THERE have been several reports over the past few days of Africanized or ‘Killer Bees’ taking up unwelcomed refuge on properties, including schools, on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara, with sporadic cases detected around Georgetown as well.Over the last two days, the Mocha Nursery and Friendship Primary Schools, both on the East Bank of Demerara were reportedly invaded and bee-catchers had to be hurriedly dispatched to the rescue.

But the biggest shocker in this scheme of things, this newspaper was yesterday told, is that the Ministry of Agriculture has long disbanded its ‘bee unit’, so that anyone or any entity faced with a bee emergency and wishing to urgently have the bees removed, must be prepared to find within the vicinity of $17,000 to $20,000 to have the bees disposed of.

On Tuesday, a woman whose house is under construction and nearing completion in the new Grove Housing Scheme, made a shocking discovery that a swarm of bees was on the ‘fascia board’ of her roof. That discovery came at a time when workers were just preparing to attach gutters to the roof.
Wishing to have the bees removed and the job expedited, she contacted the Ministry of Agriculture, only to be told that the ministry no longer has a bee unit. She was however, given the names of two contact persons who would do the job, but she would be required to foot the bill.
She contacted the men who turned out to be the genuine and trusted experts who would normally undertake such a task, but who, at this time are in great demand, with not a moment to spare.
After directing them to her building and stating where the bees were spotted, they both said it was highly likely that the bees would have gotten into the ceiling which was constructed of PVC material, entering through the grooves on the sheets. They suggested that at least one of the galvanized sheets would have to be removed to verify if the bees are also in the ceiling, with a view to removing them.
The woman said she learnt that earlier in the week, a neighbour had been cleaning his yard and what looked like marabuntas were raised up and were chased away. She is wondering if, on leaving the neighbour’s yard they had moved over to her premises.
Africanized bees acquired the name ‘killer bees’ because they will viciously attack
people and animals. When disturbed, they become incensed and resolutely pursue and possibly kill persons or other moving creatures within their path. They are known to have attacked many people in Guyana and in some cases killed others.
Citizens have expressed concern over the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture’s bee unit has been disbanded.
Meanwhile, an official who has been involved with bee-keeping and control for several years, contends that what is required is a national response to the control of bees, and that the onus should certainly not be on citizens coming under attack, and who sometimes may not be able to afford the cost of having them subdued and removed.
This newspaper understands that so prevalent is the problem of bee invasion at times that, shortly after the unit was disbanded, the bee-catchers would sometimes get more than 80 calls in one day, but given that they are the only two experts recommended by the ministry, they are unable to fulfil the demands.
Over the last few days, well over 20 calls have been received, this newspaper understands. The fact that they have been unable to respond to all the calls, suggests that there may be nests in the waiting, which, if disturbed, can prove disastrous.
Meanwhile, this newspaper attempted to get a comment from the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture, Mr Noel Holder, but was told that he was at a meeting. Advice was however, sought from an official at the ministry in relation to the payment of fees for the service and were advised that exemption would be given if the bees are gathered at a spot that is: near a the road or a school; near the homes of the aged; or where schoolchildren daily traverse on their way to and from school.
The location of the house now under discussion at Grove is on a corner lot at a four-corner junction. Even though neither of the two bee-catchers introduced made any mention of any possible exemption from payment, the woman is hoping she would benefit from such exemption for which she would qualify, on the grounds of the above information.