Eighteen (18) Youth Farmers from the Mayo Community, will receive Licences to Occupy land in Claxton Bay, for agricultural pursuits and the construction of temporary structures, to enable tenable farming practices.
This was the agreement made between the Honourable Foster Cummings, Minister of Youth Development and National Service and a team from CEMEX/TECL headed by their General Manager – Gonzalo Rueda Castillo, following discussions on Friday 24th January 2025, at the Ministry’s head office in St. Clair, Port of Spain.
Minister Cummings commended the CEMEX/TCL team on their commitment to the development of our nation’s youth, stating, “I am glad that we have reached the stage of issuing Licenses, which will extend to a 5-year Lease, once the farmers commit to the License Agreement.” The Minister added, “This will empower more young people in the field of agriculture, added to the 1300 youth who have been engaged with the MYDNS Youth and Women in Agriculture Programmes this far.”
The young farmers from Mayo received training from the Extension Training and Information Services (ETIS) Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF), in hydroponics; small engine repair; agri-business management; compost making; home gardening; and dasheen production. Additionally, under the guidance of the Cooperative Development Division of the MYDNS, they were trained in Co-operative Studies and have formed the Mayo Farmers and Agriculture Community Marketing Cooperative Society Limited, to support the provision of input supplies, processing and marketing.
General Manager Castillo indicated that one plot of land will be dedicated to a CEMEX/TCL Bungalow, to be used as a Learning Resource Community Centre, in which the farmers and community residents interested in farming, can continue to receive technical support from the MALF, through their ETIS Division.
In 2022, the MYDNS, with support from the MALF, proposed a partnership with CEMEX/TCL, to develop the Mayo Community Agricultural Project (MCAP) on forty (40) acres of underutilized TCL land, that once facilitated citrus and cocoa production.
These two (2) Agreements have assisted in fulfilling the objectives of Pillars One and Six of the National Youth Policy (2020-2025), which ‘prioritizes youth economic participation and empowerment’ and ‘emphasizes youth contribution to rural transformation, agricultural production, and food security.’
The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service remains committed to bringing all stakeholders together to promote youth development and encourages civic-minded citizens to contribute to the National Service of Trinidad and Tobago.
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Ministry of Youth and CEMEX / TCL Agree On Agriculture Land in Mayo Community For Youth Involved in Agriculture
The Honourable Foster Cummings (l), with a handshake from Gonzalo Rueda Castillo – General Manager CEMEX/Trinidad Cement Limited, seals the deal for the use of land in Mayo for Youth involved in Agriculture.
The Honourable Foster Cummings (3rd from right) shares a photo opportunity with (l-r) Ms. Krishma Maharaj Planning Manager CEMEX/TCL; Ms. Janelle Collin, Communications and Social Impact Coordinator CEMEX/TCL; Gonzalo Rueda Castillo General Manager CEMEX/TCL; Mr Narine Charran Permanent Secretary MYDNS and Mrs Savitri Balkaran Deputy Permanent Secretary MYDNS