After more than 18 years ex-sugar-cane farmers are yet to receive their compensatory packages from the government. This is a shame and a scandal. It is blatant discrimination and those who have been responsible must be called out.
Approximately 2,500 ex-sugar-cane farmers’ livelihood was disrupted when the sugar industry came to a close in 2007. However, to date the ex-sugar-cane farmers are yet to receive their full compensatory package from the government. The compensatory package was provided by the European Union to compensate the farmers after the preferential sugar market provided by the European Union to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries ended.
After the grant from the European Union was received, the People Partnership government paid one of the three tranches to the ex- sugar-cane farmers. Some funds from the grant were used to develop agricultural access roads, all within the ambit of the grant which was generally to provide some arrangements to facilitate the ex-farmers’ transition to other sources of income. The question must be asked: Why was one tranche paid and not the full total?
Chabilal Budri, a former official of Trinidad Islandwide Cane Farmers Association (TICFA) who sat in negotiation with government officials, said that the PNM government has so far refused to pay the remaining tranches. However, the government has offered to pay 50% of the remaining balance on condition that the farmers sign a document renouncing all claims to the other 50%. The majority of the farmers refused that offer; however, a few signed the documents and received their money.
What is worse is that when the matter goes to the court for a resolution, the government sends a new person to represent its interest who, not familiar with the case, always requested time to study the matter carefully. Through this strategy by the government several of the farmers have died with their next of kin to continue the struggle.
TICFA hired the services of a lawyer to represent the ex-cane farmers’ interest in the court of law. But so far there is no success for the ex-farmers. A few ex-farmers, though, went to the court individually and have been compensated their full sums but this precedent has not been automatically applied to the rest of the farmers.
Lawyers and politicians must come to the reality that some social changes are only achieved on the streets and not by debates in parliament and submissions in courts. It is no wonder so few members of the public are aware of the plight of these ex-farmers. It certainly points to the fact that our politicians and our leaders are investing too much hope in a system that works against the welfare of the common man and woman. The winner-takes all political culture must be challenged on the streets.
Sadly, the fortitude and courage appear to be absent from those who project themselves as leaders. Their responsiveness seems to be limited to going to parliament, sitting on swivel chairs in air-condition comfort, enjoying the ambience and rising on their feet occasionally and making a few speeches which are usually of limited consequence. And more so, on the expiry of their term, these self-styled representatives of the people feel that their party and the people are obligated to return them.
Not surprisingly so many of our politicians wandered through parliament, never to be remembered. And why? Parliament has never been the place where great leaders have made their marks. It has always been on the streets where they lead the people in their struggle for social justice. Basdeo Panday will hardly be remembered for his years spent in parliament but his struggle with the workers for increased wages and improved working conditions would be forever etched in the memory of the people.
This injustice against of hardworking ex-sugar-cane farmer is an indictment against the humanity of our society? How could any government be so heartless not to give to the ex-cane farmers what is theirs? It certainly reeks of a propensity of our leaders and their minions to hold citizens to ransom for votes. Had they been otherwise, those ex-sugar-cane farmers would have long been compensated.
