Foodcrop farmers seek improved agricultural access roads

Some of the areas Ramkissoon listed for urgent attention were farm lands at Charlieville, Felicity, Bejucal, Warrenville and Cunupia.

“The access roads are horrible and farmers need to be able to have proper access to their farmlands, so they can get their goods to the market for sale. Even when they are planting they need to go to their respective gardens without any obstruction”, Ramkissoon said.

Ramkisson said the Commissioner of State Lands should ensure that farmers occupying State Land for Agricultural Purposes “be given some sort of guarantee in the form of a Lease, so that they will be able to continue their agricultural trade in a more positive way”.

On June 10 it was revealed during a meeting with the Minister of Education and Caroni East MP, Dr Tim Gopeesingh, at Todds Station Road, Talparo, that with respect to the distribution of agricultural land, 23 farmers were given about 50 acres each of the citrus plantations by the previous government, three of which are currently being utilised.

The residents complained to Gopeesingh that the lands were not distributed to them in the villages of Palmiste, Longdenville, Caparo, Flanagin Town, Mamoral and Talparo, but to “outsiders”.

The villagers who attended that meeting had recommended that the present government review all leases, and invite other interested persons including former Caroni 1975 Limited employees and their families who are residents in the area.

Gopeesingh told the villagers that it was not a decision for him to make, and referred them to Bharath.