East Coast Demerara squatters block road to demand land

May 19, 2015 News

---

Some land grabbers along the East Coast Demerara, say that they are willing to pay the new government for their plot of land, rather than buy it at exorbitant prices from private investors who were gifted large

swaths of state lands by the previous administration.
Yesterday, scores of villagers from Le Ressouvenir/Success, East Coast of Demerara, staged a demonstration, to press their demand for a piece of land that they were told had been sold to a well-known businessman who is cozy with the ousted PPP/administration.
The residents blocked traffic on the Railway Embankment at Success, and it took a contingent of police ranks to diffuse the situation which was threatening to get out of hand.
Several villagers were assembled at a bridge they had constructed to access the land in question.
They told this newspaper that they began demarcating the land last Thurdsay, after word spread that other villagers were grabbing lands on the advice of a high ranking member of the previous Cabinet.
They explained that the land initially belonged to Guysuco and was unused for several years. It was reportedly sold to the prominent businessman.
“He get enough property around de place and poor people want land and can’t get. How much he pay fuh it?” asked one of the irate residents.    The residents claimed that they had all applied

for houselots under the previous government, but were given the royal run around.
They said that now that David Granger has been sworn in as the new President, they are willing to support him if he honours his promises to them, including making house lots available at a reasonable price.
“The last government tell we dat we gon get house lots but we still waiting. Yet dem give they friends dem all. I apply since 2005 and I went into housing a week before de election and dey tell me I got to pay $1.5M. Wheh me gon get dat from?” another female resident stated.
Another resident pointed out, that the giveaway of acres of lands to one person began under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, and it was a way of siphoning off state lands for personal benefit.
Even foreign nationals benefitted from the “giveaway”, while Guyanese potential homeowners are kept waiting.
He explained that the lands were sold at reasonable prices to friends of the previous administration, who then began reselling them for huge profits.
“Why should I buy back state lands from private people at these high prices? The government give these lands to their cronies cheap, cheap and dey selling it back fuh money that the poor man cannot afford to pay,” the resident argued.
The residents at Success were at pains to point out that they are not trying to ensnare the new government into any controversy; all they want is a share of what was “stolen from them.”
They expressed the hope that the new government will make good on the promises made during the last elections campaign.
“Granger and Nagamootoo say change and we decided that he gon tek we own change. We don’t want dem fuh promise we like how de PPP promise we. No more promises, is promises mek PPP get vote out,” a resident declared.
But A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government on Sunday, described the actions of residents throughout the coast and other areas where land grabbing was taking place as “illegal and unauthorized.”
“The APNU+AFC is disturbed at recent reports of illegal and unauthorized grabbing of land in some communities,” the Coalition said in a statement.
“The Coalition wishes to inform the public that President David Granger has not authorized any of these illegal activities. To those participating in these activities, we say please do not be misled by persons who may have encouraged these actions and rest assured, that all Guyanese will be given fair and equitable access to land under the new governments’ land distribution policy.
“The Police and other lawful authorities have been instructed to maintain peace and good order in all locations where attempts have been made to stake illegal claims to land.”
And the Ministry of Housing in a statement issued yesterday, warned that the Government of Guyana will not condone the illegal occupation of lands. It called on those involved to immediately desist.
“Persons will be dealt with the full force of the law since this activity leads to lawlessness and a break down in law and order. Further, the Government of Guyana wishes to reiterate that all squatting which occurred after January 1, 1998 will not be regularized.
“There is a legal process by which land can be obtained for housing and other purposes,” the Ministry said.
The residents of Success are advising the new administration to meet with them so that the issue can be quickly ironed out.
They said that they are willing to pay a reasonable sum for their lots and even carry out infrastructure work such as roads and drains, once the materials are provided.
With their own resources they have already constructed a bridge to secure access to the land in question.
“We want to talk with the government because Granger 100-day plan must happen. If they treat we like de last government, dem gun see come next election,” a vociferous resident stated.

---

---