Stop victimizing former sugar workers, Panday tells T&T gov't

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday on Monday called on the Trinidad and Tobago government to stop victimising former Caroni workers.

In a media release, the former Prime Minister, who is on holiday in England, said when the Manning administration shut down Caroni (1975) Limited in 2002, it offered the workers a severance package that included land for farming.

He said those lands were supposed to generate an income to help ex workers transition from sugar production.

"Seven years later, these lands have not been delivered, despite a court mandate to do so," he said in reference to a court ruling that ordered to state to honour its commitments and deliver the lands by June 30 last year. He noted that land for housing was also part of the compensation package.

Now the government is asking people who are to receive the lands to pay between $20,000 and $30,000 in fees for the land.

Panday noted that this is difficult for most of the people because they had been deprived an income and were barely able to survive. Now if they cannot meet the state's 90-day deadline to pay the fees they stand to lose the entitlement to it. He stated that this is unfair and a clear case of victimization.

“Now, having taken over 2500 days to deliver these plots, the government wants to give former Caroni workers a mere 90 days to pay for lands? This is downright unjust and insensitive for a government which purports to care,” the Couva North MP said.

Panday is also calling on the government to clearly state what assistance, if any, it will provide to recipients to help them build homes.

“It is my wish that you would give this vulnerable group of people an extended period of time to come up with the cash to pay for the lands. The majority of persons who were sent home from Caroni are breadwinners, who have mouths to feed, loans to pay as well as household bills,” Panday said.

“Stop the victimisation," he demanded.