The UNC chairman shared the platform with the Parliamentary representative for the area, Dr Tim Gopeesingh and Congress of the People (COP) deputy leader Prakash Ramadhar.
It was not a political gathering. Farmers and concerned residents had called a meeting to discuss the impending problem that the rail system would cause and invited the politicians.
The villagers are concerned because the government appears determined to take over their highly productive farm lands to establish a rail station.
They have complained that they have not been informed about anything and technicians have already been doing soil testing on their properties without the courtesy of telling them about it.
If the project goes ahead, families would have to be relocated and hundreds of acres of prime agricultural land would have to be abandoned to facilitate the railway development.
Warner said Persad-Bissessar was unable to attend the meeting due to other pressing commitments but he assured everyone that she is fully committed to standing with them.
He said she is prepared to file an injunction for every home that will be affected,
Warner also said Persad-Bissessar would seek full disclosure on the project from the government under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Gopeesingh told the meeting he has filed a motion for in Parliament seeking the adjournment of the House of Representatives on Friday to raise the matter for discussion.
He said Works Minister Colm Imbert has told him he has instructed the National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd to meet with the villagers as soon as possible.
Ramadhar, who is also a lawyer, pledged his party's support and told the meeting the state’s claim to their lands for public use could be null and void if lawyers can prove that alternative routes can be used for the rail project.
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