‘No grabbing for Caroni lands’

Amidst rumours of a scramble for the lands formerly utilised by Caroni 1975 Ltd, Agriculture Minister John Rahael pointed out that the Government is doing all in its power to ensure the equitable redistribution of the former sugar company’s 74,000 acres of land.

Rahael recently received a report entitled “A Framework for Natural Development: Caroni Transformation Process” which was prepared following lengthy consultation between specialists attached to the University of the West Indies and other organisations. The recommendations of the report include the publishing of a plan to the public outlining how the Government intends to restructure the company. The measure is intended to ensure the  transparency of all related activities. The report also points out the need for immediate consultation with displaced workers before any decisions are finalised.
The minister stated that the majority of the land will remain under agricultural use. The remainder he said will be allocated to housing, construction and manufacturing Rahael took the opportunity to reiterate the fact that the VSEP package offered to Caroni workers was the best separation package ever offered to workers in the country and highlighted the entrepreneurial skills and resilience of the workers in saying that he thought that they would be better off in two years than they had ever been before.