‘Ganja farmers the enemy’

“None of us could turn a blind eye to the proliferation of marijuana within the forest reserves and on State land across the country.

The Northern Range, Balata East, Moruga, Biche. All those areas. And it’s not just the trap gun but the presence of well armed people in the forest prepared to protect their turf,” he said.

He reported that he has asked for the Office of Law Enforcement Policy (OLEP) to train game wardens, adding that their work goes beyond “tattoo and lappe”.

He was speaking yesterday at the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and fisheries Forestry Division Induction of Honorary Game Wardens held yesterday at the Caroni Swamp Visitor’s Centre. At the event 139 game wardens in six conservancies were inducted.

He said it was important to recognise the economic significance of hunting and pointed out that some of the loudest voices for wildlife conservation is from the hunters.

“People believe the battle is between conservationists and hunters. The battle is between hunters who understand the need for conservation and poachers and marijuana cultivators who do anything to protect their illegal activity,” he added.

He said his main concern is enforcement and reported that from August to October 2016 game wardens dealt with more than 230 offences, which was a 50 percent increase compared to the same period in previous years.

He stressed no one must be spared and the game wardens should not replace enforcement with simply cautioning.

Rambharat also commented on two photos making the rounds on social media, one showing a young man with a protected matapel (twotoed anteater) and another with a dead ocelot which is also protected. He said he did not know if the photos were taken locally or in Guyana or somewhere else but it is the job of the Forestry Division to get to the facts behind the photos.