Mass pillaging of fish in West Dem water conservancy

Dear Editor,

Some weeks ago, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture lamented the depletion of our hinterland fish stock, attributing it to sport fishing.

I wrote the Minister acquainting him of the mass destruction of the fish population in the water conservancy spanning Canals Polder to Naamryck on the West Demerara/East Essequibo area. Miles and miles of tangle seine and fly rods are strung along both banks of the Conservancy.

These are being manned by fishermen who have camps in the Conservancy and who carry firearms.

I suppose the Minister is a very busy person and can hardly be expected to acknowledge my letter on a matter, the gravity of which he himself made public. Perhaps the fish stock in the West Demerara/East Bank Essequibo is not important.

I am now openly advocating that those who object to wanton and mass destruction of our sweet water fish stock, as in the case noted above, bring pressure to bear on the unscrupulous fishermen to up their seines and fly rods and exit the area, and let the fish stock be replenished. The Lukanani species is especially targeted.

I also call upon Conservation International to visit the area for a first hand look at the situation.

Yours faithfully,
Taajnauth Jadunauth