Hope Coconut Estate withdraws proceedings against rice farmers over tripling of rental fees

Attorney at law Anil Nandlall (in suit) with some of the aggrieved rice farmers shortly after the legal proceedings against them were withdrawn yesterday. Also in the photo (second from right) is PPP/C Member of Parliament Dharamkumar Seeraj.

Legal proceedings instituted against 18 rice farmers who had refused to accept the tripling of the rental fee for land they occupy were yesterday withdrawn by the Hope Coconut Estate Limited during a hearing before the Rice Assessment Committee at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.

The attorney for the farmers, Anil Nandlall, later described the conclusion of the matter as a victory.

A few months ago similar proceedings against another group of rice farmers were dismissed.