TOSHAO of Kabakaburi community in the Upper Pomeroon River, Mr. Cleveland Simon, had a narrow escape from death recently after he and two forestry officers detained a quantity of forest products suspected to have been illegally harvested from the village concession.

The Toshao related to the Guyana Chronicle how he had received a number of reports from concerned residents of his community about the illegal harvesting of lumber from the village concession by a group of men from the Pomeroon.
According to Toshao Simon, he acted promptly on the reports and got the forestry officer responsible for Region 2 and another officer from the forestry station at Ariapico River to accompany him to check on the lumber harvested from the village concession.
He said after they arrived at Mapuri Landing in the Ariapico River, the forestry officers detained a quantity of forest products that were packed to be transported illegally from Kabakaburi.
However, soon after the forest products were detained a man believed  to be the head of the group of loggers and the owner of the illegal lumber that was harvested, arrived and started a torrent of vile abuse.
Simon told this newspaper that the man whom he knows very well from the Pomeroon quickly pulled a chopper from a bag and fired a chop to his throat but the blow did not connect.

End was near
He said the man then grabbed him by his head and pressed the chopper to his throat in a menacing manner, making him feel that his end was near.
The Toshao said he was now helpless as the angry man then placed the point of the chopper to his forehead and pressed it, pushing his head back in the process.
Fortunately, Simon recalled, at this point one of the forestry officers called out: “It does not call for all this” and the man then turned his attention to the officers and began to hurl abuse and threats at them also.
In the meantime, Simon and the other two men with him withdrew from the location and went to the forestry station at Ariapico River and made a report by phone to the Charity Police Station.
The Toshao said the man was arrested subsequently and slapped with five charges. The matter was called in court and the man pleaded not guilty to each charge. The matter is expected to be called again shortly.
The Toshoa said that the matter is also engaging the attention of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Guyana Forestry Commission.
Simon concluded that he was just representing his community and standing up against persons taking advantage of residents of Kabakaburi when his life was threatened. He added that the men also cut lumber illegally from the State forest without paying revenues to the government.