Farmers will consider alternative lands to grow food

Farmers whose lands were bulldozed by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) have softened their position and are now willing to discuss an offer to use alternative sites to grow food.

They initially rejected that one week ago. However, they met again with Food Production Minister vasant Bharath and Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal on Thursday to find a workable solution to the problem. They have agreed to discuss the offers of alternative sites to grow food.

The relocation proposal was again on the agenda and the farmers agreed to take it to their members and provide feedback following discussions on the matter.  

Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar acted as a mediator in the talks at at the Food Production Ministry between the two ministers and the farmers.

The government has rejected some of the demands of the farmers. These include the right to stay on the lands instead of relocation and an apology from Moonilal.

The Government is keeping its promise of compensation at market values for crops destroyed and is offering relocation to central Trinidad. It is also working on a comprehensive land use policy

The farmers plan to make a site visit on Saturday to the present farming sites that have been bulldozed and the areas suggested as alternative farming locations.

Shiraz Khan, one of the farmers' representatives suggested that a compromise approach is better than protesting.

"If we continue to march each day of this week and the rest of weeks ahead, you all will be suffering...we would not have money in our pockets and you will not have food," he told reporters.

He added, "I hope that wisdom will come between everybody to ensure that we have a win-win situation for both the farmers and the administration." However he said such a position does not mean that farmers are willing to give up everything. "We will continue to fight for our rights," he said.

Bharath is happy with the progress. "We want to ensure that the dialogue does continue, and we can come to the best possible resolution," he told reporters.

"There is obviously a need for housing in Trinidad and Tobago, there is obviously a need for the production of food; they are not competing interests, they are mandates for this Government," he said.

Moonilal is also pleased that the farmers are willing to look at their offers. He said he intends to continue the dialogue.