The Senate has approved a motion to facilitate the legal acquisition of land in Caura, where 100 townhouses have already been constructed, clearing the way for the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to begin the process of distributing the units.
During Tuesday’s Senate sitting, Minister of Land and Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Saddam Hosein, clarified that although the HDC constructed 100 townhouses in Caura, the Corporation does not legally own the land.
“The HDC, Mr. President, is ready for the distribution process, but they cannot, as I said, process the deeds of lease because there is no retitle. The HDC does not own the lands notwithstanding that they have built upon the lands.”
Minister Hosein explained that this situation stems from the failure of the Commissioner of State Lands to assume possession of the Caura Townhouse Development within the required six-month timeframe outlined in Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act.
As a result, the original acquisition order has lapsed, prompting the need for a new order to allow the Ministry to formally take possession of the land.
“Mr. President, the owner of the land is no secret, according to the notice that was published, the land now formally belongs to TMV Ltd. These were assets that were acquired through the CL Financial matters, Mr. President.”
He urged senators to support the motion, stressing that without legal title, the housing units cannot be distributed.
“These units at this particulare site cannot be distributed at this particular site, notwithstanding, I am told, there was a hurried allocation process prior to the general election. The deeds of leases cannot be issued simply because the State does not have title for the lands.”
Opposition Senator Vishnu Dhanpaul also supported the motion, noting the importance of asset recovery in the wake of the multibillion-dollar CL Financial bailout.
“Since the State already owns approximately 30% of HCL through CL Financial, CL Financial is in liquidation with court-appointed liquidators Grant Thornton. Mr. President, the court in Trinidad and Tobago must approve the sale of each asset by the liquidator. In other words, there must be no fire sale as mentioned and bandied about. Mr. President; it is common knowledge that the CL Financial bailout cost the taxpayers of this country $25 billion.”
The motion was approved unanimously, with the Senate voting in favour of the Land Acquisition (Requisition) Order, 2026.