Kabakaburi Village, Govt clashes over land dispute

Apr 17, 2018 News 0

…logging operations halted

Logging operations within the Kabakaburi village is still at a standstill, after a ban on operations was issued by the Government in 2016.
According to information dispensed to this publication, the small indigenous community of Kabakaburi, located in the lower Pomeroon, has been charged with allegations of logging on state owned land.
The dispute which started some time during the early 1990s reached its peak point in 2016, when the Guyana Forestry Commission [GFC], ordered that all logging operations on the disputed territory be halted until the issue is resolved.
More than a year has now passed and the issue still remains unresolved, putting most residents under economic constraints. As was related by the community’s Toshao, Cleveland Simon, more than 60% of the village’s population is dependent on logging as their primary source of income.
Toshao Simon added, “This decision by GFC has in effect jeopardized the local economy here immensely. Our village [Kabakaburi] is heavily dependent on its logging activity. More than 60% of the population is presently dependent on logging, because there is no hope in farming right now.”
Simon noted that prior to the ban on logging, himself along with staff from the Guyana’s Lands and Surveys commissions and the Guyana Forestry Commission, visited the site where the palls are located.
At that point, he stressed, “Everyone was satisfied with the markings… Surprisingly, in 2016 we hear that we are working illegal and we have to stop working the area.”
The Toshao who has been working effortlessly to have the matter resolved, said that the situation has become overbearing.
He added, “As the Toshao, people look to you for answers… and as a leader they expect you to represent them. But every time we pursue the matter, we’re only being pushed around.”
Toshao Simon said that in 2017, the Guyana Lands and Survey, the Guyana Forestry Commission and Ministry of Indigenous People affairs, are well aware the land dispute. The village leader who continues to pursue the matter in the interest of his people, is thus appealing to the government to have the issue urgently resolved.