– residents claim PPP made them build chicken pens then abandoned them

THE residents of the Indigenous community of Speightland, Linden, particularly farmers are now upbeat after a visit from Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock on Sunday. The visit came only days after Minister Allicock in collaboration with Food For The Poor, donated tools, seeds and chemicals to the farmers of the community, who are members of the Speightland Logging and Agricultural Cooperative Society Limited. The association is a registered one that was formed to create employment for both farmers and loggers in the community.

The minister’s aim is to resuscitate farming in the community, so as to empower residents. In a matter of two weeks, 12 residents will also benefit from donations of a number of chickens and chicken feed, to commence a chicke- rearing business. The 12 beneficiaries are among those who were promised a batch of chickens and feed by the PPP administration and had even constructed their pens, awaiting the donation, but it was only an empty promise, according to resident Kevon Lorrimer, who also recently resigned from the PPP and joined the Guyana Action Party (GAP)

The residents praised the minister for his timely intervention, since their main economic activity, farming, was in need of resuscitation, after suffering severe blows over the last two years. During the last flooding in Linden, Speightland was hit hard and farmers’ losses were big. Residents even lost hundreds of chickens. Minister Allicock also assured the residents that when their reaping becomes aplenty, efforts to locate sufficient markets will be made available.

Farmers have commenced the cultivation of cash crops with the aim of supplying the community and left overs will be taken to the Mackenzie Market. Lorrimer noted that, despite the fact that the minister represents the GAP, he continued to stress that the efforts are those of the coalition government. He also assured residents that the government remains in place until elections are called and that the government continues to have their best interests at heart.

Lorrimer was also appointed regional community development officer (RCDO) under the MoIPA, since the aim of the ministry is to have a better understanding of what is occurring on the ground in the various Indigenous communities across Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). The over 60 residents also voiced their concerns about receiving land titles, since they cannot visit any financial lending institutions to acquire loans to finance either the construction of their homes, or agricultural projects. Lorrimer said as the RCDO, he is now tasked with submitting a detailed report of those residents who are without titles to the minister, who will then commence the process of regularisation through the right channels.

The residents also expressed gratitude to the minister for his timely donations. One resident said, “We are happy for the great help, it will be of much benefit to us, because this is all we know. We were made fools once, but now is time to look forward and not look back and we are happy for the help.”