– also appeal for help to get rid of wild monkeys that invade the village
THERE is some “wrangling” among residents in Best Village, West Coast Demerara, following a decision of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council to destroy several fruit trees and other crops on a dam which had been the base of a train line decades ago.

The Guyana Chronicle yesterday visited the area on the invitation of the residents who raised their concerns.

One well-respected resident of the community is contending that the grading down of the crops by the NDC is “very inhumane” since those belong to several elderly persons in the community who have resorted to farming to beneficially occupy their time.
The 76-year-old resident is very concerned that the plot of land on the train line, in front of his home, where he has been farming and which he has been maintaining over the years, will be destroyed. Pointing to the well-maintained plot of fruit trees, ground provision and cash crops on the land, the resident ask who will repay him for his crops and hard labour in the aftermath of the impending destruction.

Another gentleman told this publication that the claim being used by the NDC is that persons have been concealing themselves among the crops and pouncing on passersby. However, some residents are claiming that it is impossible for that to happen since there is a huge canal separating the old train line bed from the main access road in Best Village.

But walking deeper into the community, this reporter found a group of residents who are totally in favour of the move by the NDC to destroy the crops on the old train line bed. They said that decades ago most of the community used the area to farm after railroads were abandoned in this country.

They also recalled that under the PNC government they were all paid off for their crops which were on the stretch of land and the crops were destroyed and the area used as a thoroughfare for machinery clearing two canals which are situated on both sides of the railway bed.
While some persons removed, they stated, others opted to remain and have been farming but that was not a problem to the rest of the residents.
However, residents yesterday told the Chronicle that they became concerned and approached the NDC to have the crops removed from the railway bed since it was encouraging suspicious characters.
They said one of the bigger issue is that a few of the persons who are cultivating the plot are living miles away and do not regularly maintain the plot, allowing free growth of bush which can harbour reptiles and other dangerous creatures.

A visit to the area also saw this reporter taking photos which contrasted the cleared area to the areas which are yet to be cleared by the NDC machinery.
Those against the clearing also pointed out that the work the machine is doing could have been done by manual labour, saving the NDC much needed funds.
Efforts yesterday to get comments from the Regional Chairman and the NDC Chairman were futile.
WILD MONKEYS

Meanwhile, residents of Best Village also raised another burning issue that has been affecting them for several years now. It has to do with ‘wild monkeys’ literally invading the village, tormenting residents both day and night. “You can’t make the mistake of leaving your door or window open, the monkeys will destroy your house,” one resident lamented.
Residents are appealing for help in getting rid of the monkeys. (Leroy Smith)