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Unfolding drama at Hope Estate

Jan 09, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Please allow me to respond to Mr. Ed Singh’s letter published in K-News January 07 2016 edition. Firstly who is Ed Singh? Ed Singh is the Administrator of Dr Iamei Aowmathi’s (Chairman of the board of Hope Coconut industries limited) Herbal Clinic. Mr. Ed Singh seems to have amnesia or maybe the bush medicine from the herbal clinic is affecting his clarity.  I am no supporter of the PPP but for Mr. Ed Singh to say that the “PPP treated us like rubbish” referring to the people and farmers at Hope Estate is utterly ridiculous and untrue. Ed Singh was a supporter and beneficiary of PPP luxuries but like many when there’s a change of Government, Ed Singh changed his support to the APNU+AFC. Under the late President Burnham, farmers were renting lands for low as $1.00 Guyana dollar. Under the PPP farmers were paying  $2, 000 for cash crops and rice farmers 3, 000 per acre  per year.
Despite the many challenges faced by the farmers of Hope under the PPP administration they were happy with the rent. However in order for the estate to survive and pay its staffs it must increase the rent but to how much; $15,000, $20,000……….$140,000? That’s how much the rent were increase to. The $1, 250 per month mentioned by Ed Singh only applies to 1-5 acres which farmers are asked to pay 15,000 per acre per year. From 6-10  acres farmers are asked to pay 20,000 per acre per year and the increase goes on. Several times, Ed Singh keeps mentioning the poor; can a poor farmer afford to pay $140,000 who has ten mango trees on his cash crop farm? In his response to Sase Singh’s letter, he didn’t address my legal appointment as the administrative manager of Hope Coconut industries limited by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Chairman’s unacceptable occupancy of my office. Maybe just maybe Ed Singh had too much bush medicine.
I am calling on the members of the board of Hope Coconut industries limited to immediately call for an audit of the estate accounts. I will also like to bring to the attention of the President H.E. David Granger and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon that the actions and behavior of the Chairman of the board of Hope Coconut industries limited will hurt coalition’s image. The majority of farmers are East Indians and are living in fear that their lands will be taken away because they can’t  afford  pay the new increases. These men may very well be PPP agents in disguise to sabotage the government, Mr. President and on this note I humbly ask that the chairman be immediately removed. In closing Mr. Ed Singh said my family is fighting for land my family has the right to defend what’s legally and rightfully theirs. All the records at Hope Estates shows the lands are my grandfather.
Aseef Balmacoon
Administrative Manager
Hope Coconut industries limited

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