–small planes usually land, miners say
By Cathy Richards
Members of the Joint Services have taken possession of a quantity of aviation fuel, which was discovered on the “cattle trail” in the vicinity of the UNAMCO Road in Region Ten.
Stabroek News understands that since the ambush and killing of 34-year-old Thakoor Persaud in the area last week, a large team of joint services ranks was deployed to the area. Sources at Kwakwani said yesterday too that one of the Guyana Defence Force helicopters landed at Kwakwani and stayed on the ground for quite a while.
This newspaper was reliably informed that the five drums of aviation fuel were found on Tuesday when a truckload of joint services ranks as well as three other vehicles with officers went into the area. Several residents of Kwakwani said that aviation fuel is frequently taken into the area both by road and water.
Sources also told Stabroek News that two more vehicles left Kwakwani loaded with ranks for the area yesterday morning.
Sources said the aviation fuel was discovered at 51 km, a stretch of road in a cleared area, where planes suspected to be involved in the trafficking of drugs land illegally. Miners along the trail said they have heard planes landing in the area and some said they have seen actually seen planes on that road and another stretch of road in the area.
Meanwhile, other sources said that gunfire was heard in the area on Tuesday night. This could not be confirmed.
Stabroek News was also reliably informed that a strategy was being set up to crack down on drug operations in the area prior to the murder last week. According to an explanation given by a miner it was very easy for illegal drug trafficking to take place along the cattle trail. According to sources, there are at least two stretches of road that provide easy landing for the small aircraft which frequent the area. “It is also very possible for this type of business to take place by land as well,” the miner said.
The area is easily accessible from Brazil by crossing the Takutu River (bridge) and then a bridge which spans the Demerara River. That bridge was constructed by a Chinese firm. Once the two bridges are crossed persons make their way to the cattle trail via a bypass road which evades the police checkpoint at Mabura. It is smooth sailing from there since they can easily access other areas since there are no checkpoints along the Kwakwani, Aroaima or Ituni trails. There is also access to several waterways as Region Ten sits uniquely amid the three main rivers.
Meantime, yesterday several miners said that they would be ceasing operations along the UNAMCO and cattle trails. They said they fear for their safety.
“I would not be returning to the area [nor would I] send my men there until I am absolutely sure that the place is safe,” one concession owner said. “The government has to work on putting checkpoints at strategic locations along the trails.”
Another concession owner who said he was due to return to his operations the very day Persaud was murdered has delayed travelling to the area and has ordered his men to cease operations and leave. He also instructed them to bring out some key pieces of equipment. “I love life more than money so I would have to stay out until things get better,” he said.
“Since the Lindo Creek incident we have been living in fear and with the recent shooting along the UNAMCO trail it has become worse. I believe that the government should step up actions to protect us here in Kwakwani. More often than not there is only one police officer at the station and whenever something happens he cannot move to investigate.”
Others expressed the view that senior functionaries of the GDF, GPF and the Ministry of Home Affairs should have an audience with residents of Kwakwani, Ituni, Aroaima and other communities along the Berbice River from where a wealth of information could be sourced. “We know a lot here but no one listens to us or even acts on our complaints. This area is a hive of problems which could be solved,” another resident said.
