Bath Settlement farmers need lands for cattle rearing

Apr 14, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

It was heart rending to listen to a video that was sent to me. A woman from Bath Settlement crying hysterically says her husband died and she did not take anyone else and depend on this land to obtain her living and asks, rather screams what is she to do now. She says the doctor says the people must drink cow milk especially pregnant mothers. So where are they going to get the milk from.

It was heart rending to listen to her. It seems like she was going out of her mind. And I can empathise with her dilemma.

Farmers at Bath Settlement are facing problems with regards to the rearing of their cattle and other animals. According to farmers, the Minister of agriculture told them he would help them by clearing the bush. However, the farmers have become aware that the land is now earmarked for housing.

The President came some months ago and said he would give them some land somewhere else, but they don’t know whereas they have not heard from him since then. Even then the task of relocating would be an extremely difficult one. Small farmers would not be able to rear livestock that is too distant.

According to information lands belonging to GUYSUCO and was given to them to rear animals but was taken away for the planting of rice. Then they were given land somewhere else and later that land was taken away and placed under housing. They were then placed where they are now.

A seventy-seven-year-old woman said they cleared the area; they chopped bush with cutlass. She said they were there for a very long time apparently long before 30 years ago. she said the land was agreed upon by government and GUYSUCO etc. The farmers hired a bulldozer to clear the land.

Farmers say people came to the area to survey. No meeting with the people no consultation.

Small farmers cannot go far to rear livestock. The land at the back apparently is not properly drained and livestock are dying or stolen. This is the only back land the people have access to.

The question is, are these people doing an excellent job providing meat and milk to the communities? So not only livelihood is affected but service to the community and health and nutrition of the community also. One young man says he has about 85 cows and supplies milk to the community.

Some time ago, I was in Black Bush Polder and the cattle farmers were complaining about flood and animals dying. No Drainage.

If my memory is correct when Cheddi Jagan developed Black Bush Polder. The first phase was completed, and the second phase was to be completed. The PPP was in power for 23 years and did not do any expansion for agriculture. It seems that livestock was/is the most neglected.

What is sad seems to be the don’t-care-a-dam attitude of the government in that they drafted plans to affect and destroy the livelihood of people and there was no consultation. Apparently, these people were pushed out from one place to another and now apparently being pushed out again with no place to go.

Often times the government plans and expends the taxpayer’s money without any consultation with the people. It’s like they feel they can do what they want, when they want and how they want. No check and balance.

The opposition on the other hand has lost its way. They are more occupied with the issue of power than the people’s welfare.

I believe we need to prevent an absolute majority for the PPP and a replacement for the ineffective opposition.

Rajendra Bisessar

BSc Sociology, LLB

Bath Settlement, BSc Sociology, cattle, LLB, Rajendra Bisessar

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