‘We have nowhere to go’ …Circuitville families face bulldozer threats, plead for Govt. action

Feb 11, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – A 35-year-old construction worker and father of three says he lives in fear as bulldozers continue demolishing homes in Circuitville along the Soesdyke–Linden Highway, leaving families uncertain about where they will go next.

The man, whose house has not yet been destroyed, warned that its demolition would render him and his children homeless. He said no government officials have visited the community to engage residents or provide assistance since the demolitions began. Several other residents are facing a similar ordeal as the destruction of homes continued on Tuesday. On Sunday, multiple houses were bulldozed in an area, leaving almost 20 families homeless, for sand-mining operations.

Affected residents, many of whom have lived in the community for several years, said they were occupying land within a sand pit and were previously assured by government representatives that the area would be regularised. According to the residents, they were repeatedly promised house lots and were required to complete several registration forms as part of the regularisation process.

Wayne Jacobs, a resident who has lived in the area for approximately 10 years, speaking with Kaieteur News on Tuesday, said more homes are still being destroyed, allegedly by the sand pit owner, and fears his house may be next as heavy machinery moves closer. “We have been threatened because we see the bulldozer already on the hill trying to clear away land,” Jacobs said. He explained that the homes being cleared are located at the top of the sand pit, particularly along the corners of the hill. Jacobs added that residents were never given any official notice to vacate the land.

“They just showed up,” he said.

Jacobs recalled an incident involving his sister and her children, whose home was almost demolished. “One morning my sister just wake up hearing machines were coming and like four bulldozers just parked right in front of her and they tell her that she got to move. She reported to the community leader and nothing was being done so she said that she is not coming out of the house.  They tried to scare her,” Jacobs explained.

As a result of the demolitions, families who lost their homes have been forced to erect temporary structures on neighbours’ compounds or move in with relatives in other communities. Jacobs said many residents originally came from Region Nine and have nowhere else to go. “Some move to family close to the village because they came from far communities. Most of the people living here are from Region Nine, and they have nowhere to go,” he said, despite being promised land.

“They said that they would give us personal lands but nothing has been happening at this time.  The people come, they keep promising, promising and we ain’t get through with no land. We ain’t getting through with nothing,” he added.

As of Tuesday, clearing of the land reportedly continued, leaving more families homeless. The father of three said the machines are inching closer to his home each day. “My house is still there, but it coming closer. I have my three sons, one about to go to nursery school, and I have an eight-year-old and a ten-year-old in primary school,” he said.

He expressed deep worry and heartbreak over where he and his children will go if his home is destroyed. Jacobs explained that personal hardships led him to settle in Circuitville and that losing his home now would be devastating. “It is heartbreaking. I passed through a lot in life. I gave up my land and my house for marriage, for the sake of my children. My children go to school here, and with small wages, it’s not feasible to move. It’s very hard here, even to buy water to bathe, so that’s why most of us use the creek,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the remaining residents, Jacobs is calling on the government to honour its promises. “I am hoping to get justice for the community. I hope the government reach out to us because they can’t keep promising and three years later saying the same thing. We don’t mind saving money or paying instalments for a home, but the main thing we have is a home,” he said. On Sunday, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, during a visit to the community, said that Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, had previously visited the area and assured residents that the community would be regularised. Mohamed called on the government to meet with residents to provide clarity on the situation.

Efforts to contact the minister regarding the government’s next steps for the affected residents proved futile.

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• Bulldozer, Circuitville, demolishing homes, Soesdyke-Linden Highway

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