Georgetown- More than 75 Region 5 farmers protested Government and Guysuco at the Regional Democratic Council at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice. Farmers, their wives and other concerned residents of Bath and Woodley Park braved intense rainfall and came out to voice their disappointment at the management of the flood waters and to agitate for full compensation for their losses. AFC Presidential Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan said that the administration must now demonstrate some level of humanity and compensate the residents for their losses.
The party stated that the lost crop, mainly eschallot, celery and tomato, is the main income for the farmers. This loss will bring further hardships to very deprived residents who have no other income alternatives.Some weeks ago, Guysuco had pumped out water from the Blairmont estate thereby inundating the residents of these areas. Residents had met with the regional administration as well as representatives from Guysuco. They were promised that once they accurately documented their losses, the administration would consider compensation for the losses incurred. However, now that this has been done, there is clear attempt to renege on that commitment.
Regional Chairman Mr. Harrinarine Baldeo who sought to interact with the aggrieved residents, made it clear that the decision to compensate the residents rests solely with the central authority in Georgetown. The AFC calls on the government to display the requisite prudence and compensate the aggrieved residents.
Residents declared categorically that the flooding of their communities was due to the pumping of estate water into the main drainage channel. The AFC supports the call of the famers that Guysuco must look to establish its own drainage channel which would not jeopardize their daily subsistence.
Residents, mostly women, spoke openly about the threats they received from specifically the Region's agriculture coordinator Mr. Mr. Krisna Sewlall attempting to dissuade them from carrying out their peaceful protest activity.
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