CASH crop farmers who in 2016 had been warned to stop squatting on lands at Naarstigheid, West Coast Berbice (WCB), have been given one-year leases to continue farming. They will not be evicted.
Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ovid Morrison disclosed that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) which owns the land, had put in place an arrangement to regularise the farmers rather than evict them.
He said that of the 13 farmers who had been squatting on the lands, 11 have been given permission to continue farming.
Regarding the two who were not granted permission, Morrison explained that one was already occupying two plots in an area owned by GUYSUCO, while the other had said that he had been given a title for the plot of land he had been occupying. He would not be considered until and unless he provides proof of legal ownership Morrison said.
The farmers who are beneficiaries of the regularisation of their occupation of the State lands are mainly from the neighbouring Hopetown and Bath Settlement villages.
The plot of land lies between the two villages, with Hopetown to the west and Bath Settlement to the east.
Addressing the matter during a meeting at the administration’s boardroom, Morrison noted that since his assumption of office in the Region he had observed that Region Five had the most issues based on illegal occupation of land.
He told the beneficiaries: “It wasn’t right to go and squat on State land but since agriculture seems to be the lifestyle of this Region we will strive to assist people to maintain their lifestyles.”
He stressed: “This administration wants people to develop but it must be done in an organised and disciplined manner.”
The REO noted that those granted permission to continue farming on the land were found to be bona fide farmers; not a few merely holding on to the lands for purposes of renting and sub-letting.
The farmers expressed satisfaction that the region would allow them to continue to farm.
One veteran cash crop farmer said: “I used to plant at the western end of the land and now I am relocated. This is a good move by the administration. We used to squat but we now get more security with the land.”
A young farmer in the area, Mark Lalbeharry, said: “Now we get a paper we get more security. It’s better than before.”
A veteran cash crop farmer from Hopetown said: “I think the arrangement is fine. We were here before. To be honest we were scared to cultivate much. Now things have changed we know what we can do and what we cannot do, and we will comply with the rules.”
Some of the terms and conditions that the former squatters have agreed to, state that the permit requires a year to year renewal and is non-transferrable; there will be no cultivation of long term crops, just cash crops; no animals to be kept on their plots; no construction of permanent structures such as houses, although a moveable camp site is permitted, and no sub-letting or selling of their plots.
The farmers were told that those who breach any of these conditions can be evicted with three months’ notice.
The administration assisted them in moving large trees and other heavy undergrowth on their allocated plots.
