Dear Editor,
The residents of Parikwaranau Village, located in south Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo) are highly concerned that a known cattle rancher has taken over and fenced a portion of their titled village lands, without their consent.
This matter was brought by the village council to the attention of the Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Vice President Sydney Allicock, about a year ago, but, to date, nothing has been done.
The residents are claiming that while Minister Allicock has recently addressed the land boundaries of villages in the North Rupununi, he is deliberately refusing to address the Parikwaranau-titled land encroachment by the known rancher, a situation of which he is fully aware.
Villagers informed that both Ministers Allicock and George Norton visited Parikwaranau Village on September 14, 2017, but informed villagers on their arrival that their visit was not to deal with land issues, but to address other issues. Minister Allicock instead advised residents to take their land problem to the Land Commission of Inquiry (CoI), and he also advised on who should be invited to the village.
The residents are of the opinion that their current land problem is not one for the Land CoI to solve, but the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs (MoIPA) should solve it.
The residents have said they will not be taking their village problem to the Land CoI, neither will the Land CoI be invited into the village.
Parikwaranau village residents are extremely disappointed over Minister Allicock’s refusal to settle their land problem with the known cattle rancher. They are wondering if it is a conflict-of-interest situation, and if so, then Minister Garrido-Lowe or a specially appointed person should take over.
In the meanwhile, the problem is currently affecting the strategic development of the Parikwaranau Village.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Persaud
