Farmers and occupiers of the East Coast backland areas currently being cleared should submit their claims for compensation urgently, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said.
Answering a question posed by Leader of the Opposition Robert Corbin during a question and answer session in the National Assembly on Thursday, he said it was not clear how long the process would take before payment is made.
The Joint Services have been engaged in clearing the backlands for the last two weeks in an effort to demolish the areas where criminal gangs hide out and thus stamp out crime on the lower East Coast.
Corbin had asked the Prime Minister when the owners and occupiers of lands in Buxton and other areas would be compensated for the damage to their property and crops because of the operation in the backlands.
But the Prime Minister referred the question to Persaud, who said the process was ongoing and was being coordinated by the Joint Services.
The minister mentioned that the Joint Services were working with a compensation schedule that he could make public at the appropriate time. Corbin had asked to have a copy of the schedule.
He said the farmers and other residents have to make their claims in a timely fashion but he was unable to say how long it would be before they actually received money from the government.
The minister said the persons would be advised of the time and the place where the payout will take place.
Corbin asked what time span will be given for the payment of compensation from the time persons submit their claims and supporting documents.
To this, Persaud said the intention is to deal with each claim expeditiously, but he did not give any specifics on the time frame.
Corbin asked what level of compensation could be expected and the minister said that in the processing of the claims, assessments of values will be done and this will determine the level of compensation each claimant receives.
The Opposition Leader asked whether an immediate interim payout could be considered in this case, as had occurred at the time of flooding and Persaud said this was something the government had under consideration.