Compensation for two retired farmers

The matter was heard by Justice Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell who ordered the State to pay the sum of $96,741.66 to the two, representing damages, interest and costs. According to the statement of case filed by the retirees’ attorneys Abdel and Shabana Mohammed, in settlement of the outstanding arrears due to the couple, and also as part of compensation for the closure of the sugar cane industry, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development, in April 2015, entered into a contract, agreeing to compensate them for unpaid harvesting of sugar cane in the sum of $86,809.01.

They were also promised that payment would be made in three tranches in 2015, and after having heard nothing further, they filed their lawsuit in April of this year. On four occasions, attorneys for the State requested extensions of time for the filing of their defence, and after having failed to do so, Justice Donaldson- Honeywell sanctioned the state, granting permission to enter default judgment.