ON behalf of the No. 40 Rice Farmers Coop Society Ltd. (REGD 1513), I wish to address some pertinent issues as it relates to our society, to the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
His Excellency, our letter to you dated September 5, and captioned ‘Lands in No. 40 Coop unjustly targeted for repossession; reallocation’, has not been acknowledged. However a summary of that letter follows:
1) We have been occupying these lands for over thirty years
2) We have suffered millions of dollars in losses on account of flooding and have never been compensated
3) We have paid over $10,000,000 in drainage and irrigation charges over the years
4) Our indebtedness to MMA at the end of 2013 stood at $3,932,708. We have paid to date $3,082,000 representing 78% of amount owing
5) We have the capacity to continue cultivating our lands – within our membership we have six tractors, one combine harvester and one truck
6) We are a functioning Coop, meeting regularly
7) We feel very strongly that title to these lands should be given to us, the members, who have been up-keeping these lands for over thirty years.
We moved to the courts at the end of September and obtained an interim injunction restraining MMA from repossessing or reallocating our lands. This injunction was served on MMA on October 8.The hearing and determination of a summons to continue the injunction was set for October 17. MMA was able to have the injunction discharged on October 16 by the same judge.
Most of the issues raised in MMA’s affidavit had to do with the legitimacy of the No. 40 Coop and its members. It also claimed that the Coop never had a lease since the MMA never issued it with one. This is true because the Coop existed prior to the incorporation of the MMA in 1977. Further, numerous receipts and notices from MMA quoted lease no. A10199 as belonging to the No. 40 Coop. While the lease has expired, MMA continued to ‘treat’ with us as a Coop.
The MMA contended in its affidavit that I am not a rice farmer but an Insurance Salesman. However, numerous paddy receipt slips from a number of rice mills can verify that I am also a rice farmer. The other issues raised in the affidavit can similarly be contested but this was not allowed on account of the learned judge’s decision.
For this reason, Your Excellency, I, on behalf of the No.40 Coop, am approaching your esteemed office for a review of all the factors that have led to this unfortunate scenario.
I wish to add that MMA’s effort to give state lands to more persons in the village is laudable. However, this should not be at the expense of those with small holdings. Our village has approximately six hundred and fourteen acres of state lands. There are three hundred and sixty seven acres on the north of the main canal occupied by twelve persons, with each person having approximately 30 acres. The No. 40 Coop is on the south of the main canal with 247 acres occupied by ten persons; each person having approximately 24.7 acres. MMA in its wisdom has decided to repossess and re-allocate only the Coop lands in the village to meet the land needs of the youths and poor families of the village. MMA has received sixty-five applications for the Coop lands.
At this point, Mr. President, I would like to invoke Herbert J. Taylor’s four-way test that is a guiding light to Rotarian International and the world at large.
1) Is it the truth?
2) Is it fair to all concerned?
3) Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
This test is displayed on billboards in court premises in Ghana. (Wikipedia)
It is true that very many persons of all persuasions want land; but is it fair to all concerned when land is taken from one set of persons with small holdings to give to another set? Will this move by the MMA build goodwill and better friendship? It certainly will not. Animosity and ill will amongst villagers will be the fruits of this ill-advised effort of MMA.
Will it be beneficial to all concerned? To those who will have a four, five, or even ten acres of land it will seem beneficial. But what of those who will now lose their main source of income?
Mr. President, as you are aware, Guyana has about 220,000 acres of rice lands and over 500,000 acres of lands for other crops (Guyana Chronicle October10, 2011) However, with individuals and families having hundreds of acres of lands, it is virtually impossible for everyone to have their fair share of land in the scheme. It would make more than interesting reading for MMA to publish a table of land distribution in the scheme, but we know that for ‘thy kingdom come’ they would not do it, and for good reasons.
Mr. President, you probably would be at MMA’s open day activities (tomorrow, Friday October 31) where the distribution of land titles is a part of the programme.
No. 40 Coop lands may be among those slated for distribution to as many as the MMA sees fit. Our constitution endows you with awesome powers and responsibilities. I can only hope that you would exercise your responsibilities in righting wrongs and ensuring justice. And PLEASE remember the four-way test.
PATRICK HAMILTON
Chairman, No. 40 Rice Farmers Coop Society Ltd
