Ramesh Takes Plight of the Ex-Caroni Workers

http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/news/general/2009/11/16/ramesh-takes-plight-ex-caroni-workers

Mon, 2009-11-16 00:08 — Black_Jacobin
Byline Author:
Radhica Sookraj

Article Date:
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Hundreds of former Caroni Ltd workers and cane farmers have teamed up with Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj to fight for pension, land and European Union financial aid.

Hundreds of former Caroni Ltd workers and cane farmers have teamed up with Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj to fight for pension, land and European Union financial aid.

Just after noon yesterday, Maharaj met with the workers at Brickfield Junction, Orange Valley and Apoo Village, Couva, to mobilise support for planned action scheduled for December 10. Maharaj said since the closure of Caroni in 2003, more than 9,000 sugar cane workers had been suffering enormous social and economic hardships.

He said the European Union had made $354 million available to cane farmers and former workers, but the Government has not filtered down any programme to alleviate the social upheaval. Maharaj on December 10, massive protests would be held to highlight the plight of the workers. He said workers would march from Couva to Port-of-Spain, following which litigation would be filed on behalf of the workers.