EMBDC confirms new prison on Caroni lands

Meanwhile, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Christine Sahadeo yesterday gave the assurance that the transfer of the land to the National Security Ministry would not prevent Government from keeping its promises of allocating lands to former Caroni workers for agriculture and housing.

Newsday exclusively reported yesterday that National Security Minister Martin Joseph said on Sunday that Cabinet had approved the transfer of 100 acres of land which formerly belonged to Caroni to the Prison Service to facilitate the construction of “key facilities.”

Joseph did not explain what those facilities were or if a new prison was included.

In an interview yesterday, EMBDC executive chairman Uthara Rao told Newsday the lands are in the process of being transferred to the National Security Ministry and would be used to build a new prison. Rao did not say where the prison would be built, but sources claimed it could be in South Trinidad. Sahadeo subsequently confirmed that Cabinet had approved the transfer of the lands mentioned by Joseph to the Prison Service. However, she said the 100 acres in question were not part of the lands which Government promised to former Caroni workers for housing or agricultural purposes.

Sahadeo said since Caroni’s closure, its lands were vested in the State and only Cabinet could approve how those lands were used.

Sahadeo said in approving the transfer of the lands to the Ministry of National Security, Government made sure it would not prejudice the promise that it has made to former Caroni workers of lands for agricultural and housing purposes. Sahadeo said before the 100 acres were allocated, Government made sure the lands had not already been allocated for former Caroni workers. She also indicated that the lands did not form part of a matter in which 38 ex-Caroni employees have filed for judicial review, claiming the State had reneged on its promises of land for agriculture and housing. Those workers are being represented by former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and the matter will be heard before Justice Lennox Deyalsingh in the Port-of-Spain High Court on September 21.