Cane Farmers happy with new decisions in compensation package
Cane Farmers and Government have agreed on compensation to farmers displaced by the closure of Caroni Limited and to work out a formula for disbursement in the coming weeks.
The Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development, Senator Dr. the Honourable Bhoendradatt Tewarie in his capacity of National Authorising Officer for the EU Grant Resources; the Minister of Food Production, the Hon. Devant Maharaj, as the implementing Minister for the EU Accompany Measured for Sugar Protocol Countries (AMSPC) and technical staff of their respective ministries met with representatives of the Cane Producers Association of T&T, the Cane Farmers’ Cooperative, Trinidad Islandwide Cane Farmers’ Association and Direct Delivery Cane Farmers’ Cooperative on January 21, 2015. European Union representative, Ms. Kathrin Renner also participated in the meeting,
The purpose of this meeting was to inform farmers of a Cabinet decision on the matter, and to get agreement by the Farmers that all groups will work together to facilitate disbursement in a mutually agreed manner.
This matter has been ongoing with previous Governments since 2003 but today all parties expressed their satisfaction with Cabinet’s decision to approve compensation in the sum of $130 Mn for former cane farmers of the sugar industry in three (3) tranches.
The schedule for disbursement highlights a first tranche of TT$27 Mn currently available from EU funding. A second tranche of TT$75 Mn, also supported by EU funding and a third tranche in 2016 of $28 Mn.
After agreement from all representatives of the cane farmers present, the next step agreed by all was the formation of a technical committee led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development including representatives of the Ministry of Food Production and representatives of the Cane Farmers to develop a suitable formula for equitable distribution of the funds. These are to be based on production performance achieved during the cane farming years.
Members of the various Cane Farmers organizations expressed thanks to Minister Tewarie for working to facilitate resolution of the issue.
Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
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