Bois Bande, Sangre Grande farmers fear they may be violently attacked by thugs over the ownership of 90 hectares of agricultural and residential land in their community. The farmers feel they could become victims of a land dispute, similar to what happened at La Pastora Village, Lopinot, last February, where cutlass wielding thugs attacked, planassed and chased bonafide farmers off their lands. Among those who were chased by a cutlass wielding man was research and education officer of the National Foodcrop Farmers' Association (NFFA) Norris Deonarine, who died of a heart attack hours later.
Deonarine had condemned the action, stating that the thugs were using intimidatory and bullying tactics to encroach on land that did not belong to them. Thirteen months later, farmers in Bois Bande fear they may experience the same scenario as thugs and squatters have begun occupying lands which farmers have been cultivating for over 20 years.
Last Thursday, president of the Bois Bande Farmers' Association Dalton Pantin noticed a Rastafarian man brush cutting lands belonging to farmer Elsa Adams. The man and a posse of friends, Pantin said, uprooted mature and young mango, peewah, cedar and balata trees on Adams' three-acre plot.
By the following day, Pantin said, wooden posts were planted around the perimeter and electrical wire nailed to the posts to block off trespassers. Pantin said when he enquired from the man what he was doing, he was told that the next time he intended to ask questions walk with his land deed. "That tells me he is not going to surrender the land so easily. He is not mixing matters."
Though the matter was reported at the Sangre Grande Police Station, Pantin said the police complained they did not have a vehicle to visit the area. "Up to this day they never come." In the meantime, Pantin said the man continues to frequent the land as if he is the legitimate owner.
Days before, Pantin said another squatter chopped down bearing mango and orange trees to erect a galvanise shack a few metres from Adams' land. "I hope this does not end up like Lopinot, where farmers were terrorised, beaten and chased by thugs who began to encroach of farmers' land. If things continue the way they are going someone will retaliate, which could end up bloody," Pantin said.
Pantin said it seemed that criminals had more rights than bonafide farmers. Last week, Pantin said, a representative from the Commissioner of State Lands started mapping out the area, even though the encroachment had intensified. The farmers are waiting to have their lands regularised by the Government.
Bois Bande is one of 251 squatting districts listed under the Lands Settlement Agency. In 1991, farmers were given letters of comfort by the then UNC government to occupy prime agricultural and residential lands, which nestles in the Valencia Forest Reserves.
Pantin said since the People's Partnership Government was voted into office in 2010, there has been an upsurge in land grabbing in the area. He said many farmers were beaten and had their lands taken away by squatters. Among them was Terry Monsegue, who cultivated three acres of citrus up to five years ago.
Today, rickety shacks dot Monsegue's parcel of land. Monsegue was forced to open a mechanic shop in order to make a living. Farmer Nandarani Nanlal, who reared as much as 10,000 head of chicken on her land, said she had to give up her farm after three sets of squatters took control.
"Every morning the farmers seeing someone new on their lands. It have you feeling unsafe and scared. You afraid to even go on your own land because you don't know what they will do." Terrence Haywood, NFFA's president, said he intended to address the matter with Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath since the situation could turn volatile and violent.
"For months this has been happening. It has got to stop," Haywood said.
