Rahael faces wrath of Caroni workers again

A NEWSDAY reporter and photographer were asked to leave a meeting called to advise sugar workers on the future of the Caroni (1975) Limited, at Sevilla Club, Brechin Castle, Couva, on Thursday. But not before Agriculture Minister John Rahael once again faced the wrath of hundreds of sugar workers when he attempted to justify Government’s restructuring of the cash strapped company.

The meeting, which started at approx 3.45 pm, attracted a large contingent of daily and monthly paid workers. The already restless group grew increasingly hostile as the Minister stated that, contrary to claims from “dissident forces”, Government “had no intention of shutting down the sugar industry”. “I also have no wish to politicise the issue, though I can,” he said, to loud “boos” from the disturbed crowd. Rahael took no notice of the heckling, and continued to outline the reasons for the restructuring of the company. He said by 2006, the protocol agreement with the European Union to purchase Trinidad and Tobago’s sugar at premium prices would expire, leaving the country without a guaranteed market. The crowd continued to mutter and the grumbling grew louder after Rahael announced that the company’s pension fund was undersubscribed by $300 million. He laid the blame squarely on past Caroni Boards, and after inviting questions, the Chairman, after consulting with members of the PR department, said the lone Newsday reporter was asked to leave the meeting.