PM Kamla hands out residential leases; housing, agriculture will be top priority

The People's Partnership government on Friday did what the Manning PNM administration promised and refused to do - hand over residential lots to former workers of Caroni (1975) Limited, which the previous government closed in 2003.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar handed out the lands at a function in Chaguanas, noting that it is a continuation of her Government’s policy of keeping promises and delivering.

She made it clear that the lands are not gifts, but part of a negotiated settlement, which the PNM refused to honour.

"I remember standing in Parliament and demanding that they fulfil their legal obligations, and hearing repeated promises from their Minister of Agriculture that it will be done. And they kept breaking promise after promise," she said.

"And while they dillydallied, and spent billions on high rise buildings and to host world leaders, thousands of persons who had given their life to agriculture, and their families were left to suffer, without an income stream, and without hope.

"Some died, betrayed by the government of Patrick Manning and Keith Rowley."

She urged her audience to never let the PNM forget that "they lied to you." She added, "Do not forget that they ignored a court order to deliver the lands to you."

Persad-Bissessar said if the PNM had not lied and broken promises the lands would have been handed out years ago, creating a positive impact on agriculture and housing.

"We are here to begin the rebuilding of a community. And that is what today's event means to me. Your Government is committed to rebuild this Nation, community by community, town by town, city by city.

"I am proud to lead the government which today is delivering on the promises WE made to you," Persad-Bissessar said.

She noted that in the first year in government her administration was able to process the documentation for agricultural plots "and we were able to deliver to you, more than 3000 acres of agricultural lands for food production."

The Prime Minister said the plan is to distribute 4,000 residential lots, in the first instance. She handed out 480 Residential leases on seven sites:

• Cedar Hill (15) 
• Reform (207) 
• Mc Bean (65) 
• Roopsingh Road (65) 
• Sonny Ladoo (56) 
• Esperanza (5) 
• Picton II (67) 

"This distribution of residential leases speaks to other issues which are high on the agenda of this Government – job creation, business development, poverty reduction, community development and so on," she said. "The construction of houses in these communities will create jobs, small contractors, and spin off businesses...(and) breathe further life into these communities and by extension, the Nation.

She pledged that the agricultural sector will not be forgotten or merely paid lip service in this the 50th anniversary of the independence of Trinidad & Tobago..

"No longer will you, our farmers, be treated with disrespect. I believe that after fifty years of neglect, we now have an agricultural sector that is growing," the Prime Minister said.

She noted that during her visit to India this month several technical co-operation agreements were negotiated, including co-operation in the area of research and development in the agricultural sector. She added that this would complement and move forward the goals for the future of agriculture. These include:

• Restoring respect for agriculture, our farmers and the land 
• Affordable food on a sustained basis 
• Sustainable livelihood for farmers 
• A mixture of traditional and technology driven platforms 
• Regional and extra-regional joint ventures to achieve economies of scale and export competitiveness 
• Functional linkages between research and development and the sector to strengthen knowledge application 

She acknowledged the importance of housing but noted that food security is critically important to nation building.

"Therefore even as you embrace your new role as homeowners, I urge you to assist us in curbing rising food prices by holding true to your profession and plant a Backyard Garden in your new home," she said. 

"Housing, Agriculture and Food Security remain top priorities for my Government. We have committed ourselves to bringing prosperity to all citizens of Trinidad & Tobago...Today we move one step close to that goal."