Christine
Sahadeo
BY
SASHA MOHAMMEDAn investigation has been launched into the construction of a rum distillery on Caroni lands at Ste Madeleine by Angostura Ltd, Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Christine Sahadeo, says.
Sahadeo was responding to a Sunday Guardian story last week which noted concerns raised by Basta Hall residents about alleged irregularities in the disbursement of Caroni lands.
Most of the people of Basta Hall worked at Caroni (1975) Ltd. Awaiting news about the two acres of land for agriculture promised as a part of their VSEP package, they noted that four warehouses and a housing development had gone up in Caroni lands last year, despite Government saying it was unable to lease or sell land to them (the residents) until its Vesting Bill was passed in Parliament.
The opposition UNC has also charged, among other things, that Government plans to give the lands to their friends and family, and establish housing developments as part of a voter padding scheme.
Sahadeo, who assumed responsibility for Caroni lands earlier this year, responded to the various concerns in a wide-ranging interview last Wednesday.
She said she had been assured by both Jerry Hospedales, Caroni’s chairman; and Yathra Rao of the Estate Management Business Development Company (EMBDC), that the warehouses and housing developments in question were leased out legally.
The EMBDC is expected to take over Caroni’s lands after the Land Vesting Bill is enacted. The bill seeks to transfer Caroni lands from the now defunct company to the EMBDC.
As for the Angostura rum distillery, Sahadeo said:
“That one is being investigated right now.”
She said the information she had so far was that the Sugar Manufacturing Company (SMC) had leased out the land to the rum company, but given that the Vesting Bill was yet to be passed, this was not supposed to have happened.
Sahadeo further gave the reassurance of “extraordinary” transparency in the disbursement of all Caroni’s lands.
“The whole process is going to be extraordinarily transparent. We will not be leaving any room for errors or mistakes. We will be reviewing all land transactions to ensure they are authentic and balanced.
“And after these checks, Cabinet has to approve every land lease or sale. This is our way of making sure everything is transparent, because at the end of the day, Cabinet will be called on to account.
“So this should demonstrate to the country our commitment to transparency and accountability in the disbursement of these lands.”
Sahadeo has assured that in six months’ time, former Caroni employees will begin receiving their agricultural lands for farming.
Basta Hall residents have complained about delays in getting the lands, and that they have had to apply twice for the lands, once at Caroni offices last year, and six months later, at EMBDC.
Sahadeo said the Ministry had several issues to deal with, including verifying and “validating” the list of applicants for both residential and agricultural lots and doing land surveys, designs and listing of the preferential lots.
Independent firm Ernst and Young was hired to help with this project, and the Ministry recently received an authenticated list of 6,131 former employees and 17 sites for allocation of residential lots.
“We are ensuring they will get priority access to purchase the land and we will also ensure prices are affordable. Right now, we are working out the cost, but obviously, will ensure an affordable price structure.” (See side bar).
As for the agricultural lots, the minister said the EMBDC was due to give her a timeline by this week as to when they would be ready for the former employees.
Noting that these lands, too, had to undergo surveying and design checks, she said: “We have identified 17 locations, but so far, only two have been completed. We intend to start assigning them immediately, so within six months, we will have to start delivering.”
As for the residents having to apply twice, she said the second application form was more specific, and that they should not worry, since once they filled out at least one form, they would be considered.
Basta Hall residents had also requested a minimum $40,000 loan from Government for farming the lands, saying by the time they finally get these lands, their VSEP monies would have been used up because of their unemployment.
Sahadeo said that at meetings with farmers of Caroni, representatives from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) had been present to tell them about available loans.
This, she assured, would continue.
“We intend to keep bringing the farmers and ADB together, and the Ministry of Agriculture fully recognises the need to have a facilitative role in this process.”
Sahadeo said it would be left to the Government’s discretion to dispose the rest of Caroni lands, after disbursement for housing and agriculture.
“Right now, we have a shortage of industrial estates and, if the need arises, we will have to review the lands and take what we need for this.
“The thing is we can’t leave everything for agriculture, but I agree we must pursue agriculture in a more aggressive way as a government.”
“In the final analysis, the people should realise that their interest is a priority.
“I fully understand the difficulties and hardships many former workers are encountering at this time, but I am also optimistic that their futures are promising.”
“They should be reassured that Government remains committed to delivering on our commitments, and I believe we have a responsibility to ensure they get the required assistance form the State, and they get their dues on a timely basis,” Sahadeo said.
Government’s plan for disbursement of 76,608 acres of Caroni’s lands:
8,004 acres or 10.4 per cent would constitute built development—existing built development (4,262 acres); proposed usage for industrial and residential estates and commercials complexes (1,402 acres); proposed housing developments for former employees (1,022 acres)
68,604 acres or 89.6 per cent would remain in or be available for agricultural purpose for which:
—13,712 acres or 17.9 per cent would be used for new agricultural activity driven by former employees
—54,892 acres or 71.7 per cent would remain in or be available for agricultural activity.
Out of this, 22,517 acres are being used for
– pasture (1,470 acres);
– citrus (3,378 acres);
– wine making (450 acres);
– rice & other food crops
(5,036 acres);
– tree crops (1,012 acres);
– aquaculture (284 acres);
– private cane farming (10,887 acres;
– and the remaining 32,375 acres could be available for future agriculture or other uses.
Location of residential sites for former Caroni workers
Sites already developed:
Brothers Garth, Princes Town 15 acres 90 lots
Orange Field Phase I 6 acres 36 lots
Cedar Hill Phase I 5 acres 28 lots
La Fortune Phase I 3 acres 15 lots
Sites previously identified:
Orange Filed, Phase II 29 acres 174 lots
Picton Phase II 37 acres 222 lots
Woodland 15 acres 88 lots
Hermitage Phase II 55 acres 330 lots
Suitable sites:
Calcutta Settlement Road, Couva 12 acres 72 lots
Roopsingh Road, Edinburgh 94 acres 564 lots
Factory Road, Edinburgh 44 acres 261 lots
Sonny Ladoo, Exchange 36 acres 216 lots
Balmain 40 acres 240 lots
Exchange, Section I 85 acres 510 lots
La Romain, La Fortune 152 acres 914 lots
Chin Chin Rd, Jerningham Junction 137 acres 822 lots
Esperanza 10 acres 60 lots
Felicity 136 acres 815 lots
McBean, Exchange 18 acres 108 lots
Caroni Village 95 acres 570 lots
Proposed agricultural land:
Caroni 5,790 acres
Orange Grove 3,753 acres
Jerningham 3,037 acres
Todds Road 2,397 acres
Edinburgh 3,462 acres
Felicity 3,766 acres
Waterloo 3,418 acres
Exchange 3,961 acres
Montserrat 4,169 acres
Esperanza 3,165 acres
Reform/W/ville 5,797 acres
Cedar Hill 2,444 acres
Petit Morne 4,361 acres
La Fortune I&II 4,727 acres
La Gloria 4,542 acres
Forres Park 2,498 acres
Mora Valley 1,656, acres
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