Dear Editor,
Minister Robert Persaud’s meeting with the residents to discuss the Buxton Backlands clearance seemed rather highhanded and arrogant which served to create an environment exactly opposite to what was intended. The response of the community should warn the government that such an approach will not have the desired results and they should adjust their methodology to a more diplomatic approach.
They need to identify a person who is capable of handling highly sensitive issues to lead any consultation with the Buxton community; someone who is not easily ruffled by political ‘low blows’ or personal insults. Ideally, such a person should not be politically affiliated but someone who has experience in dealing with high tension situations; possibly a retired senior army official or senior diplomat. That person can lead a team which would include the other government agencies involved in the exercise, but (s)he will be the lead mediator.
While there is a definite need to take all steps necessary to curb the criminal elements in Buxton one needs to take into consideration the obvious fact that the majority of Buxtonians are law abiding citizens and the present clearing exercise is creating hardships for the community.
The most urgent issue is the compensation for all of the agricultural produce that will be lost due to the exercise.
If the request for the farmers to issue their claims to the Police Force is not having the desired response, then the government should consider an alternative method where they go to meet the farmers. Why not establish the compensation desk at the site where the clearance is ongoing? It will be similar to the police station since there is 24 hrs security in the area. Create a desk where there is personnel who the farmers will feel comfortable dealing with including the mediator, government agencies representative/s, PNC representative etc. Such a gesture will show that the govern-ment is willing to compromise in the interest of the people.
What about the long-term effect of the clearance? From a farmer’s point of view, it seems to have many positive possibilities.
Who knows, probably a lot of farmers stopped farming because the cost to clear their farmlands may have become too prohibitive. This large-scale clearance may motivate them to resume farming as a livelihood.
The clearing of the farming areas may also actually improve agricultural yields and if better access roads and drainage are applied to the area then there should be better farming conditions as well.
This activity could also be used by the government to introduce a proper agricultural system in Buxton which could serve as an economic stimulus to the community, which may then reduce the social difficulties that may be forcing individuals into the life of criminal activity.
Another positive about the clearance exercise is that the Minister of Agriculture has committed the government to finding markets for the produce. If this can be extended to become a permanent long-term deal then this would serve as further motivation to continue farming.
While the community of Buxton have every right to feel affronted over the seemingly high-handed approach by the government to the clearing of the backlands, they should also accept that this situation is not long term.
They will be compensated and then allowed to resume farming in one month’s time. At that time, they will then have a larger area of cleared land on which to farm and there will be markets for their produce.
So it’s not a totally lost cause.
They should compromise in the interest of their neighbouring communities who live in fear because of the criminals using the backlands to commit their crimes.
The PNCR also has a role to play in which they can assist the community of Buxton in negotiating agricultural deals that will have long-term benefits.
Rather than the party just criticising the present situation they could become more meaningfully involved in the process by appeasing the farmers’ fears that this clearance will have a terminal effect on their levelihood.
They need to help the community to realise that there are also many positives that may be derived from the exercise.
The PNCR also owes an obligation to those other communities that live in fear of their lives due to the criminal elements that use the backlands to orchestrate their attacks. If the clearance of the land will help fight the criminals, then the party needs to support it
The handling of the clearance of the Buxton backlands is a very sensitive issue. The government needs to get the message across to the community that this wasn’t done as a means of punishing them but rather to improve security in the area.
For this message to be clearly heard needs a lot of diplomatic skill and up to now diplomacy hasn’t been very high on the agenda of the officials dealing with the situation. It is time that a different strategy is undertaken where a more diplomatic and engaging approach is used.
If not, the intended benefit of the Buxton backlands clearance may not be realised and the country may end up with more dissatisfied persons feeling that the government has an agenda against them which creates a fertile environment for the development of future criminals.
Yours faithfully,
M Emile