“Nobody can stop you from fishing” – Agriculture Minister tells Port Mournt residents

Residents of Port Mourant, Region Six (East Bewrbice-Corentyne), who make a living by catching fish from trenches in the cultivation area, have been given the green light by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha to carry on their activity with a promise that they will not be hindered. Additionally, the minister has promised to construct a bridge for easier access.
Residents raised their concerns with the minister when he visited the community on Saturday that their fore parents used the lands for fishing, and now animal owners are stopping them from entering the area.
“Some land was given to them, we understand, but then they tried to own all the land at the back dam, so none of the fishermen them can go fishing anymore at the back dam. And you know sometimes when things bad with people here and they don’t get work, or after they come for work, they go to the savannah to fish. And are glad if you can look into this thing,” one resident appealed to the minister, who asked them to voice their concerns.
“It is all government property and they are stopping people,” the resident added.
Mustapha instructed that the residents must be able to fish in the backlands of Port Mourant.
“Nobody can stop you. Nobody will stop you from now on. So, no cattle farmer at the back there must stop these fellows from fishing,” he instructed that the Manager for the Albion Sugar Estate ensure that persons are allowed to enter the backlands and fish freely.
“Sometimes people use that activity as their livelihood. And we cannot stop those people. So, at the end of this meeting, we will put a system in place so that nobody will stop you all in the future from fishing at the back there.”
Mustapha pointed out that the purpose of the meeting was to listen to the concerns of citizens are try to resolve issues the community might have.
He also committed to having a bridge constructed across a canal. This, according to residents, will make easier access to the backlands for some.