00:00It's a relief for hundreds that has come long after it was due.
00:05Now 23 years since Carony 1975 Limited was closed,
00:10thousands are yet to receive the residential and agricultural plots promised
00:15as part of their separation packages.
00:18On Wednesday, the government moved to distribute 250 residential lots,
00:23some to former workers, others to the children or grandchildren of former workers
00:29who have since died waiting.
00:31And this morning, after nine months in office,
00:34we are here in exchange that there should be 250 more of those leases.
00:40We are close and nearing over 600 leases in nine months in office,
00:47something that took 22 years.
00:50But there is still a lot more work to be done.
00:55Based on the numbers, we have about 3,000 more residential leases again to distribute
01:01and we have about 1,751 agricultural plots again to distribute.
01:05Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hussein says
01:09the valuation department within the ministry informed him
01:12of the significant value these parcels of property are now worth.
01:17This morning, when you receive this registered lease in your hands,
01:21the average value, I am advised, for one parcel of those lands in the exchange area
01:27is about $600,000.
01:31$600,000.
01:33He said, but minister, you can also get about $1.2 million if it's a main road lot.
01:40So a Kamla Pesad says a government is ensuring that you get what you deserve.
01:46MP Fakufa Saudbari Padarat told his constituents of the value this distribution
01:52now brings to the community and country at large.
01:55When we give you these lands, and it is passed on from generation to generation,
02:01it brings commercial activity, it brings economic activity, it brings job creation,
02:06it gives you a sense of belonging, you know, you can build a home.
02:10You can choose to plant agriculture on the land.
02:16Those were the things that these benefits were meant to achieve.
02:21Meanwhile, Land and Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hussein says,
02:25while there is still a hurdle to overcome,
02:28they are moving closer towards fulfilling another promise
02:31to finally pay the outstanding $100 million-plus owed
02:36to more than 2,300 private cane farmers,
02:39also impacted by the closure of the sugar industry locally.
02:44I am happy to announce that an agreement was made
02:48when negotiations happened between the Office of the Attorney General,
02:53the state, and these cane farmers,
02:56where that case was in fact settled,
03:01the negotiations proved fruitful,
03:04and those monies will be paid to the cane farmers.
03:08Cindy Raguba, Tika Singh, TV6 News.
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