–?? ?as protest intensifies over logging halt By Michael JordanResidents of Hururu, Upper Berbice,NFL Jerseys Outlet, yesterday strung lengths of rope across a section of the Berbice River to stop RUSAL barges from traversing the waterway, as a protest over the Russian firm’s blocking of a roadway used by loggers entered its third day.The villagers, joined by residents from Kwakwani, also blocked the disputed roadway that loggers in the Upper Berbice community have been using for decades,Nike Air Max 2018 Release, but which is now leased to RUSAL. The firm has set up a checkpoint and is reportedly preventing villagers from harvesting millions of dollars in already-cut logs.Some of the protesters yesterday.Kaieteur News was told that the protesters stood their ground and refused to remove the barriers erected at the river,Supply Authentic NFL Jerseys, despite pleas from an Amerindian Affairs Ministry official who met with the villagers of the Upper Berbice community and members of the Council.The barriers across the river were eventually removed late yesterday evening.RUSAL barges traverse the river on their way to Kwakwani.An official from the Hururu Village Council said that many of the protesters are staying overnight at the site. He said that a few police ranks were present, but there were no clashes with the lawmen.They protesters have vowed to continue their action until RUSAL comes to an agreement that is favourable to them.Yesterday’s intensified protest appears to have borne some fruit. A few villagers, who are employed by RUSAL, told this newspaper that company officials met with them yesterday and indicated that the firm will construct another roadway to enable the villagers to harvest their logs.But loggers insist that they need immediate access to the roadway that RUSAL has taken over, since millions in logs have already been cut and will rot if they are no removed.Deputy Toshao Victor Walker told Kaieteur News that RUSAL has been denying loggers access to the roadway for close to three weeks.“Since April 4 they have been stopping us from going in. The logs have to be shipped and time is going and the logs are deteriorating,” Walker said.He explained that around 2005, members of the previous Village Council signed an agreement in which they leased several acres of land at Kurubuka (located some seven miles from Hururu) to RUSAL for $1.2M per month. They also leased the Hururu roadway for $1.1M per month. This money is paid to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and some $1M is deducted and paid to RUSAL monthly for electricity.Walker also explained that the former Village Council also agreed that logging near the mining site would cease once RUSAL commenced mining.Like other villagers,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, he blamed the former Council for the present predicament facing loggers.“They messed up by signing that agreement. Who is going to feed us?”Rather than the $2.3M per month, Walker and other residents have suggested that RUSAL pay $12M monthly for leasing of the mining area, located at Kurubuka, and use of the Hururu road.One villager said that the logging concessions are some distance from the area that has been leased to RUSAL for mining, and therefore would not impede the company’s work. However, he explained that the loggers would have to use the Hururu roadway to reach their concessions.Region Ten Chairman, Sharma Solomon, has expressed support for the residents. He said that any investments coming into the Region must be built on mutual benefit.Region Ten Councilors, Leslie Gonsalves and Maurice Butters, visited the area on Monday to lend support to the protesters and to listen to their concerns.Kaieteur News was told that Gonsalves and Butters, along with Toshao Winsbert Benjamin, were initially prevented from passing the checkpoint that RUSAL had set up on the Hururu roadway. They were eventually allowed to pass.“What they (the residents) are saying is that the company (RUSAL) in a very hostile way is not allowing them to get to their logging concessions,” Gonsalves said Monday. “They are being stopped from harvesting their logs.”According to Gonsalves,Wholesale China Jerseys Free Shpping, the Guyana Forestry Commission had granted permission for the residents to harvest their logs and some of the logs had even been stamped.The Deputy Toshao said that the issue was to have been discussed at an April 17 meeting with officials from the Amerindian Affairs Ministry. However, he alleged that when he arrived at the meeting he was prevented from raising the issue,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, allegedly due to his late arrival.