Port-of-Spain: Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath and Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal are meeting at this time with farmers whose crops were bulldozed by the state-controlled Housing Development Corporation (HDC), in an attempt to resolve the controversy.
Over 40 acres of farmland were destroyed by the HDC to make way for housing projects, prompting protest action by the farmers and a call from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who is currently in Brazil, to cease all destruction of farmlands.
The both minister met with the media following today's Cabinet meeting and said they had reached a proposed settlement that they believe would satisfy all parts. The Housing Minister made it clear that the farms were given notice that the property was to be developed for housing, for well over a month.
Dr Moonilal, who was in London at the time of the HDC's actions, said it was regrettable that the land clearing was carried out in the manner that it was but made it clear that the Government's housing policy demands that work begin on variouys projects as soon a possible.
The Food Production MInister meanwhile said that the Government maintains it's policy of developing local agriculture and that he believes the farmers' calls for compensation would be met.
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