The UNC Alliance (UNC-A) is planning to take legal action against the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) for bulldozing farmers' crops on agricultural land in Spring Village, Valsayn on May 9.Farmers say crops planted on the disputed land were ready for harvesting when the bulldozers arrived.
The party is also planning to take legal action against police officers of the Tunapuna Police Station who were on duty during a protest last Friday. Spring Village residents were protesting the destruction of their crops and had blocked access to the farm lands.
The officers arrested South Valsayn/Carapo councillor, Kadijah Ameen, and charged her with "wilful obstruction of the free passageway". They also charged Spring Village resident Daniel Benny for using obscene language against officers.
UNC-A MPs have commended Ameen’s courage in the face of these charges.
Ameen showed up at a UNC-A meeting Monday night with a pair of handcuffs on her left wrist and told supporters the charge was false. She said she was just crossing the road when police arrested her.
She vowed to wear the handcuffs until the “nuisance” charges against her are dropped or until the dispute with the HDC is over.
Tabaquite MP and the Opposition Chief Whip, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, has written Prime Minister Patrick Manning pointing out that the HDC and police actions were “unconstitutional and illegal”.
He is also asking Manning to ensure that the farmers get compensation for the destruction of their crops and that they have access to the lands.
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