New Lands Village, Guayaguayare residents are now up in arms after the Land Settlement Agency (LSA) allocated 75 residential lots within their community to former Petrotrin workers.
Lamenting that it was unfair, disgruntled residents said they had applied and were promised land in that community more than a decade ago, but to date, they did not know the status of their applications.
However, they said, last Friday, the LSA finalised the paperwork to give the lots at La Savanne Circular to former Petrotrin workers who were not from Guayaguayare or Mayaro, and there was no consultation with villagers.
Resident Charmaine Libert said they were promised land and had endured a lot of discomfort while the land was being developed.
“And it is very unfair to see that people from nowhere come now getting the land. What we are saying today as villagers this cannot happen. We as the villagers, we need to have a say,” she said.
Newlands Village Council president Sheldon Wilson recalled that villagers had applied for land under the former administration’s land for the landless programme.
He said they had no problem with the former Petrotrin workers, but a percentage of the land must also be given to the residents.
“No government is going to come and disrespect us like that. I am not against the people of Petrotrin but they cannot bring no house here unless we are guaranteed something for the people of Guayaguayare,” she said.
Mother of five, Lorna Merrique, said she was relocated when the road was being built. “I still waiting. Every time I go is run around and I want to know when I will get through. I have five kids. I live in a one-room,” she said. Another resident, Patricia Beckles-Sandy, questioned on what basis the land was given to former Petrotrin workers instead of villagers.”