Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
Zero Tolerance: No new squatting lands to be regularized
There has been a significant increase in squatting on Government and State Lands in a number of areas in Region Four, including the Soesdyke-Linden highway and Port Kaituma in the Turn Basin and the One Mile areas.
Zero Tolerance: From left – Michael Hudson, Manager, Land Administrator (Ag), Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Commissioner Doorga Persaud, Legal Officer, Yolanda Lammot and Manager of Surveys, Rene Duesbury, during the press conference yesterday.
As a result, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) yesterday announced that it has embarked on a campaign to clamp down on persons engaging in such unlawful acts, and has been urging persons to desist from aiding the development of new squatter settlements.
”Squatting is an offence, it is illegal and so our position at Lands and Survey is to move to the stage of prosecuting squatters. No new squatting areas will be regularised which means that no squatters will be given any document to say that they own any state or government lands or have legal access,” said GL&SC Commissioner Doorga Persaud during a press conference yesterday at the GL&SC boardroom, Durban Backlands.
While explaining the steps for application for land, Persaud said that the Commission will be willing to facilitate anyone willing to go through the legal process of accessing state lands.
According to a GINA statement, the Commission has several pending high court cases for possession of state lands. Persaud said that the Commission has been issuing several notices discouraging persons from engaging in such acts. However, he said, some persons are not heeding this advice.
GL&SC said that the issue of squatting leads to occupation of road reserves and buffers because of the lack of definition of boundaries.
“These structures can also lead to traffic issues, and planning for land allocation.”
Further, squatting has also been facilitated by persons illegally “selling” lands in various areas with squatters paying cash without receiving a title or agreement.
”In cases where squatting is taking place and structures are going up, Lands and Surveys has the authority to demolish those structures, and we are moving very strongly in having some demolition exercises taking place,” Persaud said.
He further explained that the exercise is a national one, and the Commission will also be summoning persons to the court.
In 2013, there was some demolition done in the Yarrowkabra area, and the Commission is now preparing to return to the area.
“We are advising persons out there not to squat on state lands. The Lands and Surveys’ doors are open to every Guyanese and we have offices in about eight regions, we are inviting persons to come in and make legitimate applications,” Manager of Surveys, Rene Duesbury, reiterated.
Duesbury said that when persons squat, there is no security of tenure which means that they would not be able to transact any business at the bank.
The GL&SC has powers to deal with squatting on public lands under its jurisdiction on a national and community level.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Burnham must be having a good laugh
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Each week, the more Bharrat Jagdeo speaks, the more the lines between party and government... more
Clarifying misconceptions about the Panama Canal
Sir Ronald Sanders (Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS) By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News–... more
Weekend Cartoon
