A tale of two farmers
By Nikosi Bruce
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Fifty-seven-year-old Amos Garraway journeyed from his home deep in the Pomeroon to come to the government outreach initiative – ‘Bringing Government to the People’. For him, it was an opportunity to air his plight. The Cozier canal farmer, who sells his produce at the Charity waterfront, is concerned about being removed because of developmental works taking place.
“We selling [Greens] at the charity waterfront, and we normally bring out we produce from the river and Cozier Canal but they’re doing some work at the , and they removed us, but I understand they move us with an intention not to put us back there.”
While Provisions were made for the vendors to be relocated to a tarmac in front of the Charity Magistrate’s Court, Garraway said this has placed the vendors at a disadvantage as they are unable to properly keep watch over their boats and engines.
His first approach was made to the Ministry of Agriculture. After being redirected to the Ministry of Communities, which caused immediate contact with the regional engineer for an insight into the matter, he was brought closer to a resolution.
A gleeful Garraway said: “They said they’ll look into it, we have to talk with the REO and the NDC to solve the problem… in all, this has been a very good experience. I hope they follow up on what was requested.”
Meanwhile, accompanying Garraway was Lyvan Layne who lamented his plights at the same Cozier Canal in the lower Pomeroon.
“We really suffering to get from we farm to the market at Charity, at bamboo bridge head, because the canal is very shallow, the canal was blocked up for a number of years like about 20-something years and they just haul off the grass.”
Frederick Flatts, Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), explained to Layne, much to his delight, that the authority had already made plans to have that particular canal cleaned and cleared. However, with the rainy season started, they are unable to take the excavator into the area.
Images: Keno George