Opposition accuses gov't of Caroni land grab

Opposition Senator Jennifer Kernahan accused the Manning administration Monday of a land grab when it closed the former Caroni (1975) Limited.

And she further charged that the government is intent on destroying the environment by taking 500 acres of agricultural land that should be allocated to former sugar workers and giving it to the Essar company to build a steel mill.

Kernahan was speaking on an Opposition motion calling on government to take funds from a European Union (EC) grant and distribute it to former Caroni (1975) workers.

The motion stated that the EU had made the funds available to ACP countries to make necessary adjustments following the closure of the sugar industry.

The government is on record as saying it has no obligation to give that assistance to former sugar workers since it is meant to make adjustments following the demise of the industry, not necessarily for those who worked in it.

Finance Minister Karen Tesheira told Kernahan the European Union grant was not meant to be given to sugar workers individually, but to Trinidad and Tobago.

She explained that the EU's documentation for providing the grant stated that the money was a "budget support", since the EU realised the closure of the sugar sector would have had implications for the economy.

She said it took a lot "guts" to shut down the company, which more than just a job and had indeed been a way of life for Caroni workers.

“Government knew generations had been involved in the industry and remained with the estates. It was part and parcel of who they were. It was not simply a question of pure economics,” she added.

Kernahan said the Manning administration shut down Caroni Ltd claiming that it was a drain on the economy but called that rationale “political myopia.”

Kernahan said Manning refused to acknowledge Caroni’s important contribution, its future potential and the pool of knowledge that existed within its workers. The decision was clear evidence, she said, that the Manning administration is incapable of sustainable development.

“The Government acted against the national interest in this issue. They just wanted to grab valuable land for friends and family—it was a big naked land-grab," the senator said.

The sugar company was bought by the Williams administration in 1975 and during its first year made a profit because of exceedingly high commodity prices.

Caroni (1975) Limited never made a profit after that. However, its operation was part of an enormous economic engine in the country, providing work for more than 10,000 people - sugar workers and farmers - who contributed to the economy through direct taxation and by supporting the commercial activities in the communities in and around the sugar belt.

In addition the company assisted the government by providing free health services and prescription drug to all workers and their dependents, offering land and cash grants for housing, maintaining recreation grounds, roads, drains and cemeteries in at least two countries.

And through sugar and rum sales it earned millions in foreign exchange annually.

While Caroni depended on subsidies of more than $1 million a day, its presence generated much more than that, with workers alone contributing more than that in taxes.

Read related column: The death of sugar