– after forceful eviction under coalition gov’t
By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur
ATTORNEY GENERAL (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, on Saturday, told Region Five farmers that they will return to the lands that were taken over by the previous administration for a multi-million dollar model farm project that was a failure.
The pronouncement by the attorney-general was in keeping with a promise made by President Irfaan Ali during the 2020 elections campaign.
Standing at the now defunct model farm in Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, Mr Nandlall, to a resounding applause, told residents that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has been instructed to ensure each farmer that was forcibly removed be returned to the lands.
“I am here to tell you that we have instructed the RDC because the land falls under the administration of the RDC to put you back on the land, but it will have to be done in a processed way. Each of you will get a plot, it may not be the exact plot that you previously had but you will get a plot of land in this vicinity. Every one of you who were here before and were removed will get back a plot of land,” he said.
The attorney-general noted that, in addition to returning the farmers to their lands, he will ensure that judgement, in the form of $5.3M in compensation, as was ordered by the judge to be executed, as well as the fulfillment of the other promises made on the campaign trail.
“Importantly, we promised while we were in opposition, we promised that when we return to government we will as far as possible correct all the injustices and the abuses of power that the people of Guyana endured at the hand of the last administration. The President at Bath rally committed to working with farmers and ensure that they get back the lands that were taken from you, ensure that the rates and rent at MMA/ADA, the exorbitant increase that were imposed will all be reversed and we are in the process of doing that right now,” he said.
In 2016, then Regional Executive officer (REO) of Region Five, Ovid Morrison, under the APNU+AFC government, sought funding for a modern farm to the tune of $200M.
In late 2016, farmers were forcibly removed from their lands at Bath, Naarstigheid and Fort Wellington despite not getting the blessing or approval from the RDC that had control over the land. The farms, some that had produce were bulldozed to make way for the modern farm project spearheaded by Morrison.
WASTEFUL SPENDING
Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal told Guyana Chronicle that approximately 50 farmers were affected by the callous actions of the former REO. Some $600M was spent on the project with little or no benefit to the residents. Some farmers at that time had occupied and developed the land for as many as 20 years, he said.
Legal proceedings were filed on behalf of the farmers by Nandlall against the then REO and judgement was awarded in favour of the farmers by Justice Simone Ramlall.
The AG described the actions of Morrison as that of waging war against the farmers while assuring the farmers that he will execute the judgement as ordered by the judge.
“The REO acting contrary to the instructions of the RDC began to wage war against farmers who were occupying plots of land here and along the roadway that they were occupying for about 20 years prior. In so doing, he destroyed growing crops, he assaulted several farmers. As a result, we filed legal proceedings. You are aware that we won the case and the REO is ordered by the judge to pay in excess of $5M in compensation. I have been unable to execute judgement because we had the elections issues for the past five months and judgement came around that period and also with the COVID-19 lockdown. But as the place is opening back, it is my every intention to execute that judgement and ensure that the farmers receive the damages and the compensation that were ordered by the judge,” Nandlall said.
HAPPY
Wilfred Arthur, one of the farmers who were affected said he was happy that he can return to the lands. He recalled that, at the time he was evicted, he had plantains, cassava, lime and other cash crops that were ready for harvesting and did not receive any compensation.
“I had to switch to making furniture after the land was bulldozed and I lose everything but the furniture is slow and many days we had nothing. When we had a farm, it was easier cause you could pick something and cook but I happy now that we can plant again and even happier that we should be getting we compensation for the damages,” a happy Arthur said.
Nandlall assured the farmers that, despite emerging sectors, agriculture will remain the cornerstone of the economy and every effort will be made to expand the sector even further.
He added: “In our government, the farmers are a significant sector, the agriculture sector remains the base of our economy. I know you are hearing a lot about oil and gas, that is very important too, but our country will remain an agriculture base. Oil and gas and the other new sectors, the revenue will be used to move you from one agricultural stage to another.”
