Lands and Survey toregularize Matthew’s Ridge residents

May 09, 2019 News

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) has begun working with a number of communities in the Barima-Waini region to regularize land usage.

Commissioner Trevor Benn at the meeting

Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Lands and Surveys, Trevor Benn, and a team from the Commission, met with residents of Matthew’s Ridge, Port Kaituma and Maburma over the weekend, to initiate the process.
That process, according to the GL&SC) is expected to be completed within weeks, The aim is to provide titles for lands that are already occupied.
In the case of Matthew’s Ridge, Commissioner Benn expressed disappointment that none of the residents were issued with titles for their lands even though they have been occupying the lands for decades.
This he said is “unacceptable, and it is something that we must correct, I am assuring you of this.”
Based on the findings during the outreach in Matthew’s Ridge, a team from the Land Administration division of the Commission will be deployed during the next few days to begin the regularization process.
“We will be sending a team during the week to work with you to ensure that these issues are addressed, so we are urging you to be here when our team is on the ground and work

Residents at the meeting.

along with them so we can get this thing over with and move on from here,” Benn told the residents.
Member of Parliament, Richard Allen, who accompanied Commissioner Benn, is also expected to return to ensure that the process runs smoothly.
Commissioner Benn also said that the granting of titles to establish rightful ownership to deserving persons would help to improve their quality of lives and the status of their communities.
“The objective is to make sure that in a short space of time we can resolve the issues for all of you. I am surprised to learn that almost no one in Matthew’s Ridge has title to their lands. This is depressing and we have to fix that for each of you. You cannot improve your lives if you do not have ownership to basic things like land. You cannot get a mortgage if you do not have the documents for the land,” Benn said.
According to the official, while the Commission will be doing all that is within its power to ensure that the community becomes regularized, residents also have a key responsibility to cooperate and to pay all outstanding dues so that the Commission can continue with the execution of its mandate.
“You must follow the rules regardless of who you support, once you have your titles, you will get your land. We will do a thorough investigation of the issues raised. These are very serious issues and we want to ensure that in the shortest possible time that we can deal with those issues and get you your titles. Unless you are prepared to work with us then we cannot get anywhere. We need you to cooperate,” he said.
As it relates to the issues raised at the town hall-styled meetings in Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, Commissioner Benn assured the residents that their issues would be given priority by the Commission.
Some of those issues date back as far as the 1990’s.
Regional Executive Officer for the Barima-Waini Region, Randolph Storm, in brief remarks told the residents that while the Commission is moving to regularize them, they must become productive.
“This place has potential. I shall make every effort to see that you get some help, but help is already on its way. You must stop the bickering and quarrelling among yourselves. We will not be able to get anywhere if you do not stop. You have to help us to help you.”

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