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Regional chairman urges joint services withdrawal from Buxton

Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette has made a plea for the joint services to be removed from Buxton, saying they have been harassing farmers in the area.

Corlette made the call yesterday during a visit by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud to inspect ongoing works in the village. Corlette told Persaud he had received several complaints from farmers who say that police and army ranks often verbally harass them and occasionally tell them that they cannot enter the farms.

A large section of the backlands was cleared of bush after the January 26 killing of 11 people in Lusignan. Residents of Lusignan said the bush provided cover for criminals. Persaud said he found the complaints strange, since the joint services knew their role in the backlands. Additionally, a farmer present during the minister’s visit said he never had any negative experience with the joint services.

However, Corlette told this newspaper that the problem usually arose whenever new joint service squads were assigned to the village. He opined that while there might have been a need to have the joint services present at one time, it has now passed. He said he previously approached the minister about the issue since it required urgent attention. If it is not adequately addressed, Corlette suggested that he would take it to Parliament.

Buxton farmers who met the minister were pleased with the efforts being made to improve the farmlands at the back of the village and they were looking forward to reaping abundantly when farming on the land gets underway. Since the clearing of the land, works on restoring physical infrastructure to aid in farming have commenced. Persaud said the ploughing of the land will start next week and he urged the farmers present to make the most of the opportunities being presented by the government. He also said the ministry would be engaging religious organisations in order to get the young people involved in agriculture in a more significant way. He added that the ministry was making a special effort to develop agriculture in Buxton and more initiatives could be expected in the future. Additionally, a special effort would be made to engage private cane farmers to increase the local production of sugar. Persaud stated that in recent years, the production by this group of farmers has declined considerably and this is a concern.

The minister also visited the desilting pump basin facing the Atlantic Ocean, which will enhance drainage in the area. Lionel Wordsworth, CEO of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, explained that the $16 million project is expected to be completed in two to three weeks time.

Although the project was started in March, it has been affected by bad weather.

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24 Responses to “Regional chairman urges joint services withdrawal from Buxton”

SandHurst First
on October 12th, 2008 5:54 am

The Regional Chairman took 3 years too many to proclaim this statement. Buxton is like any other village in this country.. it has the six ethnic races living there, children living there attends Q.C as well as President’s College and there are many different religious institutions established there. We all know which former president said what as it relates to this village so thats why these incidents took place in the first instance.

[Reply to this]
Satish
on October 12th, 2008 7:50 am

Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette’s plea advances the needs of the criminals and is a slap in the face of the law-abiding people who live in the area.
Mr Corlette should be petitioning the government for MORE INTERVENTION like the $16 million project currently in progress.

We must get out of the vicious circle of children seeing criminals as role models and the only way to do this is to maintain (and be seen to maintain) law and order.

Buxton should never again be a no-go area for the police and this should be so in order to protect the people who wish to live in quite contentment in the area.

The January 26th slaughter of men, women and children should never be allowed to happen again anywhere in Guyana.

[Reply to this]
SandHurst First
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 10:30 am:
What the hell January 26 got to do with the joint services in Buxton????My Youth, have you ever seen any criminal in Buxton while you were there?? i was a soldier who operated there for 8 months straight during the crime spree and never saw ONE!!!

[Reply to this]
coolieman
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 11:03 am:
Why is it that since the JS flushed the criminals out from Buxton there are no more mass killings, the JS needs to set up a permanent outpost there and you Mr SandHurst and Mr Corlette should encourage your people to use the cleared lands that the govt is giving them and not allow the lands to overgrown by bush again ,maybe that is why you did not see any criminal when you were there because they hiding in the bushes
decanadianCarlVeecock
on October 12th, 2008 9:29 am

“Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette has made a plea for the joint services to be removed from Buxton, saying they have been harassing farmers in the area.”

Corlette forget his request / attitude

Instead ask the JS to set up mini-headquarters in Buxton with residences for
all personnel;
That would bring business to Buxton.
Use Buxtonians to do the infrastructure works, develop access roads, set
up community facilities, etc.

The guarantee Buxton would have is certain income flow from the JS people,
plus of course the bandits etc, would think more than twice of doing
criminal activity in Buxton. The wole social ethic would change for the better.

Chairman Clement Corlette, hold your tongue or better yet, speak for
improvements and economic gains.Plus…rethink your outburst about
harrassement.
That seems to be a ruse.

[Reply to this]
SandHurst First
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 10:32 am:
What nonsense are you speaking big man?you sound one sided!!!

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 11:18 am:
SandHurst First……you got me here,
confused at what you mean by “nonsense !

Juss ponder pun des words and see if deh mek sense…

1. eoonomic inputs
2. community development
3.authoritative presence
4.infrastructure
5. more local jobs

Just in case they are above your head, let me give you a true life history.

The Federal Government of Canada many years ago decided to spread out
some of its Departments in communities in remote distant locations to
provide employment for the folks living in those areas.

Very very successful!

Apart from providing jobs, spin off businesses arose, community activities
increased, and a better standard of living resulted.

They also did it with some of their forces training bases.

Now transpose that to Buxton as I commented o above.

Got it now or it still nonsense?
Faceboy
on October 12th, 2008 10:22 am

On the day in question, this guy had nothing to say but because he likes to talk, made those ignorant and misplaced alligations to acheive his own agenda.

[Reply to this]
The Voice
on October 12th, 2008 10:34 am

To hear Mr. Corlette say “while there might have been a need to have the joint services present at one time”, which time was he referring to and why was there a need? I wish if he can answer that.

[Reply to this]
torbo
on October 12th, 2008 10:34 am

i think the j/s should be removed period from buxton and let the buxton farmers
cultivate their lands and sell their produce without fear or intimidation from
the joint service members ,buxtonians have nothing to achieve by allowing
criminal elements to occupied their village,farming ,agriculture and rehab of
the buxton market will help bring jobs and financial freedom to them, but lets
wait and see if mr.persaud will continue with the help for the people of buxton

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 11:26 am:
Sorry Torbo, I not find what you saying to follow clear thinking!

My analysis of what you said is :
1. the JS should leave
2. farmers would be free from intimidation from the JS
3; Buxtonians have nothing to gain by allowing criminal elements blah blah
4. farming, agriculture would allow financial freedom and bring jobs

Man dis time is I confused and is you de cause !

Now please read my posts.
They are very clear and informative.

[Reply to this]
Arnold
on October 12th, 2008 10:55 am

I had a Jewish friend that lived on Company road, I visited him regularly, this was in the 80ies.
Buxtonians that I have known are all very polite and well-mannered, the crime spree time I think the vast majority of the criminals were not home grown.
So please leave the village J.S. they had enough of you’ll.

[Reply to this]
rambler
on October 12th, 2008 12:42 pm

A full withdrawal of the army from the country would be even better

[Reply to this]
alexis 296
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 4:08 pm:
rambler if donot known ,say nothing.

[Reply to this]
rambler
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 5:45 pm:
please write english
onelove
on October 12th, 2008 1:50 pm

sandhurst i am from buxton and buxton do harbour criminals.i did know most of them because they never hide walking around with their weapons.no one could have said anything because we didnt know who was a spy for those criminals,many lost their lives because they was lable as spy for the police.why only the PNC was the only party that could have go into buxton and them we blame others?the PPP cannot be blame for the criminals but i would say ther did know about the phantom.

[Reply to this]
BIG D
on October 12th, 2008 2:52 pm

If Buxtonians are harbouring criminals,they should desist.Historically,Buxton is blessed with scholars.from the Judiciary,Medicine,Security Forces,Business,and Education.Some who have gone to the Great Beyond,are turning in their graves.The Wills,Carters,Youngs,and Austins,are just a few that come to mind.Some are still around,and it will be fitting for some of them to come out of hibernation.If Buxtonians are harbouring criminals,those who are law abiding should make an effort to rid this curse from Buxton.Expose the criminals now.

[Reply to this]
Fulano de Tal
on October 12th, 2008 3:16 pm

May I suggest that those stationed in Buxton be roatated around other places, villages etc. They could spend a few months on Regent St, maybe a few more in Atlantic Gdns, another few in Enmore etc. Spread the security around. We in Buxton are safe thank you for your care & concern but we need our limited resources to develop our lands.

[Reply to this]
coolieman
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 7:30 pm:
The JS will be stationed where there is a threat to national security so Mr Fulano you can go and develop your land in peace , the govt already cleared it for free and you and some of your friends here can ease telling the JS where they should be stationed

[Reply to this]
Fulano de Tal
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 7:58 pm:
It seems like my comments hit you hard. I’m happy, the truth will hurt those who try to hide it. Why don’t you recommend they be stationed in the villages that were attacked to provide protection.
I really have to stoop to responding to your comments but I truly cannot deny knowledge where it is needed. I sincerely hope you & like minded individuals can see that our current government will do anything in their dictatorship & caste quest to suppress anyone who challenges its incompetence. It’s sad that those of you who love them so much only return here to vote then run & leave those of us who live here to deal with the scent of the compost. Why not stay & contribute positively to their “positive” indices.
paul
on October 12th, 2008 7:09 pm

the JS are in buxton to maintain peace in the surrounding communities because the bandits would strike then run to the safe heaven in buxton where the police a few months ago dare not ventur inside

The JS should be withdrawn from Buxton only when its safe for anyone to enter the area to conduct business or to visit a friend regardless of race

[Reply to this]
evileyes
on October 12th, 2008 7:49 pm

Clement Corlette you have every right to huff and puff but it aint gona change….you should come out and be brave in what you want to say…
since one farmer said he aint got no prob with th js…Clement Corlette is saying the problem is with the js rotation…..like people so stupidy…..you must have a problem with the js rotation…come out plain and say you only want one set of js station there in Buxton….the ones who were seen playing soccer with the big crims…..rotation should be the key ao all js and most govt offices….so the corrupt officials must never settle to roost the roost…..i wish they rotate them all…..

[Reply to this]
j persaud
on October 12th, 2008 8:18 pm

rambler i guess u want to start ur own terror group

[Reply to this]
joe joe
on October 13th, 2008 5:58 am

The joint force like so many other bodies should remain in Buxton permently.
Clement ,is just trying to see how weak the goverment is,he is testing the people faith,this is never a honest call from Mr Clement,he knows better for Guyana.

[Reply to this]