Essequibo residents accuse businessman of stealing their land

Sep 18, 2010 News

Residents of Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast, who say that they own transported lands. They say that some of these lands have been in their possession for almost a century.
One of these residents now say that life has been made uncomfortable because a businessman Doodnauth Samaroo, a\k Pin, of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, has encroached on portions of their land.
According to one of the affected residents, Deowattie Jowahir, both she and her husband Mulchand Jowahir, have been living at Lot 15, for almost forty years.
The woman noted that the land she and her spouse have been occupying was handed down to her husband by his mother, Ramdia Jowahir, in 1967 as bona vide transported lands.
In almost every case the land has been in the family since 1846, based on a plan by Neal &Mc Neal.
“This act by a businessman who feels he can work his way up because he may have friends in authority, is shameful. We the persons affected, more so the residents of Bush Lot will not sit idly by and allow another to unconstitutionally encroach on poor people’s assets.”
Mrs. Jowahir, who said she was abroad at the time when the foundation works were been constructed by the businessman and his workers on August 30 last. She said that the businessman accessed lots 14, 15 and 16, without notifying residents or producing any legitimate document to show that he might have been awarded a lease from the Government.
“He has brazenly ventured to erect piles in those house lots.” This has annoyed residents since it prevents them legal ingress and egress to their respective properties.
Mrs. Jowahir noted, “All those house lots that are affected were always occupied. We have always being committed to paying our rates and taxes and we are also in receipt of our transports.
“These lands are transported lands and they do not belong to the state. And in case where the Government may want to claim a portion of these lands, notification would have had to be either in writing or be made known to the residents.”
Another resident who said the situation is very distressing and who contacted Kaieteur News, via telephone from The Bahamas, Mrs. Deowattie Jadoo, said the land was handed down to her by her grandmother, the late Mrs. Margaret Manniram, in 1985.
The migrant said that her husband, Tilack Jadoo, who was on vacation and also witnessed the brazen act by the businessman and his employers, who commenced foundation works, which included the planting of huge piles in his yard.
Mrs. Jadoo said that her newly constructed concrete house vibrated when the six piles were being planted and that she had instructed her niece, Ashwini Mohabir, via a telephone call, to vacate the premise, out of fear that the building may have collapsed. In the case of Lot 16, owner, Mr. Julius Hercules, a farmer, the said lot was handed down to him by his grandmother, Elizabeth Floyd, in 1953.
The woman had been granted prescriptive rights to the property on March 16, 1946.
“Lot 16 has always been occupied by my grandmother. Sixteen piles were planted in my yard, a land I have been occupying and have always been committed to paying my rates and taxes and to date, presently occupy.”
The frustrated man noted that he was given permission by the Anna Regina Town Council to construct a wooden box koker which he did, and which was also destroyed by Samaroo and his workers.
“My fence was also broken down, as was a small shed from which I would usually sell my produce. Portions of the market car park were also torn down during this exercise.”
Another resident who is affected Mr. Ramkissoon; a blind man who had his striving garden bulldozed and his fence destroyed. “I am a poor blind man and what this man has done is gross injustice.
“I am a pensioner and have been planting my kitchen garden to assist me. Eighteen piles were planted in my yard.”
Mr. Hercules said that letters were penned to the President of Guyana, Commissioner of Lands and Survey, Regional Development Council Region two, African Cultural Development Association, and also to both the Prime Minister and to Opposition Leader Robert Corbin.
This newspaper also contacted the Lands and Surveys office in Georgetown and spoke to Mr. Doorga Persaud, who said that if the affected lands are transported lands, a problem arises when another person is allowed to encroach on someone’s property and in that case the Government will need to conduct investigations.
The residents are calling for the immediate intervention of the Government.

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Essequibo residents accuse businessman of stealing their land

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