‘Save us from rapid rail’

Published: 3 Feb 2010
Radhica Sookraj

Hundreds of farmers from the villages of Aranguez, Cunupia and Pasea have joined forces with the anti-steel mill and anti-smelter activists with the hope of lobbying the Government to change the route of the proposed rapid rail project.

The group met with activists from the T&T United Fisherfolk, National Foodcrop Farmers Association, Pranz Gardens Village Association, Citizens for Social Justice, Rights Action Group and the Claxton Bay Fishing Association at the Claxton Bay fishing port. President of the Cunupia Farmers Association Anil Ramnarine said prime agricultural lands at Esmeralda Road, Ragoonanan Road, Welcome Road, Mon Plasir Road and Ramgoolie Trace would be destroyed if the project continued along the proposed route. He said at least 500 homes would be directly affected. “We have come here today to join with the anti-smelter and anti-steel mill activists to seek help to save our lands,” Ramnarine said.

He added that while they were not against the construction of the rapid rail, they were concerned that hundreds of acres of prime agricultural land would be destroyed if the proposed construction came to fruition. Ramnarine said they produced food for local consumption and also exported fresh produce to the United States, Canada and England, as well as several islands along the Caribbean chain. He said destruction of farm lands for industrial purposes would lead to a surge in food prices. “We support the struggle of the fisherfolk who stand to lose their livelihood because of Government’s decision to construct an extension to the Point Lisas port, but farmers are now up against new threats with the rapid rail,” Ramnarine said. He added that farmers met and had identified new proposals for a different route for the rapid rail, which they planned to take to the Government.

Meanwhile, president of the National Food Crop Association Norris Deonarine said the Government had to state whether its priority was food security or rapid rail. He said the Government had been unable to provide adequate water to citizens. He also said that agricultural development could provide a sustainable livelihood for citizens. University of the West Indies lecturers Dr Peter Vine and Wayne Kublalsingh spoke with the activists and renewed their commitment to struggle for the protection of the fishing and agricultural industries.

Source: http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2010/02/03/save-us-rapid-rail