Cane secretariat to work in January

http://www.newsday.co.tt/business/0,170884.html

THE newly-established Cane Producers Secretariat is expected in January, to begin its research work into the socio-economic needs of 9,000 former cane farmers and cane cutters.

Speaking with Newsday via telephone yesterday, General Secretary of the Cane Producers Association (CPA), Seukeran Tambie, said “we expect to hire three key people very soon, and once they’re in place, work can begin apace.” 

The three vacant positions are: Director of Grant-Funded Research, Business and Social responsibility; Director of Marketing; and Director of Information Technology. 

The Secretariat does however have an executive director — Thomas Sotillio, who is a long-time member of the CPA. His post became effective on Monday, December 17, following the signing of a $1 million Memorandum of Understanding that day between the CPA and the Food Production Ministry. 

The money will be used to set up and staff the Secretariat, inclusive of a fully furnished office at one of the buildings, still owned by Caroni 1975 Limited. 

Tambie said Sotillio was well-versed in the “nine-year struggle to get what they were promised — a proper exit strategy” following the 2003 closure of Caroni 1975 Limited. 

“Mr Sotillio has been working with me on this issue for the past two years. He assisted me in developing the proposal we submitted to the European Union in April last year, which included a plan for an Economic Zone between Hindustan and Penal,” Tambie noted. 

Tambie said he hoped to hire three suitable persons “by week’s end, so we can get going with the interviews and research necessary to determine the most viable crops and agri-businesses that we should invest time and money into, for the benefit of these 9,000 men and women.” 

Traditional crops such as tomato and cassava, as well as non-traditional ones like Aloe Vera, are under consideration by the Secretariat. However a final decision on which crops/businesses to pursue would be based on the outcome of research conducted during the six-months in which the Secretariat has to do its work.

‘VSEP sweetener’ turns sour for former Caroni workers

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-10-14/%E2%80%98vsep-sweetener%E2%80%99-turns-sour-former-caroni-workers

Former Caroni (1975) employee, Winston Ramdhani.

Betrayed and deceived. That’s how former Caroni 1975 Ltd workers are feeling after the People’s Partnership Government failed to address in the 2012-2013 budget an outstanding $500 million dollar “VSEP Sweetener” dispute. This matter has been lingering for the past three years.

Thinking that Finance Minister Larry Howai would have tackled their concerns in his $58.4 billion 2012- 2013 budget package, the same way he addressed the Clico and Hindu Credit Union matters, the workers said they felt deceived and was hoodwinked by the Government who they supported in the 2010 general election.

If the Government fails to intervene, the former workers, who invested $500 million into the plan from their VSEP earnings, have vowed to protest in front the Office of the Prime Minister in December to show their dissatisfaction. In 2003, a pamphlet distributed to the farmers showed that the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with the Unit trust Corporation (UTC) offered a “cane sweetener” to all former Caroni workers.

The plan was based on benefits invested in the UTC under the Individual Retirement Unit Account. “The investment will double in six years if it earns a rate of 12 per cent per annum. However, the current annualised total return is 26.12 per cent,” the pamphlet stated.

They were told that a loan up to the amount of the investment will be immediately available at 8 per cent annum and that no loan installments will be payable until the investment doubled. A 2 per cent management fee was also charged on the loans.

In a July 2, 2012 letter sent to Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj by a group calling themselves Former Caroni (1975) Ltd Employees, signed by co-ordinators Winston Ramdhani and Rakeeb Mohamed, stated that the plan with the ADB was based on the promise of 12 per cent per annum on VSEP deposits with corresponding loans at a high of 8 per cent.

Based on their calculations, Ramdhani said, the farmers were hoping to get back $200 million in returns in addition to the $500 million VSEP earnings. “The ADB violated the agreement by failing to pay the 12 per cent for the six years. Instead, they offered 0 per cent for the period, but continued to charge a high of 8 per cent on interest,” Ramdhani wrote.

Ramdhani said data shows that the investment deposit earned some 48 per cent and the ADB took all, including dividend payout. Ramdhani said the ADB failed to deliver on the 12 per cent, blaming “global factors.” They offered zero per cent for the entire six years, while still charging 8 per cent on loans, using their deposits as security. The group proposed:
• Loans be recalculated at 4 per cent per annum or a rebate of 50 per cent of the interest paid.
• A payment of 5 per cent on VSEP deposit instead of the 12 per cent as promised.
• A refund of the management fee of 2 per cent which equates to 0.3 per cent per annum.

“If there is no settlement we are coming in Port-of-Spain to protest outside the Prime Minister’s office in December,” Ramdhani vowed. “It’s really unfair that they dealt with the HCU and Clico matters and left us undone. We are not asking for taxpayers’ money. We see this as a betrayal because they only handled the big shot people in Clico by spending billions of taxpayers’ money.”

Ramdhani said if the Government does not settle the matter, “We will lead a no vote campaign. We will boycott our votes” in the 2015 general election. Ramdhani said one has to bear in mind that the majority of votes the PP acquired came from former Caroni workers and their families, who have been struggling since the closure of the sugar company.

Many have died without enjoying the little benefits they received. “These workers who came from the sugar belt formed the foundation of the UNC. If they are in Government it is because of us.”

Maharaj: ADB acted as an agent
Meanwhile, the Food Production Minister said the ADB was only acting as an agent for UTC when this deal was brokered. The ADB, Maharaj said, was willing to repay the two per cent management fee, which Ramdhani estimates will be approximately $10 million.

“The ADB was not the creators of that financial product. That financial product with the downturn in the economy could not achieve the interest rates which had been originally targeted. This is an issue the UTC should answer, not me.” Maharaj said the farmers presented their case to him on Monday. “I referred it to the Minister of Finance for consideration.”

Cane farmers pledge to assist with food security

Melissa Doughty

Published: Monday, September 17, 2012

https://guardian.co.tt/news/2012-09-17/cane-farmers-pledge-assist-food-security 

Officials and members of the Cane Farmers Association at the Eric Williams Financial Complex, Port-of-Spain, on Friday for their meeting with Minister of Food Production Devant Maharaj and Dr Bhoe Tewarie, Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development; and European Union representatives.

The Cane Farmers Association plans on establishing, with the assistance of funding from the European Union (EU) and the Government of T&T, an “economic and social zone” in south Trinidad. The zone will assist and provide sustainable income for the former cane planter/producers and also boost local food security and food production.

The group’s president, Seukeran Tambie; and education and research officer, Thomas Sotillio, spoke with the T&T Guardian after a meeting at the Eric Williams Financial Complex with Devant Maharaj, Minister of Food Production; Dr Bhoe Tewarie, Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development; European Union Representatives Daniela Tramacere (Minister Counsellor and Charge d’Affaires); and Kathrin Renner (International Aid Officer) to discuss the grant’s use.

The group sent a proposal to the European Commission last year and it was accepted. The proposal identifies how the funds would be used to assist the farmers. Both the cane farmers and the Government were locked in a battle over the EU$72 million, which the farmers claimed was not used to assist them. Many of the farmers, Tambie said, have had difficulties moving on since the closure of the sugar industry in 2003.

Both Tambie and Maharaj said the meeting went well and they were satisfied with the progress made. “The role of this meeting was to develop a clear position of the role of all parties in this issue. We have established the role of the EU, the role of the Government and the role of us, being the main beneficiaries, in this issue,” Tambie said.

A proposal was made to the European Commission last year to provide social and economic support to the cane farmers. When asked what the farmers wanted, the group identified a secretariat to handle their administrative work. The proposed secretariat would develop the proposal to assist the group in the development of its social and economic zone.

“We are on the same page finally. The Government has now come on board and we are now seeing eye-to-eye. The Government is now listening to us. I don't think you will see antagonistic issues raising between the Government and us,” Tambie said.

The secretariat, Sotillio said, will also be looking at the social impact of the closure on its members and offering recommendations to address the issue. There are some elderly members and people who have “fallen through the social structure and they need support, possibly targeted support and this will be built into the proposal as to how these people should be taken care of,” he said.

The economic zone is expected to produce a livelihood for the farmers, good roads and other income generating opportunities. Both Maharaj and EU representative Tramacere said the meeting went well. “We are all very satisfied about the outcome. Everyone is working on common ground. We have set common objectives and think it has been a very positive and constructive meeting,” Tramacere said.

Ex-Caroni Workers & Minister of Agriculture

From : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkFZucNQmrk

From : http://direct.cnc3.co.tt/content/ex-caroni-minister-call-govt-promised-lands