Chairman of Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) Vickchand Ramphal is questioning the motive of the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ovid Morrison, in attempting to remove scores of farmers from their farms.
One of the signs erected to prevent farmers from entering their farms
Last Thursday, notices were placed at the entrances to the farms indicating that it is a criminal offence to enter onto the land, situated at Naarstigheid, West Coast Berbice.
More than 30 farmers from Bath Settlement, Experiment, Naarstigheid, Fort Wellington, and Hopetown were affected by the REO’s move. Ramphal, in a press statement, said that he learnt of the REO’s actions through the media: “My attention was drawn to publications in the media which suggest that the Regional Executive Officer of the Regional Democratic Council Number 5, is attempting to remove over 200 cash-crop farmers from approximately fifty acres of State Land situated at Naarstigheid, West Coast Berbice, which are currently occupied by these farmers and upon which they have cultivated growing cash-crops of various kinds.”
Ramphal says the RDC had made no decision to remove the farmers: “In fact, this matter has not even engaged the attention of any statutory meeting of the Regional Administration. Therefore, the Regional Executive Officer in whatever actions he is engaged on this issue is not executing a decision of the Regional Administration, neither is he acting for and on behalf of the Regional Administration,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman Rian Pieters met with the farmers on Thursday and informed them that no decision was taken at the RDC to have them displaced. He advised that they continue their daily farming activates. (Andrew Carmichael)
