Latest update March 21st, 2025 5:44 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Clarifying misconceptions about ‘ancestral lands’

Jul 18, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I refer to a letter captioned “AFC calls for UN probe” (SN 18/6/08) by one Modibo.
Modibo made the statement that the “Government was denying Africans the right to own property by refusing to pass the bill that will regularize ancestral land.”

Let me point out to Modibo that there was no such bill with the identical terms of reference he mentioned. May I educate Modibo and others who write in SN from time to time confusing themselves and trying to confuse others about “ancestral land”.

After slavery was abolished the ex-slaves began to leave the plantations in the 1840s and bought some abandoned sugar estates where they set up villages.

The total land bought by these ex-slaves was less than 10,000 acres, and the land was bought in joint ownership within the Land Laws of Guyana.

The owners were given their ownership deeds. The owners and their descendants had retained the undisturbed possession and ownership of their village lands, possessing or alienating them within the ambit of those Land Laws.

Those persons who have claims to these village lands and would wish to secure individual titles must do so through the Law Courts as many persons have already done.

And I underline for Modibo’s enlightenment that no Bill or politician could help or hinder persons who make claims to such lands.

Modibo and others who falsely misinform that “Africans are denied the right to own property” could prevent Africans from being home-owners and prevent some from taking advantage of the thousands of house lots which are being distributed countrywide.
R. Edmonds

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

GPF arrests Presidential Guards by 48 runs as cricket action gets underway 

GPF arrests Presidential Guards by 48 runs as cricket action gets...

Mar 20, 2025

2025 Commissioner of Police T20 Cup…  Kaieteur Sports- Guyana Police Force team arrested the Presidential Guards as they handed them a 48-run defeat when action in the 2025 Commissioner of Police...
Read More
Superbet supports One Guyana 3×3 Quest

Superbet supports One Guyana 3×3 Quest

Mar 20, 2025

FIDE Master Drayton outclasses strong competition to lift title 

FIDE Master Drayton outclasses strong competition...

Mar 20, 2025

Wiltshire, Chris dominoes tourney set for March 23

Wiltshire, Chris dominoes tourney set for March

Mar 20, 2025

Houston Sec’, New Central, Saints sent packing

Houston Sec’, New Central, Saints sent packing

Mar 20, 2025

Charles’ all-round performance helps EBDCA U23 to victory

Charles’ all-round performance helps EBDCA U23...

Mar 20, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]