Government concludes longstanding State land matters involving PLIPDECO and the Zoo

Government concludes longstanding State land matters involving PLIPDECO and the Zoo

“With the presentation of these lease letters today (17/11/2021), the Government has completed its work in respect to treating with State land issues involving the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago (ZSTT), which dates back to about four (4) decades”, so said the Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat as he addressed recipients at a Lease Letter Distribution Ceremony which took place at the Ministry’s Head Office in Chaguanas.  Among the recipients at the event were the ZSTT President, Mr. Narine Gupte Lutchmedial and the Chairman of the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation (PLIPDECO), Mr. Daniel Dookie.

In delivering his remarks, Minister Rambharat noted that out of the four (4) State land parcels under the remit (tenancy) of the ZSTT, three (3) of these were substantively dealt with since 2017 with the final land transaction concluding with today’s (17/11/2021) lease letter disbursement. The Minister also indicated that like the ZSTT, the process for PLIPDECO was also a “painfully slow grind” and added that “this land transaction was equally important for PLIPDECO in that the acquired leased State land will significantly increase the size of its current operations.”

Speaking on behalf of PLIPDECO was its Chairman, Mr. Daniel Dookie who expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Government, saying he was duty-bound to make optimal use of this precious land resource which was a direct investment on behalf of the State. “The Government would no doubt expect us to capitalize on this opportunity by monetising upon the expansion of the industrial estate, for the benefit of PLIPDECO, its stakeholders and the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” Mr. Dookie added.   

Apart from ZSTT and PLIPDECO, two (2) other persons received lease letters in respect to their allocation of agricultural State land. All four (4) lease letters received, convey Cabinet’s approval to grant a State lease for an initial period of thirty (30) years. This in turn, enables recipients to engage State agencies and financial institutions in respect to the conduct of legitimate business in respect to their parcels.

Also in attendance were the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Ms. Susan Shurland and the Manager-Legal Services (PLIPDECO), Ms. Deowatie Dilraj-Battoosingh.