Farmers charged over Essequibo protest

TIMES INT'L
Scores of farmers protesting against poor drainage and non-payments for paddy supplied to millers
Scores of farmers protesting against poor drainage and non-payments for paddy supplied to millers

Nineteen rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast were on Tuesday charged for leading a violent protest last Friday over non-payment for paddy supplied to millers.

The men were all granted Gy$5000 bail each. The farmers appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Sunil Scarce. They were jointly charged for causing a riot and were not required to plead to the indictable charge.

Police alleged that on July 4, the farmers, headed by Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillors Naithram and Tajpersaud Seecharran, along with members of the Essequibo Paddy Farmers Association at Land of Plenty, on the Essequibo Coast assembled and staged an unlawful protest. Representing the 19 rice farmers was Attorney Haimraj Rajkumar, who in making his application for bail for the rice farmers, stated that some of them are before the court for the first time, adding that not only do they have families but they are the sole breadwinners and they have permanent places of residence. Prosecutor Haimwant Ramsewak did not object to bail. Ramsewak, however, told the court that further advice is presently being sought on the matter.

The accused farmers are Naithram, 53, of Bush lot; Taj Persaud, 55, of Devonshire Castle; Dhanniram Naipaul, 52; Chait Lall, 57; Bridge Lall, 51; Naheem Mohamed, 35; Ganesh Motilall, 29; Bhim Singh, 57; Nazerdeen Camrudeen, 21; and Rabindra Ramotar, 17, all of Reliance Village.

The other farmers include Naresh Ramlall, 21, of Three Friends Village; Harilall Persaud, 43, from Annandale Village, Essequibo Coast; Dennis Raymond, 34; Sohanlall Raymond, 37; Vishnu Raymond; Sahif Ally, 18; and Porahamm Gaylall, 36, all of Land of Plenty.

Bail was granted by Magistrate Scarce on the grounds that the farmers report to the Anna Regina Police Station every Saturday pending hearing. They were advised that they were on a bond to keep the peace. The Magistrate explained that if there is a breach of the peace bond, the farmers can be jailed.

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