State moves to repossess unused leased lands

Dec 18, 2018 News

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, (GL&SC), is working to repossess lands, which were leased to persons but are not in use.
Commissioner of the GLSC, Trevor Benn, told media operatives, yesterday, that over 60 % of the lessees are currently in arrears and in breach of the beneficial occupation provision of their lease(s).
According to Benn, the Commission during the year published a list of clients who owe in excess of $100,000 in land rent.
Benn noted that a mere 13 percent of the defaulters responded to date.
“The Commission unfortunately is taking steps to repossess those lands. Wherever these non-performing leases are found, appropriate actions will be taken to address them.”
Benn said that informal subletting and transfers of public lands also continues to be an issue and the Commission will be taking stern action to discourage such practices.
At present, the Commission is highly dependent on paper based operations—this continue to be a major challenge due to high cost and other challenges of transitioning to digital system, Benn noted.
Nevertheless, some fundamental steps have been taken to set the stage for more substantive improvements in this area and the work will continue in 2019.
Insufficient resources to open and develop new areas for various land uses continue to be a hindrance.
Squatting and informal occupation of public lands remains a major issue and the commission is using the relevant avenues to deter such practices. Over the period, Benn said, the Commission is the using the relevant avenues to deter such practices.
“Over the period, the Commission has executed 1,129 monitoring inspections to address issues related to informal occupation of public land.”
However, he assured that persons with genuine issues, which have affected their use of the lands will be given an opportunity to explain.

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