farmers would engage in a massive demonstration tomorrow at Woodford Square in Port-of-Spain as government seems unwilling to discuss the issue with farmers.

“If they don’t come to us tomorrow (today) we will show resistance on Wednesday. Power lies in the streets of Trinidad and Tobago right now,” Khan said.

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"Meeting to discuss farmers’ compensation"

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