Ex-Caroni workers go to court over land

FORMER employees of Caroni (1975) Limited filed an application for judicial review on Wednesday seeking the court’s assistance to acquire agriculture and residential lands, which were promised to them by Government as part of their Voluntary Separation Employment Plan (VSEP). The application, which was made by the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Rights Association on behalf of  38 former employees of Caroni Ltd, claims that a recent statement by Prime Minister Patrick Manning that the former employees “would not be given preference in accessing the lands,” was unlawful. The employees are claiming that no proper system has been put in place by Government or the recently created Estate Management and Business Development Company to ensure they are given priority access to the lands, despite the public statements and assurances made by the Government during the VSEP process.

The application, which was filed by attorneys Ravi Mungalsingh, Garnet Mungalsingh and Company, sought to have the court’s assistance to get an order granted to prevent the transfer of Caroni Ltd’s assets, and another order directing the Government to take steps to ensure that the former employees get the lands which were promised to them. In addition, they are asking the court to appoint suitably qualified persons to investigate the situation surrounding the workers’ access to Caroni-owned lands, and that the results from this investigation be submitted to the court in accordance with the Judicial Review Act 2000. In a press release issued yesterday, the organisation stated that this matter will be a test case for the 10,000 daily paid workers and 2,000 monthly paid workers who were thrown on the breadline in July. The workers will be represented in the matter by Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC, Darrell P Allahar and Garnet Mungalsingh.