I would like an explanation for this land-grabbing action

May 01, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
I repeat here a letter I published in the Kaieteur News of Sunday, November 8, 2015 (“Why the silence on this land-grabbing incident.”) . I have had no response from Kaieteur News columnist, Freddie Kissoon. I will give Mr. Kissoon the benefit of the doubt; he may not have seen my letter or he may not have known about it. I hope this second try gets the attention of Mr. Kissoon. The reproduction below in the exact letter as when I first wrote it
“I bring to your attention an unacceptable situation. I stand corrected but I am describing what I know on the surface. There is a very wealthy gentleman with huge property holdings who has occupied a squatter lot on the Railway Embankment next to Caricom and directly opposite where Freddie Kissoon lives. Mr. Editor, I have no objection to poor people squatting on Government land. This county is big enough for all the poor in our county to get a piece of land to put a shelter above their heads
It is right for this wealthy man to occupy a squatter land in competition with poor people? Do wealthy business folks, wealthy investors, wealthy citizens take over public land for personal gain?
Why would a rich man squat on the Government land? The neighbours of this man have been on that land long ago and they have no electricity and water supply. This man has built a neat flat house that stands out. That is why I cannot see how Freddie Kissoon could have missed it.
If anyone I expect to expose this is Freddie Kissoon. He has a legacy of fighting against injustice. How did he miss this one? Did he really miss it or is it he couldn’t be bothered? This construction went on right opposite where Freddie Kissoon lives. Could someone as well connected as this gentleman construct a building next to a settlement of squatters and Freddie Kissoon didn’t see that. Is Kissoon telling me that not even for one day he didn’t see what this fellow was doing?
This man’s dwelling stands out like a light on the ocean right in the middle of the squatters’ houses and right in front of Freddie Kissoon’s home. He had to use a large sum of to build that kind of house. He drives an expensive SUV. He was connected to the PPP Government. He is well connected to the APNU-AFC Government. I know Mr. Kissoon is a supporter of the present government. His says that openly. He wrote more times than we can count that he was an energetic campaigner in the May elections for APNU-AFC. Could this be the reason why he has turned a blind eye?
This is not the Freddie Kissoon we know, admire and respect. I would hope Mr. Kissoon takes time from his busy schedule and read this letter and act on it. Shouldn’t the Minister of Housing offer an explanation? If the land was sold to this gentleman, could NICIL say why and how much he paid? Would the squatters next to him be allowed to purchase their land and at what cost”
I don’t want Mr. Kissoon to feel that I have singled him out. But this land-grabbing incident took place right next to where he lives. And Mr. Kissoon has built up a respected tradition of having no sacred cows. My curiosity is with Mr. Kissoon because if he has turned a blind eye to this kind of injustice then it begs the question of what he has become. Can we still rely on him to confront social evil in our country? I personally don’t think Mr. Kissoon has changed and for this reason I am pursuing this matter. I hope Freddie Kissoon does not disappoint me and Guyana
Shakur Abbas Khan

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I would like an explanation for this land-grabbing action

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