“Once God’s presence is here, everything else will fall into place.” Such was the sentiment expressed by the incoming Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein, as he addressed the executive and senior management staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF), at a Ministerial Handover and Prayer Invocation Ceremony which took place earlier today (Tuesday 22nd March, 2022) at MALF’s Head Office in Chaguanas.

The ceremony was held to mark Minister Hosein’s transition into the MALF, following his previous appointment as the Minister of Rural Development and Local Government (RDLG). Also present at the event were: the recently appointed, Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries with responsibility for Lands, Senator the Honourable Nigel De Freitas; the Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Avinash Singh and; the former Agriculture Minister, Mr. Clarence Rambharat.

In thanking God for the opportunity to serve in his new position, Minister Hosein said he remained resolute in giving it his very best and will be approaching each task with a renewed sense of purpose. He further acknowledged that his role was no more significant than any of the Ministry’s staff with whom he signaled a commitment to work closely with for the benefit of all stakeholders. The Minister added: “I got along and worked with everyone at RDLG and I intend to do the same at MALF. I grew up with love and I extend that wherever I may go.”

Minister Hosein also took the opportunity to remind both of his senatorial colleagues that as policy makers and politicians, it was imperative that they respect the role of the Ministry’s “distinguished career public servants”, whose support was critical in advancing the agriculture sector’s objectives in the interests of all. He praised the contributions of his predecessor, Mr. Rambharat, whom he identified as a close friend and someone whose knowledge and guidance he will be calling upon, going forward.

Both Ministers Singh and De Freitas were in high praise of the former Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries as well as the incumbent, each sharing an account of their personal and professional relationships with them during their brief remarks.

Also invited to address the ceremony was former Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, who took the opportunity to reflect on the many opportunities he was privileged to have throughout his career and thanked the Ministry’s personnel for all the support given to him during his tenure. He further stated that he was not “fired” from the Cabinet but indicted that his resignation was a well-considered one, which took into account an examination of his professional and personal life, and the ways in which he may otherwise be of optimal service to the people of Trinidad and Tobago in the future.

Officiating the ceremony’s invocation session were: Moulana Atif Sulaimani, Imam of the San Fernando Jama Masjid; Pundit Mukram Sirjoo, President of the Inter-Religious Organization of Trinidad and Tobago; The Rt. Rev. Joy Abdul-Mohan, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago and; Rev. Mother Kathleen Ishmael, representative from the West Indian United Spiritual Baptist Sacred Order.

Recipients of Caroni (1975) Limited VSEP Parcels

See List of Recipients of Caroni (1975) Limited VSEP Parcels

Earlier today (Tuesday 8th March, 2022) the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) officially launched the Enterprise Community Initiative at the MALF Head Office in Chaguanas.

The objective of the programme is to transfer livelihood skills and provide the necessary learning tools to the vulnerable groups in the Enterprise Community in Chaguanas. This intervention is aimed at assisting those individuals to become self-sufficient in the area of agri-business whilst also improving their overall social well-being.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, said the programme is meant to cover four (4) core areas, specifically, food and nutrition, the practical aspects of growing food, the practical aspects of value added enterprise and entrepreneurship, whereby participants will now be able to build a successful small business and earn an income stream from their products.

According to Minister Rambharat, the launch of the project was delayed due to the COVID-19 restrictions, as the training was not something that could have been wholly conducted in a virtual environment, but said he was very optimistic about the impact the programme will have on the lives of the participants. Furthermore, the Minister stated that a cadre of specialist volunteers will also be assisting in the programme.

Also delivering remarks at the launch was the Regional Representative for IICA, Ms. Diana Francis who said that they are very pleased to be an integral part of the programme. She added, “this community based initiative is important to Trinidad and Tobago because development is built on the communities go up and therefore where there are strong communities, it augers well for the country and the wider Caribbean region. IICA therefore congratulates all participants involved in the programme and wish them the very best”.

Training for participants is expected to be approximately three (3) months. Other communities throughout the country are also expected to benefit from a similar initiative and an announcement of these programmes will be made in due course.

Also in attendance at today’s event were the Permanent Secretary (Ag), Ms. Susan Shurland, as well as representatives from the MALF and IICA.

Twenty-two (22) individuals comprising farmers and agro-processors from South Trinidad, became the beneficiaries of State land for agricultural purposes, following the distribution of lease letters at the Rio Claro Hindu Primary School on Sunday 6th March, 2022.

The lease letters were distributed by the Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, convey Cabinet’s approval to grant standard agricultural leases for an initial period of thirty (30) years.

In his address to the recipients, Minister Rambharat noted that while there were several operatives involved in the final execution of a lease, one of the key stages in the process was the acquisition of Cabinet’s approval which he said was particularly significant. According to him, this was so because many land matters endured very lengthy periods of delay given their errors and other complexities prior to advancing to the final stage. Furthermore, the Minister added, these lease letters now formalise the status of one’s lease application whilst also serving as a guarantee for recipients to access both financial institutions and State entities in order to conduct business transactions on their respective agricultural parcels.

Among some of the other undertakings in the process outlined by the Honourable Minister were: the issuance of a letter of offer from the Office of the Commissioner of State Lands (COSL) and acceptance of said letter; the nomination of a land surveyor and the execution of the survey; the submission of the survey plan to the COSL and; the instruction of the Chief State Solicitor by the COSL, for the finalisation of the lease.

Minister Rambharat reiterated the need for persons to be vigilant in following-up with their applications and also reminded them of the available option they have of contacting his Office, should they receive no communication from the COSL within forty-five (45) days from the date of receipt of their lease letters.

The Public is hereby notified of the closure of the 2021-2022 Hunting Season effective March 1st, 2022 and the following will apply:

I. Hunting activity of game animals must be ceased on all lands of Trinidad and Tobago.

II. Persons have until March 31st, 2022 to dispose of Game Animal carcasses (or any part thereof) from their property and or their possession.

III. Holders of Hunting Permits purchased for the 2021-2022 Hunting Season must submit the Mandatory Data Return Forms on or before May 31st, 2022.

Failure to comply may result in a summary conviction of Five Thousand Dollars (TT$5000.00) per data form.

IV. Members of the public are kindly asked to refrain from hunting during the closed season as perpetrators will incur a fine of One Hundred Thousand Dollars (TT$100,000.00) as amended by Legal Notice 275 of 2020.

Mandatory Data Forms can be submitted to any of the following stations:

1. District Revenue Office, Tunapuna

2. Forestry Office, Rio Claro

3. District Revenue Office, Chaguanas

4. Forestry Division, Long Circular Road, St. James

5. Forestry Division, Balisier Avenue, Pleasantville, San Fernando

6. Forestry Division, Sangre Grande

7. District Revenue Office, Sangster Hill, Scarborough, Tobago

8. Inland Revenue Office, Roxborough, Tobago

NB. Following the Ministry’s strict COVID -19 Protocol, persons may be required to use our drop-boxes at these locations and will be contacted by the Forestry Division in due course for the collection of their acknowledgement receipt.

Denny Dipchansingh
Conservator of Forests/ Chief Game Warden