Farmers to get compensation 'within days' for crops destroyed by HDC

Farmers whose crops were destroyed by bulldozers from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) on Easter Monday will get compensation within the next few days amounting to about $1.5 million.

Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal gave that assurance on Tuesday. “I expect in a few days to have cheques processed and we will compensate the farmers for the crops lost...we are looking at $1.5 million for both sides, Pineapple Crescent and Egypt."

He said Namdevco determined the value of the crops that were lost. “We do not get involved in assessing crops,” Moonilal stated.

The bulldozing of the crops caused a storm of protests from farmers. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who was on an overseas visit to Brazil, had to intervene to stop the HDC action.

She ordered Moonilal and Food Development Minister Vasant Bharath to find a solution, which included compensation and relocation of the farmers.