Port-of-Spain: The second largest party in the coalition People's Partnership (PP) Government is this afternoon slamming the Government over the destruction of farmers' crop for housing developments and stating that it's allegiance is firstly to the people of this country, over the Government of which it is a part.
The statement comes even as the party's political leader Winston Dookeran is the current Acting Prime Minister, while Prime MInister Kamla Persad-Bisessar is in Brazil for the World Economic Forum.
The party says it condemns the destruction of the farmers' property, adding that it affirms its commitment "to one of the pledges contained in the PP’s Manifesto, where on page 52, the PP pledged that we will introduce the Planning and Development of Land Bill (PDLB) with appropriate adjustments as may be required to govern land use, planning and development, so that development can take place in a coherent and sustainable manner, and housing development will be located within the land use plan.”
The party says the Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Resources, along with the Ministry of Housing need to work together in the furtherance of commitments made in the PP’s manifesto regarding respect for agriculture, the farmers and the land, and also to effect a national land use policy that specifies and protects and to be used exclusively for agriculture, as stated in page 60 of the PP’s manifesto.
The party adds, that "whilst the COP is aware that this matter is now before the courts, we are also aware of non-productive lands close by that are far more suitable for housing development. We are therefore suggesting in the strongest possible terms that the lands which were destroyed yesterday be restored to full food production."
It says that it "wishes to restate its commitment firstly to the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and also to the People’s Partnership government. In this context, we will continue to hold the government accountable to its stated policies and positions".
The statement was signed by the acting chairman of the party, Vernan de Lima.
