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  • 5 hours ago
250 more residential land leases have been distributed to former Caroni 1975 workers.

In its third land distribution ceremony since assuming office, the government today inched closer towards it’s promise to fulfil a 23-year-old VSEP promise.

On Wednesday the distribution took place at the Dennis P Ramdhan Complex in Couva, for lots located in Exchange Village, Couva.

Reporter Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh was there and tells us more.

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Transcript
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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