– Major Beaton
The Joint Services have cleared over 800 metres aback of Buxton/Friendship, with 90 percent of the work completed between Brushe Dam and Friendship Middle-walk, says Major Gary Beaton, Commanding Officer for Engineers Battalion, who is in charge of the clearing exercise.
“We will now be going on to Church of God road after which we will be going to the adjoining areas. We have already done the bridge for us to start works in the west,” Major Beaton is quoted as saying in a Government Information Agency (GINA) report yesterday.
‘Operation Restore Order’ which the Joint Services mounted to rid the country of criminal elements is reported to be moving ahead as well as the clearing of the backlands aback of lower East Coast Demerara villages as part of the operation.
On February 4, after a decision by the Office of the President, the Joint Services commenced an operation to clear the backlands on the lower East Coast of Demerara. This area which has dense vegetation has been used by criminals as hideouts.
According to Major Beaton, the only hindrance during the exercise is the inclement weather but the Joint Services are still receiving support from residents.
“We have no problems with the residents in that area. Our problem is the weather, for example, last weekend we couldn’t work.”
The operation entails the removal of all vegetation in the identified areas aback of the villages on the East Coast which will provide a clear line-of-vision for villagers and the security forces.
Meanwhile, the relevant government agencies have been engaging concerned land owners to provide payment as the operation progresses.
Some farmers of Buxton have already received compensation for their crops that were damaged as a result of the clearing exercises, GINA said.
Since Operation Restore Order was launched two gunmen were killed in a shoot-out with the Joint Services at the Buxton backdam. And several items including an AK-47 rifle, four magazines and ammunition among other items were recovered in the area, GINA noted.
