Dear Editor,
An article in your January 13, 2007 edition reported that stray dogs have been killing my goats at Hubu EB. I provided a photograph of a dog, which was traced to its owner. This matter is before the court at Leonora.
In response to that publication, a number of persons have signed a letter captioned “Mr. Rahaman has been hostile to these communities” (07.01.19) making libelous pronouncements. They have caused to be printed many untrue statements, which I would like to clarify.
My family owns more than 500 acres of land in the Hubu and surrounding areas. The first purpose of the lands was to cultivate rice, which was a success. The more lucrative aquaculture became out next venture. This has been put on hold, pending the accumulation of enough funds to complete the project. Yes millions have been spent to prepare the lands for inland fish farming, I am glad the writers have conceded this truth.
Now sir, to deny that we have this significant number of goats is silly, they are there to be seen, including pens and other infrastructure. I attach a certificate from the Livestock Officer of region Three which shows I have a goat farm with 257 animals. We do not have to fence our property, it is too expansive for fencing. We have natural barriers to keep our goats within the perimeter of the property. Ours may be the largest concentration of goats in Region Three. It is an attempt to construct an industry that Guyana needs at this time, when there is evidence that we can export meat to foreign countries.
The dogs that kill our goats are not wild dogs or stray dogs. The dogs that kill goats belong to people who traverse the St Lawerence main drain on their way to their farms. For reasons unknown, they release their dogs from their boats onto the adjoining dam, and these are the dogs that cause the damage to the goats. Our neighbours to the west have had their flock of sheep destroyed by these same dogs.
Yours faithfully,
Ansari Riaz Rahman