Government Delivers on Promise: 193 Caroni VSEP Beneficiaries Receive Long-Awaited Leases

August 13, 2025:- Chaguanas, Trinidad: Yesterday (August 12, 2025), the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, in collaboration with Caroni (1975) Limited, hosted a Caroni Lease Distribution Ceremony at the Sundar Popo (Sundarlal Popo Bahora) Theatre, Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando, where 193 recipients from the Picton I Site under the Caroni (1975) Limited Voluntary Separation of Employment Programme (VSEP) received their long-awaited leases.

This landmark event marks significant progress in delivering on the Government’s pledge to finalise outstanding land entitlements under the VSEP, ensuring qualified beneficiaries, many of them former Caroni employees and cane farmers, can now secure their tenure and contribute to the nation’s agricultural and economic growth. It also reflects the State’s commitment to honour severance and pension obligations while facilitating the productive use of these lands.

In delivering the feature address, The Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, said: “Today, we do more than remember; we repair and rebuild. We will put land where promises are…security where there was suspense…opportunity where there was delay. This is not the end of a fight; it is the continuation of a commitment I made in Parliament in 2005 to stand with Caroni’s people until every rightful claim is honoured and every family stands on firm ground.”

Also speaking at the event, Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, described the distribution as a strategic step towards securing livelihoods and boosting agricultural productivity, stating: “Our Government stands firmly on its conviction that agriculture is the backbone of the economy… Today’s distribution is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to placing these lands in the hands of those who will care for them, work them and use them to build stronger communities.”

The Honourable Saddam Hosein, Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, whose tireless efforts were instrumental in the success of the distribution, echoed these sentiments, stating, “Today, this caring government acknowledges your contribution towards Trinidad and Tobago, and this administration, led by Kamla Persad-Bessessar, has placed this as a priority project under our manifesto.” His remarks reinforced the resolve to bring closure to VSEP beneficiaries and ensure the promise of land ownership translates into opportunities for families, communities, and the national economy.

The ceremony underscored the power of collaboration between Government agencies, communities, and stakeholders in advancing equitable access to land. The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries remains committed to securing land tenure as a catalyst for rural revitalisation, national food security, and a more resilient Trinidad and Tobago.

 

– END –