Minster of Agriculture Robert Persaud, who is performing the duties of Prime Minister, Chief Executive Officer of the CJIA, Ramesh Ghir, and other officials on Friday engaged livestock and cash crop farmers in a meeting at the Timehri Prison Officers Club.
The meeting dealt with the removal of occupants, primarily livestock farmers, from the six-mile radius around the airport and to determine alternative placement for them, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
With livestock attracting birds in the vicinity of the airport and posing dangers to passengers and aircraft, Minister Persaud explained the removal strategy by making reference to the 2009 incident when a US Airways plane, with 155 people on board was ditched into the Hudson River.
Investigations showed that one of the possible causes of that occurrence may have been that a bird was struck while the plane was in the air, thereby affecting its engine.
The minister said that it will be in the national interest if the practice of such farming types cease in that location.
He pointed out that this new development is in keeping with rules and regulations of international flight agencies that have the authority to impede air travel to Guyana, an act that will ultimately hurt the national economy.
Persaud maintained that removal from the specified surrounding radius of the airport is the only option.
However, government will be willing to assist in finding alternative locations, and farmers present at the meeting expressed gratitude for this commitment, GINA stated.
However, some of them indicated that moving will be costly and the minister said that the ministry can contribute to the relocation of farming materials.
Meanwhile, those farmers who are squatting and are so desirous of attaining land legally will be aided by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission.
