MAGISTRATE Roby Benn, sitting at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court in West Berbice on October 10, 2012, found the Abary Cattle Ranch to be liable to the MMA/ADA in the sum of $25,480,422.00 for drainage and irrigation charges owed between January 2000 and December 2008.

The MMA/ADA filed its claim against the Abary Cattle Ranch in 2009, claiming that the latter was an occupier of 7,060 acres of State lands, which had been previously held under two leases which had expired. The defendant remained in possession and occupation of the lands, and has refused to pay the charges.

In his defence, the defendant claimed, firstly, that the lands were not in the area over which the MMA/ADA has jurisdiction, and, secondly, that the MMA/ADA had been providing no drainage and irrigation services.

Magistrate Benn, in a lengthy written decision in which he analysed the evidence led by both sides, rejected the claims of the defendant based on the discrepancies in the evidence of the Abary Cattle Ranch, which were elicited in cross-examination by Counsel for the MMA/ADA,      Ms. Deena Panday.

Costs to the MMA/ADA in the sum of $2,500,000.00 were awarded.