Farmers accept government's offer of compensation for crops destroyed by HDC

Famers who suffered losses when government bulldozers wrecked their crops will get compensation based on the market value for the crops.

They agreed to that at a meeting Thursday with Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath and Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal.

Moonilal was in London when bulldozers from the Housing Development Coproationn (HDC) began mowing down crops at Mausica and Endeavour on Easter Monday.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had to intervene from Brazil, where she is attending the World Economic Summit, to stop the bulldozing. She said while she appreciates and understands the urgent need for housing, the government must give equal consideration to farmers.

She asked Housing Minister to consult with Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath to find a solution, adding that she is confident that the matter could be resolved in the interest and satisfaction of all concerned.

Read the story: PM Kamla halts bulldozing of farmers crops

Moonilal has distanced himself from the bulldozing, which he called "regrettable". And he made it clear that there is no question about choosing between housing and food production.

Moonilal noted that both are important for the People's partnership government.

The government also offered to relocate the farmers to make way for housing developments on the site. But the farmers have rejected that and want the Prime Minister to intervene on their behalf when she returns home from Brazil.

Moonilal told reporters when he left Trinidad to go on vacation last week, he did not know the HDC was going to clear the land so quickly. 

However he defended HDC CEO Jearlean John, saying she acted according to the HDC’s mandate.
 
Moonilal was apologetic. “We’ve always said we regret what happened. I wish it didn’t. Not wanting to be presumptuous or too full of myself, I’d say that had I been in T&T, it would not have happened that way—I don’t know.

“But the outcome may well have been the same, as those lands were earmarked for several years and farmers received eviction notices,” he added.

He noted that once served with notices, action was imminent and once served, bulldozing was a “logical final step.” He added: “There was no set date." He said he hopes Monday’s incident would never recur.
 
The Housing Ministry will pay the compensation for the crops.