Cabinet approval received for payment of outstanding wages to Reforestation Workers

As we approach the end of the financial year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries has taken steps to settle all wages due to National Reforestation workers to the end of September 2017.

While the Ministry has since October 2016 avoided the problem of delays every month in the payment of wages to over 2000 workers, recent delays have been due to a shortfall in the funding of the Programme. Today, Thursday 7th September, 2017, the Cabinet of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, approved $22.4 million to settle all outstanding wages due to these workers.

The Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat is giving assurances today that ‘the settlement of all outstanding wages will be treated with a matter of urgency’. Speaking directly to the workers, Senator Rambharat expresses sincere apologies ‘for the delay in the payment of wages’ and he thanks them for their patience.

The Reforestation Programme is a critical component of the work of the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; as are all the workers in the Programme.