Angry farmers fail to meet PM

Port-of-Spain: Protesting farmers converge on the Housing Development Corporation's Port-of-Spain offices this morning in the hope of getting the ear of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

The farmers have been demanding the prime minister's intervention after acres of land under agricultural production were bulldozed by the HDC on Easter Monday.

However the prime minister left the HDC building where she had gone to hand out keys to houses without meeting with the farmers. She had earlier told reporters that she believes the situation will be resolved when the farmers meet on Thursday with Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal and Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath.

The prime minister also gave a strong endorsement of the Chief Executive Officer of the HDC, Jearlean John, under whose instructions the farmers' lands were bulldozed. The prime minister described John as a strong and powerful leader, adding that the HDC was privileged to have someone like her at the helm.