We are happy that farmers in the Buxton/Friendship area have put partisan politics aside and in a more positive frame of mind put their economic survival on the front burner. This is a show of maturity by these farmers, who, ever since the de-bushing exercise by the Joint Services aback the area earlier this year for security reasons, have been up in arms against the authorities demanding compensation among other things.

What seemed to be an ugly affair in the initial stages of the de-bushing exercise when tempers flared, has now changed to a more civilised and cordial approach in which both sides are able to sit side by side and work out ramifications for further compensation and infrastructural works to be carried out in the area in which farmers themselves would be involved.

We recall that in the initial stages of the de-bushing exercise, farmers were compensated for crops which might have been destroyed, and now, just two days ago, they started receiving further collective compensation to the tune of $ 5.8M., and during a meeting with Agriculture Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud, they were informed about other agricultural interventions which are to be put in place to assist them including drainage and irrigation.

It is to be noted that following the meeting with the Minister, a contract was signed for the cleaning of major drainage canals in the Buxton/Friendship area in which exercise, most, if not all the farmers affected would be employed.

We also recall that in April this year, Minister Persaud made a second visit to the Buxton backlands during the clearing activities, and held discussions with farmers in the Pond Dam area. During those discussions it was disclosed that a second phase of verification prior to the disbursement of compensation would be conducted, and the Farmers’ Group within the communities will be contracted to undertake the additional land clearing, and will be overseen by the Buxton/Friendship NDC and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority.

That the government is spending approximately $4.8M to ensure drainage and irrigation works in the Buxton/Friendship areas to allow farmers to gain access to lands to plant on a larger scale, is a clear manifestation by the government of its support to the farmers in the areas.

According to Minister Persaud: “ We will work through the Farmers’ Committee but each farmer will have an opportunity to be part of the exercise and be paid in accordance to the contract that they would enter into with the Farmers’ Committee. The work will also be overlooked by the NDC and other agencies to ensure that quality work is being done.

All Guyana is happy that the parties involved have put their heads down in a structured manner and were able to arrive at workable solutions acceptable to both sides.

We believe that this kind of rapprochement could lead only to the further social and economic development of the people in the Buxton/Friendship areas.

They have allowed better senses to prevail and now they could carry on with their lives in a more meaningful and profitable manner.

The people note that during the entire episode, Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud, acted admirably and was not averse (as his late predecessor would have said), to err on the side of caution.