By Carolyn Kissoon South Bureau
Former prime minister Basdeo Panday, who has formed a foundation in his name, has written Attorney General Anand Ramlogan on behalf of former Caroni (1975) Ltd workers.
Panday, out of elected politics after losing leadership of the United National Congress, wants the People's Partnership Government to immediately withdraw an appeal against a decision by Justice Lennox Deyalsingh back in 2004.
The decision was appealed by the former People's National Movement Government.
Panday, who heads the Basdeo Panday Foundation, operating out of an office at Rienzi Complex, wrote: "In the said action, the sugar workers claimed that the Government had reneged on, and/or failed to honour certain promises, assurances and undertakings given to them as an inducement for the acceptance of Voluntary Separation of Employment (VSEP) imposed on them in 2003." It included the promise that sugar workers be given priority to lands belonging to Caroni (1975) Ltd for agricultural and residential use, Panday stated.
Workers were told they would be granted leases within reasonable time of the acceptance of such separation of employment with Caroni (1975) Ltd, Panday stated.
Panday wrote that in November 2003, the then PNM government reneged on the promises.
"The learned judge decided in favour of the former workers of Caroni (1975) Ltd, ruled that they were entitled to a declaration and a mandatory order that the workers be granted their leases on or before 30th June, 2006. In order to frustrate the right of the workers the PNM Government then appealed against the decision of Deyalsingh and that appeal is to this day still pending," the letter read.
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