-Minister Persaud
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud on Friday last held a meeting with residents and farmers of the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Agricultural Development Authority when he addressed the issue of lease lands for agricultural purposes.
Minister Persaud, whose ministry is responsible for such matters, dealt with issues as regularization and leases. He said that issues such as family conflicts in which there are contending parties, and where persons lease the lands,, rent them at exorbitant prices, then refuse to pay their taxes are among the most prevalent.
“They would rent it 20 times what the MMA charges; they don’t provide services, but take the money and invest it, and the re-possession exercise is targeting those individuals. It is not intended for people who own lands and planting it, ” he said.
He indicated that state lands are for agricultural purposes and anyone found doing otherwise, will have theirs re-possesed.
He emphasised that efforts must be made to guard against turmoil so that there is no monopolising of land by one set of individuals.(GINA)