Buxton cane and cash crop farmers observed for the second day running the destruction of their farmlands, even as PNCR leader, Robert Corbin dispatched a letter to President Bharrat Jagdeo urging him to devise a plan for the proper use of the backlands and to provide details on proposed compensation.
The PNCR leader met with several farmers in Buxton yesterday during which a committee was formed to look into the interest of the affected farmers. The committee also appointed Corbin and MP Ernest Elliot as their legal and political representative respectively.
Corbin and President Jagdeo have been at odds since the head of state called on him to acknowledge that criminals were hiding out in Buxton and yesterday the PNCR leader told Stabroek News that since the Lusignan slaughter he and the President had not communicated.
The administration on Monday commenced a massive operation to clear dense bush aback of villages stretching from Enmore to the east to Beterverwagting to the west. Over 300 farmers in Buxton alone would be affected by the operation, which the administration said would help expose gunmen who use the thick vegetation to hide after committing crimes.
In a letter sent to Jagdeo and copied to Acting Police Commissioner, Henry Greene and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best, Corbin said that his party had already publicly condemned the atrocity at Lusignan and expressed its support for the security forces doing what is necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice. He however condemned in the letter which was released to the media what he termed as the wanton destruction of property that is taking place while the security forces conduct their exercise to find the criminals who carried out the gruesome murders, as well as the harsh treatment of some residents, particularly youth, by the Security Forces.
Corbin told the President that on Saturday last after receiving numerous phone calls from angry residents of Buxton, he visited the village to verify the accuracy of the allegations being made. He said words were difficult to describe what he observed, noting that video footage during his visit provided accurate evidence of what took place and he availed the tape to the head of state. “I am not questioning the need for searches by the security forces, however, in the absence of any further explanation being given to these residents that are victims of this wanton destruction, there is need for a government guarantee that compensation will be provided to those persons whose property have been damaged,” the PNCR leader said.
Proper list
He said he had advised all residents to prepare a proper list of the damage suffered and would wish to be advised what procedures will be followed to ensure speedy compensation. “I also wish to bring to your attention that there are bona fide farmers who, because of unpleasant past experiences during such operations, are fearful and or unable to attend their farms during this period”, Corbin wrote to the President, noting that no one had shown the respect for them and thought it necessary to meet and or brief them about the present exercise that is adversely affecting their lives and livelihood.
“While we support the Security Forces in their fight against crime, I cannot and will not condone any action that is contrary to the law and perceived by most as vindictive,” Corbin told the President. He said the only conclusion is that a determined effort is being made by some to undermine the security effort by alienating, rather than endearing, the members of the community that can possibly be of support to the security forces at this crucial time.
Noting that there was no logic behind removing all the vegetation” from the backlands as a security measure Corbin said that he was sure that, with a little imagination and discussion with the stakeholders, a plan for the proper use of those resources to rehabilitate the farmlands can be devised.
Revitalization
“A plan that would fulfill security goals while at the same time ensuring the improvement of the livelihood of residents of the area. I am prepared to make such a plan, prepared several years ago, available to you,” the PNCR leader declared. On assuming the leadership of the PNCR, Corbin had unveiled a sustainable revitalization programme for the Buxton community.
He told Stabroek News yesterday that while the party still had the plan, they were finding it difficult to secure funding to make it work.
He called on the diplomatic community to help with the project, which he said was well-researched. As part of the project several Buxton residents were encouraged to rear chickens, but from all indication that enterprise has fallen through.
In a statement on Monday afternoon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon said that government’s decision to clear vegetation aback of the villages on the lower East Coast of Demerara was as a result of several reasons. He cited the regular resort of criminal elements to the protection offered by the dense vegetation and cane fields aback of those villages; the persistent call by the affected communities to remove the dense vegetation and the commitment by the joint services to enhance security of those in vulnerable communities. He said too that the aim of the operation was to create line-of-sight clearance of a perimeter that extends from as far east as Enmore and as far west as Beterverwagting/Triumph by the time the operation is completed. According to the HPS the operation commenced with the clearing of dams in the Friendship area to provide access to those areas that are contiguous with the housing settlements aback of Buxton/Friendship/Vigilance in the east and Annandale in the west. Buxton is said to be a haven for gunmen and a criminal gang reputedly led by Guyana’s most wanted man, Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins. Over the years the security forces had conducted several operations in that community to flush out criminals but they have not been able to accomplish this.
Yesterday Stabroek News re-visited the Buxton/Friendship communities and observed thick smoke billowing from the backlands. Security officials on the ground said that canefields aback of the village were set alight to facilitate the harvesting of the crop as part of the operation to clear the farmlands. “We don’t know when this will all come to an end,” Vanessa Paul a Friendship farmer remarked to Stabroek News. On Monday a large group of farmers had spoken to this newspaper complaining about the impact the destruction of their farms would have on them.
Interest in the condition of the backlands of several East Coast villages was rekindled following the slaying of 11 people including five children at Lusignan two weeks ago. During a meeting with residents of Mon Repos one day after the shooting, President Jagdeo was urged to take swift action to clear the backlands of Buxton and surrounding communities.