Several rice farmers at Hope Estate have been issued letters notifying them of a decision to repossess their lands for failure to pay rental fees for last year.
According to one of the letters seen by the News Room, the farmers were given one month to deliver on possession of the lands.
The letter was dated January 16, 2018 and was sent in the name of Omadatt Chandan, an Attorney attached to the Ministry of Agriculture on behalf of the Hope Estate Coconut Industries Ltd.
Some 20 affected farmers recently met with the Head of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj and Attorney Anil Nandlall to raise their concerns.
Nandlall told the News Room that he has since responded to the letter on behalf of the farmers.
According to the response, Nandlall argued that the demand for rent and notice to quit is premature, precipitous and contrary to the letter and spirit of the Rice Farmers (Security of Tenure) Act.
“The Rice Farmers (Security of Tenure) Act Chapter 69:02. This Act provides a process by which rent can be increased and rice lands can be repossessed. The purpose of this Act is to provide a regime of security of tenure for tenant-rice farmers. In short, rents chargeable for rice lands cannot be increased and a tenant of rice lands cannot be removed from possession except by the procedures outlined by the Act. No procedures to repossess or raise the rents of the rice lands under Act have been initiated or undertaken,” he explained.
Nandlall said he has advised the farmers to ignore the notice and to remain in possession of the lands.
The former Attorney General said he is prepared to institute legal action.
The affected farmers are:
Subhan Ally
Lolita Gangaram
Clara Singh
Gangaram Goberdhan
Mangaldai Jaimangal
Balram Brijmohan
Kowsilla Ramgobin
Krishnaram Goberdhan
Lajkaram Goberdhan
Chaterpaul Singh
Ameer Ally
Ramnarine Seeraj
Shakir Ally
Gowrie Goberdhan
Harry Persaud
Jairam Hemachal
Rafick Ally
Brahmadat Dookie
Mohanlall Dookie
Khemchan Sukhlall
