- equipment seized
The Guyana Forestry Com-mission (GFC) has issued a cease order to New Line Aqua Farm after it was found illegally operating in forestry concessions within the Canal Number Two area.

GFC Commissioner James Singh, in a letter written to his counterpart at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commis-sion, Doorga Persaud, informed that the discovery was made on May 22, while the GFC was conducting a routine monitoring exercise of concessions within the area. The GFC has since seized the New Line equipment found at the concessions.

According to the letter, “during this monitoring visit, it was discovered that approximately 25 acres of secondary forest was removed without the necessary approval from State Forest Permission (SFP)”. This activity was being conducted by the New Line Aqua Farm, owned by Salim Azeez.
The concession in question was leased to Seeranie Ramdhanny, the letter stated.

Meanwhile, the letter disclosed that all equipment found at the location was detained. This included a D6H Caterpillar Bulldozer, a Bulldozer with Rake, a 315 Caterpillar Hymac and a tractor trailer.

The GFC has requested that Persaud provide a status report detailing if any application was made to commission regarding the establishment of an agricultural farm. Singh pointed out that the GFC did not have any evidence of the New Line Aqua Farm being granted approval for such activity by the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission.

The GFC, meanwhile, is currently conducting a detailed investigation into the matter.
According to its website, which was developed in 2005 New Line Aqua Farm started development in 2001 with the intention of fully commercializing Red and Grey Tilapia and Pacu.

“At present the company has constructed 26 ponds that have been completed and stocked with tilapia and a further 42 are being built. In addition, 20 concrete hatching tanks, 46 grow-out (fish maturation) steel tanks, two earth ponds for brood stock and 12 hatching ponds have been constructed.

“Our emphasis over the past three years has been research, development and construction of unique hatchery facilities to produce high quality fingerlings of various species for the fish farming industry for their final growth and sale to the food fish market.”