RESIDENTS of the Region One (Barima –Waini) community of Four Miles have been assured that their outstanding land issues would not only be investigated but completed within three months.

The assurance came from Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, during a recent meeting with the community’s residents.

He was accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes; and Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe.

The residents raised concerns over their community being designated an Amerindian reservation, since 80 per cent of the persons residing there are non-Amerindians.
Samuel Benjamin, who has been residing in the community for about 28 years, explained that when he first settled in the area, “It was an open expanse run by the Port Kaituma Neighbourhood Democratic Council.”

He said that, subsequently, the residents agreed to form the area into a community. However, on the day when they were to elect councillors, they were told that only a person of Amerindian extraction could become chairperson of the community, thus most of the residents objected to this decision.

Benjamin noted that, over the years, letters were sent to the previous government, requesting that officials visit the community and investigate the matter, but no one came.

He said the election of a toshao without prior consultation with the residents caused a division within the community.
He is asking that the present Government intervene and resolve the issue, so the community can move forward with its development.

During the meeting at the Four Miles Community Centre, Minister Trotman asked that government be given three months to investigate the matter.
“Let us hold the peace,” he urged, adding: “And I am expecting that within a matter of three months the most, not that the process will start, but it will be started and completed.”

He, however, asked that, in the meantime, residents remain calm. “Mr. James did not name himself the toshao,” he said. “And so I will ask that, in the meantime, show each other some respect. Every problem has a solution. These are difficulties we have inherited, but it doesn’t make sense we go back to who did what. Right now, we have to find solutions to an issue, and that is why we are here,” the minister explained. He added that he now has information he could take to Cabinet.

“We have a serious problem in Four Miles, and we will have to fix it for the benefit of everyone,” he assured.

According to Trotman, a team of officers from the Lands and Surveys Department and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs will be visiting the community shortly, and the issue would be settled definitively and in accordance with the law.

Four Miles is a community located within Port Kaituma, in the North West District, Region One. It has a population of about 1500 people. (GINA)