THERE is growing speculation that the Government is moving to revive a public house-building programme at St. Augustine Nurseries.
Farmers are voicing deep concerns over works currently underway at the nurseries at Farm Road in Curepe.
The farmers are telling of arable lands at the nurseries being cleared.
There has been no confirmation that the exercise is being conducted by contractors of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
No public consultation has been held, as is mandated before official approval is granted by the environmental authorities.
The area is in the marginal electoral constituency of St. Joseph.
In 2018, the Government made moves to erect HDC houses on the lands, but backed down after protests by farmers, Curepe residents and opposition politicians.
At that time, consultations were scheduled for Carnival Friday.
Critics said that the session was deliberately timed for a period when the country was focused on the merry monarch.
St. Augustine Nurseries is comprised of 20 hectares of prime agricultural lands, with hundreds of varieties of plants.
