One hundred citizens from across the country have received their long-awaited Certificates of Comfort during a distribution ceremony hosted by the Land Settlement Agency at the Barataria Regional Complex on Tuesday afternoon.
One recipient, Jason Martinez, told TTT News he has been waiting for several years.
“I have been waiting 15 years to get this Certificate of Comfort to move forward, to have some kind of comfort net to be dwelling on the property there. So I am very happy today.”
This is the government’s second distribution ceremony for Certificates of Comfort.
Minister of Land and Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Saddam Hosein says that 100 certificates were distributed in December. He adds that 300 residential leases were also distributed to ex-Caroni workers thus far.
“When you add the 200 leases given out in Picton, plus the other 100 leases from the Caroni distribution, we have about 300 residential leases that were distributed. Average, those lands, fully approved, the value, the market value for one lot is about $500,000. So when you do the math, the value of lands that this Ministry was able to give out was about $150 million worth of lands to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Minister Hosein reveals that by the end of January 2026, approximately 800 citizens will receive their respective certificates.
“Next week I am happy to announce that the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs will be rolling into the constituency of Couva South where we have the intention to distribute 300 more residential leases to the ex-Caroni workers at the Exchange 2 site in Couva.”
Also in attendance were Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath and Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen.