Dear Editor,
The residents of the Parikwaranau Village located in South-Central Rupununi, Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are very concerned that a known cattle rancher has taken over and fenced a portion of their titled village lands without their consent. This matter was brought to the attention of the Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs Sydney Allicock about a year ago by the Village Council but to date nothing has been done.
The residents are claiming that while Minister Allicock has recently addressed the land boundaries of villages in the North Rupununi he is not addressing the Parikwaranau titled land encroachment by the rancher.
Villagers are saying that both Ministers Allicock and George Norton recently visited the Parikwaranau Village on the 14th September, 2017 and informed villagers on their arrival that their visit was not to deal with land but to address other issues. Minister Allicock instead advised residents to take their land problem to the Land Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which should be invited to the village.
The residents are of the opinion that their current land problem is not one for the Land CoI to solve but the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs. They said they would not be taking their problem to the Land CoI, neither would it be invited into the village.
In the meanwhile, the problem is affecting the strategic development of Parikwaranau Village.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Persaud