A number of farmers in Region Five were ecstatic on Saturday to receive news from Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, that they would be allowed to once again farm on the land which they were removed from by the region’s former Regional Executive Officer, Ovid Morrison.
“I am here to tell you that we have instructed the RDC (Regional Democratic Council) to put you back on the land but it will have to be done in a processed way. Each of you will get a plot of land in this vicinity”, he told the farmers gathered.
Nandlall then sought to remind the farmers that the land ultimately belongs to the state hence they should not attempt to sell to others. “None of you own it so none of you can sell it, you are going to get permission to occupy and farm and that was the original agreement”.
Nandlall stressed, that the land falls under the Regional Democratic Council, hence it is the Council that will have to divide and regularize the land. “But everyone of you who were here before and were moved will get back a plot of land”, he stressed.
The lands in question are at Naarstigheid and Bath, West Coast Berbice
A farmer present told the minister that he was hoping to also receive a plot of land at the location. Nandlall noted that while priority would be given to the persons who were initially planting, others who wished to farm on the land would be granted permission also.
He said, “In our government farmers are a significant sector. The agriculture sector remains the base of our economy, and oil and gas and the new sectors revenues will be used to move you from one agricultural state to another. We want to move you to plantation agriculture, so when you plant tomato you plant a plantation of tomato, so we have to move in stages”.
Morrison had removed the farmers and started a Region Five Model Farm in 2018 at the location. It was his intention that the farm would be executed in three phases over a thirteen-year period.
Stabroek News was told that over $600M has already been spent on the Model Farm, which comprises a piggery, mini abattoir and security huts along with coconut trees, bora plants, ochro and peppers among other crops.
Sources in the region told Stabroek News that the produce was reportedly transported to Linden with two vehicles where it was being sold. According to the source, the profits from the produce were handed over to the region.
The source said that there were 48 workers attached to the farm. Twenty of those workers were pulled from those who were hired to clean schools and regional compounds as part of the CORE project. Further, some $1.2 M was being paid monthly by the region to a firm to provide security at the farm.
Nandlall on Saturday noted that during the process of removing the farmers, Morrison destroyed crops. As such, legal proceedings were filed and Morrison was ordered by the judge to pay over $5M in compensation.
However, according to Nandlall, due to the situation with the recent General and Regional Elections and the pandemic he was not able to execute the judgment when it was given. “It is my every intention to execute that judgment and ensure that the farmers receive the damages and compensation that was ordered by the judge”.
One farmer present interjected and said Morrison bulldozed their entire crop without giving them the opportunity to reap.
Additionally, the minister said, that his party promised to correct all the “injustices and abuses of power” that Guyanese endured under the previous administration. As such, he said, the increase of rates and rents from MMA will be reversed, “We are in the process of doing that”.
Meanwhile, Nandlall stressed to the farmers that it is absolutely necessary for them to get up to date with their rates once the increase is reversed. “We are asking that you pay up your rates and the cabinet only (on Friday) approved a sum of money for the cleaning of all the canals that were blocked in the MMA scheme”.
Regional Chairman of Region Five, Vickchand Ramphal, is expected to meet with the farmers today to start the process of relocating farmers back to the land.
Nandlall advised him to ensure that the process is a speedy one.
