Fear. It is the strongest emotion that grips the residents of Lopinot.In the aftermath of the incident on February 15, when cutlass wielding thugs proceeded to planass a group of farmers including the late Norris Deonarine, members of the community declined being photographed. Residents were also saddened as such a violent incident tarnished the image of La Pastora Village, Lopinot, as a peace-loving community. At the centre of the violence is the prized San Jose Estate.Since the land feud, on Monday a padlock had to be replaced after an intruder attempted to get into a resident's home. Someone rained boulders upon a male resident's car. A gang tried to beat up a farmer. On Thursday, contractors and engineers who are working on access roads were chased off the lands around San Jose.
In February, president of the Lopinot/Pastora Village Council Donna Mora/Secretary of the Lopinot Agricultural Society was among those who fled for her life when they struck.She maintained she was always serving the farmers' best interests. Pointing to her red-acne scarred cheeks, Mora said: "My face break out since the incident. We are not sleeping properly. We feel I am being targeted. We are scared. It is a serious thing going on up there."Referring to the recent attacks, Mora added: "They pelt the people. We didn't call the media. If we call the police they might corner us. But we did report it to the police."Never in the history of Lopinot has this happened. Lopinot is known for pastelles, pork and parang."
Seizing the opportunity, Mora said malicious lies had been spread indicating she had knowledge about a marijuana field.She said: "Two helicopters passed over and said they did not see any marijuana field. I am not a farmer. I do not have any land. I am just doing community service. It is a tragedy." Mora extended condolences to the late activist Deonarine's family. She hailed him as a "true patriot and a man who stood on the side of the farmers and the underclass.""It was sad to know he died shortly after the cutlass wielding incident. He ran for his life. We ran for God and man," said Mora. A print photographer said people perusing the Internet thought it was a movie."They did not know the spate of violence had come to Lopinot."
Farmers afraid toventure into San Jose
Meanwhile, while Lopinot community languishes in fear, there are claims farmers are losing their livelihoods and source of income at San Jose Estate.Another source said: "Since February 15, the farmers have been unable to venture into their estates. We advised them not to go in for their safety. The farmers feared for their lives. So they did not make a peace deal."For more than three decades, about 52 farmers have been cultivating a cornucopia on about 750 acres ranging from plantains, beans, pimentoes, christophenes, citrus, cocoa and coffee.Meanwhile, while farmers are wary of venturing into their lands, word has reached them that their produce was being carted off and sold.
"It is sad what Lopinot has come to."The farmers are running scared. It is unfair to them and their families," said a 76-year-old senior citizen, as she shrugged her shoulders.She also complained vehemently about the cacophony when domestic tourists visit the nearby Lopinot river."From sun up to sun down is noise. Play your music, but not so loud."Old people can't take that much noise. We don't mind people coming here but have some courtesy for the Lopinot resident," she said. Another resident said the farmers were hurting since their labour was in vain.Opposite the sprawling Compte de Loppinot Historical Complex, the local shopkeeper said: "Nothing came out of the incident. Normally, I don't go up there. Since that incident, is now I am not going up to San Jose."
Random checks with other residents revealed they just wanted peace and an amicable settlement for all the stakeholders in Lopinot. Cautiously, they peep from behind their curtains or scarcely venture from the security of their porches and verandahs. Several lamented that should there be a further escalation of violence it could be lethal for the combatants. The geography and topography of Lopinot also contributed to the police or ambulance services not reaching the wounded on time."We just want peace to return to Lopinot. We just want farmers to return to the land," said a female resident.
Bharath waiting on Legal Affairs
As the saga unfolds, the still peaceful-loving but traumatised Lopinot community is awaiting an intervention by Minister of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs Minister Vasant Bharath.One resident said: "We prefer to wait on the Minister before we head back into the land."Contacted on Friday, Bharath said: "The intervention is awaiting the legal search being done. I have asked the Ministry of Legal Affairs to speed up the search since it has to be done manually.
"The title search would then tell us who the true owner of the land is. If it is privately held, it becomes a matter for civil litigation. Until we can get information with the search, there is little we can do to intervene."Zeroing on the violence, Bharath said: "He had spoken to the Minister of National Security (John Sandy) and he was in contact with the Tunapuna Station."The Ministry of Food Production is seeking the intervention of security forces to deploy the army. There has been a presence by the army. But clearly, they can't be there 24 hours a day.
Bharath added: "I have spoken with the president (Mora) and I had informed her the army would come up to express a presence."We are doing everything. It is regrettable it has erupted into violence. We are hopeful there would be a swift and speedy resolution." While Lopinot residents live with mounting fear and trepidation, Mora paid kudos to Bharath for assisting them with eight access roads.Work has begun on El Socorro, San Jose, San Francisco, Calado, Wamal, Coolie Block, Back Road and the area near the La Pastora Catholic Church.Seated outside La Veronica RC School, Mora also thanked Community Development Minister Nizam Baksh for assisting them with the spanking new community centre.