Chairman of Region Four, Clement Corlette has written to GDF Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best requesting an urgent meeting to discuss a number of issues affecting farmers in light of the current Joint Services exercise to clear the backlands in Buxton and its surrounding communities.
In the letter dated 7th February, Corlette said that based on concerns represented to him by farmers and residents, he had to inform the Chief of Staff that “no institutional or administrative framework had been submitted to the office of Regional Chairman relative to the implementation of (a) plan or programme for the clearing of bushes at Buxton backlands and repairs to dams.”
The regional chairman stated further that no formal information was communicated to the Regional Democratic Council and/or the farmers who may be affected regarding what criteria would be used to determine areas to be cleared, which could include farmlands, and what would be the compensation package to be offered. Furthermore, Corlette noted, the army leadership had not consulted the farmers and/or the regional chairman.
The letter was copied to the Vice Chairman, Region Four and the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development,
Corlette also referred to a meeting held on Tuesday with Minister Kellawan Lall at the Ministry of Local Government when the minister informed that the Guyana Defence Force had asked the government to allow the army to clear some of the bushes at the Buxton backlands and to repair Brusche Dam as well as the Sideline Dam from the south end of the township to the Conservancy Dam.
According to the minister, Corlette said, the GDF now had a mandate to do so and was responsible for determining the areas to be cleared and compensation to any farmer/s who may be affected.
Against that background, Corlette told Commodore Best, “I am therefore requesting urgent discussions between you or your agents
