EXPOSED: HYPOCRISY IN ROWLEY’S FOOD PLAN

IN what amounts to a blatant act of duplicity, the Rowley Government is determined to move ahead with a housing project on critical farmlands. 

This persistence is in spite of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s recent declaration that “we are condemning ourselves” if Caricom countries do not plant more food. 

After years of neglect of the agricultural sector, Rowley recently signed onto the regional plan designed to improve food production within a short time. 

He said the food supply issue is “grave” and that “we are a long way from food sufficiency. 

“We are required to replace our supply from outside of the region.” 

The food security move was initiated by fellow Caricom leaders Mia Mottley and Dr. Irfaan Ali. 

But days after Rowley hailed the programme, a Government agency, Housing Development Corporation (HDC), is continuing to push for the construction of houses on lands now filled with germplasm, seeds, plants and trees. 

HDC’s stunning plan to construct public housing on one of the region’s primary nurseries is seen as a transparently two-faced move by the Rowley administration. 

The corporation is seeking to strong-arm the court to grant permission for the construction of 12 eight-storey apartment buildings, with 504 apartments. 

The housing project is earmarked to occupy 17.4 hectares of St. Augustine’ Nurseries’ 20 hectares. 

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) had earlier issued a Certificate of Clearance (CEC) but this was legally challenged by environmentalist Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh and farmer Shiraz Khan. 

For decades, the fertile soil of St. Augustine Nurseries has been a major source of plant stock for agriculturists and home gardeners. 

The germplasm has long been advocated by experts as crucial to domestic food sovereignty. 

The authorities have sought to quietly launch the home construction programme, holding a mandated public consultation on the Friday before Carnival in 2018. 

The CEC was issued without a public announcement.  

Critics see the HDC project as a bold attempt to house-pad electoral votes in favour of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM). 

Apart from the destruction of vital plant stocks, the housing project would also lead to more traffic nightmares in that district, observers say. 

In addition, it would place increased pressure on public amenities, such as schools and medical facilities. 

But the HDC is arguing in court that the lands are vested in the corporation, which should have the authority to access it. 

Progressive Caricom leaders, like Mottley and Ali, have acknowledged the critical food supply and the need to urgently grow what is consumed in the region. 

They are aiming to reduce food importations by at least 25 per cent in two years’ time. 

The assertive Mottley said last month: “If ever there is a time to act with a great sense of urgency, it is now. 

“Things have to change. 

“We have to start eating what we grow and growing what we eat.” 

Ali has called for the removal of red tape to permit greater intra-Caricom food trade. 

Agricultural production accounts for less than one per cent of Trinidad and Tobago’s Gross Domestic Product, and the authorities have been accused of merely paying lip service to food production. 

Justice Robin Mohammed is hearing the application from Kublalsingh and Khan for judicial review of the EMA’s decision to grant a CEC. 

The HDC and EMA are pressing for an early ruling.