Caption: Minister of Land and Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Saddam Hosein. Photo: T&T Parliament
By Alicia Chamely
THE former administration paid one contractor $8.6 million for an incomplete project under the Youth Agricultural Homestead Programme (YAHP), says Member of Parliament for Barataria/San Juan Saddam Hosein.
Additionally, Hosein says it will cost the government approximately $86 million to complete the works started under the Programme.
Minister of Land and Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Hosein made this revelation on Friday during the Questions for Oral Answers segment of parliament at the Red House, Port of Spain, in response to a question posed by Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles.
Beckles asked, “Can the Minister indicate whether successful graduates of the Youth Agricultural Homestead Programme (YAHP) will receive their access to land and starter grants?”
Hosein stated that since the programme inception in 2022 only one cohort of 159 participants had graduated, noting they had received licenses to occupy their land; however it was discovered these licenses were signed by “unauthorised individuals.”
The minister said another cohort was awaiting graduation.
He said discrepancies had been uncovered in the programme, which had led to the Ministry launching an audit.
Hosein said the Land Settlement Agency (LSA) was used as the executing authority for YAHP.
He said as of November 17, 2025, “the total commitment on projects awarded by the LSA to undertake works at that programme amounted to $161 million.”
Hosein said, “The LSE requested payments amounting to $70 million, but has received $37 million, leaving a balance of $33 million in outstanding bills.”
Hosein said it was relayed to him that after spending $70 million over the period of four years, only eight starter homes to be given to graduates of the Programme, had been completed.
He said he had been informed it could cost the government an additional $86 million to complete the projects started by the Programme.
Hosein said with bills continuing to pile up, the $161 million could balloon to $182 million.
He said upon investigating the programme and the contracts awarded, it was discovered one contractor, whom he did not name but accused of having ties to a former prime minister, was awarded an unspecified contract for $8.6 million and left the work site incomplete.
Hosein said, “One contractor who received a contract of about $8.6 million was the same contractor that bought the personal vehicle of the former former prime minister.”
He said, “They received a contract of $8.6 million and that site that that contractor was responsible for is only about 60% completed.”
Hosein said an audit into the programme had been formally requested by the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries.
Beckles then asked Hosein when the audit would commence and when it would be expected to be completed.
“As politicians, we have no part to play in the audit. However, as soon as that audit is prepared, Madam Speaker, we will inform the Member for Arima of the findings of that audit. Thank you very much,” he to desk thumping.
