PARAMARIBO - Last Tuesday a group of angry farmers barricaded a section of the road at Ingi Kondre in the Coronie District for several hours. These citizens explained that they felt tricked by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi...
who had previously promised to provide aid to the district and in particular to the farmers.
The activists made it clear that they would not settle for promises. The farmers from the Coronie District who had suffered huge losses as a result of climate change still have not received any compensation despite clear promises that were made by the head of state. The citizens from the Coronie District also complained about a lack of basic things such as medicines and good infrastructure. As a result of poor maintenance, their fields often get flooded by salt water from the sea. The citizens pointed out that the farmers from the Nickerie District receive government support and that this is a clear example of inequality. “If the president had kept his promises, we would not have to barricade the road. It is now or never,” said one of the activists. Nickerie District Commissioner Senrita Gobardhan and former Coronie DC Maikel Winter rushed to the scene to talk to the activists. DC Gobardhan proposed discussing and tackling the issues. The former DC therefore called the Ministry of Agriculture Stockbreeding and Fisheries. The ministry asked that the barricade be removed and the farmers complied because they realize that there are many people who have to do business but they made it clear that the government has until Friday to address their problems. If the government fails to do so, they will barricade the road again.