Los Iros farmers are now accusing state officials of facilitating a massive grab for beachfront property in their community.
The lands were supposed to have been given to farmers who have been cultivating short crops there for over 50 years, despite the fact that there is not a proper water supply, electricity or proper roads.
However, the farmers claim they are being bypassed for lands, with even senior officials of the Land Management Division, (LMD) including the Commissioner of State Lands Ian Fletcher, acquiring lands ahead of them.
Speaking to the T&T Guardian, president of the Los Iros Farmers Association Chan Sookoo said cadastral records showed that Fletcher and his wife Monica were owners of a plot of land situated at Plot 32, Phase Three, R.E (Royal Engineers) Road, Los Iros. Also logged as owners of beachfront property are two other people believed to have connections at the ministry, he said.
Ian Fletcher heads the LMD and is responsible for managing all the State lands in T&T for agricultural, residential, commercial or institutional uses. He is also in charge of land acquisition and land reclamation.
Sookoo said he wanted a full investigation into how Fletcher acquired lands when he was not a Los Iros farmer. He also said the two other owners were not active farmers in Los Iros and have never been seen or heard of in the area.
"What is taking place in Los Iros is very disturbing. Los Iros is the food basket of T&T but farmers are losing interest in the area because of what is taking place.
"There are a lot of discrepancies where the land is concerned, because non-farmers are becoming owners of land while the real farmers who are on the land for 30 years have not gotten a lease," Sookoo said.
He claimed more than 15 out of 80 farmers have already been thrown out of their lands and have discontinued farming.
The land in question comprises 720 acres and is divided into five-acre parcels in three separate phases. Records show phase 1 has 70 plots (roughly 350 acres), phase 2 40 plots (roughly 200 acres) and phase 3 34 plots (roughly 170 acres).
LIFA secretary Ashraf Juman, who has a lease for Plot 20, said, "It is really disgusting what is happening with these ministry officials. Cadastral maps are showing the names of senior state land officials and they have never stepped foot on these lands. They never plant anything on these lands yet their names are on the cadastral map as owners of the lands."
He added, "Their friends in the ministry are approving their names for leases. Some people's files have gone missing."
He said legitimate farmers who have been planting for more than 25 years should be given priority for leases.
Farmers cry out
Some farmers said they felt hurt that after decades of planting, they are now being forced out.
Farmer Hansraj Balgobin, who planted on the lands now owned by Fletcher said, "I have no lease and I was one of the first farmers here. When I came here 40 years ago the entire place was forests.
"Now I am approaching 60 and they are telling me that they will give me a piece of forest land but I have to clear it.I don't have the ability or the money to do this."
He said some of the lands he also cultivated were leased to a ministry official but he has never seen her. He said his property also continues to be vandalised and his produce stolen.
Other farmers said it was becoming impossible to farm in Los Iros because their crops were being sabotaged by people who claim they now have title to the land.
Harricharan Ragoobar, who has been cultivating 10 acres of land since 1995, said over the past year his crops have been destroyed by a man who lives in Rancho Quemado. He said his water supply has been poisoned and his irrigation system destroyed by the man, who claimed he now has right to cultivate the land. Although he made reports to the Erin police station, Ragoobar said there was never any investigations or arrests. Showing fields of drying tomatoes, he said he planned to make a report to the Police Complaints Authority.
Ragoobar also said a five-acre plot being cultivated by his wife Jassodra was taken away from her.
"That plot, 33, was given to someone (name called) but we do not know who she is," Ragoobar said.
In a letter sent on March 7, 2015, Fletcher said the man destroying Ragoobar's had no permission from the commissioner to cultivate any lands in RE Road Food Crop Project, Los Iros.
He said, "The lands identified are State lands which have been allocated by way of Cabinet minute but not yet leased. The aim is to ensure the parcels remain unoccupied until such time. It has been brought to my attention that persons are claiming to have authorization from the Office of the Commissioner of State Lands to take possession of or occupy the lands."
Fletcher responds
Contacted on the matter, Fletcher said he acquired a piece of land at Los Iros long before he assumed office as commissioner. Asked when and how he went about acquiring the agricultural lands, Fletcher said, "All the records are there. You should speak to the Permanent Secretary. I have done nothing wrong."
Saying he was being set up, Fletcher said, "I own no State land. I have a recommendation from Cabinet and we are dealing with the leases for farmers."
Told that the cadastral map showed his name, Fletcher said, "There is a process. Speak to my Permanent Secretary or the Minister."
Asked why people like himself who are not farmers were being given titles for agricultural lands, Fletcher said, "You know I am not a farmer? How you know I am not a farmer?"
Asked directly if he was a farmer, Fletcher said, "I have nothing to say. Speak to my permanent secretary and go and check the ministry's records."
When the Guardian visited the area recently, Fletcher's plot was ploughed but there were no crops on the land.
Minister concerned
In an interview, Minister Jairam Seemungal said Fletcher had obtained the land in 2003 before he became commissioner. Seemungal, however, said he planned to review all lease arrangements in Los Iros, adding he planned to send a team to Los Iros to speak to farmers and investigate their complaints. He also advised the Guardian to contact the Permanent Secretary Sheryl Anne Haynes for further information.
In an e-mail response to the T&T Guardian, Haynes confirmed that farmers actively cultivating lands are always given first preference, even if they may not have tenure for the lands.
Asked why the Fletchers were given lands when they are not active farmers, Haynes said, "According to the records, at the time when Mr and Mrs Fletcher applied for the lands he was not commissioner, he was an agricultural officer. Employees of the State may apply for state lands for various purposes just as other citizens of the country.
"It would be a conflict of interest only if the process was not followed. It would appear that the process was followed and all relevant requirements were met with respect to advertisements, interviews and selection."
She added, "The record also shows that in 2009 when the lease was being prepared, it was found that the plot the Fletchers were allocated had a squatter who was farming the land.
"The State will not execute a lease if there is a squatter on the land. The ministry will investigate the present status of the squatter. If he/she is found to be farming productively he/she will be favourably considered for a parcel of land."
She also denied that Fletcher had a lease to any land.
"My understanding is that Mr Fletcher does not have a lease. He was only recommended for one. The State does not issue a lease to the prospective tenant if there is a squatter on the land."
Haynes said they were also probing complaints that state officials were demanding bribes from farmers to process their leases. She said if the investigation turns up any wrong doing the police will be called in.
Haynes also said government was reviewing land tenure in Los Iros.
Farmers cry out
Some farmers said they felt hurt that after decades of planting, they are now being forced out.
Farmer Hansraj Balgobin, who planted on the lands now owned by Fletcher said, "I have no lease and I was one of the first farmers here. When I came here 40 years ago the entire place was forests.
"Now I am approaching 60 and they are telling me that they will give me a piece of forest land but I have to clear it.I don't have the ability or the money to do this."
He said some of the lands he also cultivated were leased to a ministry official but he has never seen her. He said his property also continues to be vandalised and his produce stolen.
Other farmers said it was becoming impossible to farm in Los Iros because their crops were being sabotaged by people who claim they now have title to the land.
Harricharan Ragoobar, who has been cultivating 10 acres of land since 1995, said over the past year his crops have been destroyed by a man who lives in Rancho Quemado. He said his water supply has been poisoned and his irrigation system destroyed by the man, who claimed he now has right to cultivate the land. Although he made reports to the Erin police station, Ragoobar said there was never any investigations or arrests. Showing fields of drying tomatoes, he said he planned to make a report to the Police Complaints Authority.
Ragoobar also said a five-acre plot being cultivated by his wife Jassodra was taken away from her.
"That plot, 33, was given to someone (name called) but we do not know who she is," Ragoobar said.
In a letter sent on March 7, 2015, Fletcher said the man destroying Ragoobar's had no permission from the commissioner to cultivate any lands in RE Road Food Crop Project, Los Iros.
He said, "The lands identified are State lands which have been allocated by way of Cabinet minute but not yet leased. The aim is to ensure the parcels remain unoccupied until such time. It has been brought to my attention that persons are claiming to have authorization from the Office of the Commissioner of State Lands to take possession of or occupy the lands."
Fletcher responds
Contacted on the matter, Fletcher said he acquired a piece of land at Los Iros long before he assumed office as commissioner. Asked when and how he went about acquiring the agricultural lands, Fletcher said, "All the records are there. You should speak to the Permanent Secretary. I have done nothing wrong."
Saying he was being set up, Fletcher said, "I own no State land. I have a recommendation from Cabinet and we are dealing with the leases for farmers."
Told that the cadastral map showed his name, Fletcher said, "There is a process. Speak to my Permanent Secretary or the Minister."
Asked why people like himself who are not farmers were being given titles for agricultural lands, Fletcher said, "You know I am not a farmer? How you know I am not a farmer?"
Asked directly if he was a farmer, Fletcher said, "I have nothing to say. Speak to my permanent secretary and go and check the ministry's records."
When the Guardian visited the area recently, Fletcher's plot was ploughed but there were no crops on the land.
Minister concerned
In an interview, Minister Jairam Seemungal said Fletcher had obtained the land in 2003 before he became commissioner. Seemungal, however, said he planned to review all lease arrangements in Los Iros, adding he planned to send a team to Los Iros to speak to farmers and investigate their complaints. He also advised the Guardian to contact the Permanent Secretary Sheryl Anne Haynes for further information.
In an e-mail response to the T&T Guardian, Haynes confirmed that farmers actively cultivating lands are always given first preference, even if they may not have tenure for the lands.
Asked why the Fletchers were given lands when they are not active farmers, Haynes said, "According to the records, at the time when Mr and Mrs Fletcher applied for the lands he was not commissioner, he was an agricultural officer. Employees of the State may apply for state lands for various purposes just as other citizens of the country.
"It would be a conflict of interest only if the process was not followed. It would appear that the process was followed and all relevant requirements were met with respect to advertisements, interviews and selection."
She added, "The record also shows that in 2009 when the lease was being prepared, it was found that the plot the Fletchers were allocated had a squatter who was farming the land.
"The State will not execute a lease if there is a squatter on the land. The ministry will investigate the present status of the squatter. If he/she is found to be farming productively he/she will be favourably considered for a parcel of land."
She also denied that Fletcher had a lease to any land.
"My understanding is that Mr Fletcher does not have a lease. He was only recommended for one. The State does not issue a lease to the prospective tenant if there is a squatter on the land."
Haynes said they were also probing complaints that state officials were demanding bribes from farmers to process their leases. She said if the investigation turns up any wrong doing the police will be called in.
Haynes also said government was reviewing land tenure in Los Iros.