Miner claims new Mahdia Magistrate’s Court being constructed on his property

Mar 29, 2019 News

A miner from Ann’s Grove Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara is claiming that the new Mahdia Magistrate’s Court is being constructed on a plot of land that was allotted to him for mining purposes.
Royston Stuart, who claims he was issued a claim licence to operate on the property, has since initiated legal action.
According to documents seen by this newspaper, Stuart is the holder of a Claim Licence, dated September 2, 2016, issued under the authority of the Mining Act 1989 and the Mining Regulations by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) with respect to a certain tract of State land in Mining District Number 2.
Despite that Claim Licence being valid and in force, Stuart alleged that without his permission, lease, let or licence, a group of men, unknown to him, have entered upon a part of the land allotted to him in the Claim Licence and have begun the construction of a building that is intended to be used to house the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court, which is being constructed in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) to the cost of $140.385 million.
In letters disseminated to the media and copied to Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; acting Chief Justice Roxane George; and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman as well as Junior Natural Resources Minister, Simona Broomes, the miner has asked the authorities to cease construction on his property.
Writing on his behalf, Attorney Anil Nandlall noted that:
“Unless the construction works… cease forthwith, and all structures constructed be demolished and removed from our client’s land within seven (7) days from the date hereof, we will have no alternative but to approach the High Court for a number of legal redress including injunctions and damages for trespass.”
Further, the lawyer pointed out his client had previously lodged a complaint with the GGMC since 2017 and as a result, a Mines Officer of the Commission has informed those conducting the construction that it was being done on Stuart’s Licensed Claim and that the works must cease. However, according to Nandlall, these instructions have been ignored.
“We sincerely hope that unnecessary litigation can be avoided and that good sense will prevail. I respectfully await your urgent response,” Nandlall stated in the letter.

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