By Chantalé Fletcher
FARMERS continue to suffer thousands of dollars in losses due to improper agriculture access roads and lack of proper drainage in the main water courses.
On Thursday, Member of Parliament for Couva North Ravi Ratiram met with several farmers along with councillors in the Exchange and Union Villages to once again address the road conditions.
In a Facebook live, Ratiram showed the conditions in which farmers had to traverse in order to access their plots.
The roads were overgrown with brushes, farmers held signs of their dissatisfaction with its conditions and continuous massive floods.
One farmer and ex-Caroni worker Sherwin Marcelle said the rivers were not cleaned which caused lands to be flooded.
He added that the main river has not been cleaned which contributed to the floods and farmers losing their produce and livelihoods.
Another farmer also complained that the roads were only accessible with “high vehicles” while those without had to park their vehicles by the road and walk.
Ratiram said, “Farmers across the country have continuously been calling my office which is the shadow of the Ministry of Land, Agriculture and Fisheries raising concerns about the gross and significant neglect faced by this administration with several issues.
“Access roads in Felicity and other areas in deplorable state and farmers cannot access agricultural plots and produce.”
Out of all the farmers, their main concerns surrounded the loss of produce and lack of compensation.
Ratiram said, “Farmers across the country have continuously been calling my office which is the shadow of the Ministry of Land, Agriculture and Fisheries raising concerns about the gross and significant neglect faced by this administration with several issues.
“Access roads in Felicity and other areas in deplorable state and farmers cannot access agricultural plots and produce.”
Councillor Ramchand Rajbal Maraj said that based on the poor drainage and flooding situation, the roads have become deplorable.
“Farmers are law-abiding citizens trying to make an honest living buying seedlings, and preparing the lands having their families in the land to make an honest living. They’re not robbing and stabbing, killing and shooting anybody. An honest day work for an honest day’s pay and they are being denied by this uncaring Government,” Maraj said.
Meanwhile, Councillor Dubraj Persad for Korea Village and other areas of Carapichaima\Perseverance stood in solidarity with farmers of Couva North.
Persad said, “We have been neglected by this PNM regime. We have been flooded with complaints about not cleaning access roads and water courses. Unless we clean these water courses straight down to the sea, it is backed up and causing flooding in the residential areas.”
Ratiram called on Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan and Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Kazim Hosein to come out and see firsthand the plights that farmers face.
