Court clarifies role of marshals in enforcing Friendship land ruling

Apr 10, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – The Supreme Court of Judicature in a notice on Thursday outlined that Court Marshals are executive officers of the Court, acting under lawful authority.

This reminder comes on the heels of the eviction of more than 50 families at Friendship, East Bank Demerara. Rozel Di Leon Investment Limited, the company which owns the parcels of land at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, where the families were evicted from had previously clarified that the occupants were given more than 18 months notice to move and not “only seven days.”

The Court notice explained that Court Marshals function as executive officers of the Court under the High Court Act, Cap. 3:02, with the Registrar serving as the Court’s Chief Executive Officer. Marshals operate under the Registrar’s control and responsibility, subject to the direction and approval of the Chief Justice. It further referenced the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2019, Part 45, which provide that a Writ of Possession authorises a Marshal to enter specified land or premises, take possession, and deliver it to the judgment creditor.

The court highlighted that in the matter between New Friendship Farmers Cooperative Land Society Ltd and the Defendants, including Elaine Adams, Rozel Dilleon Investment Ltd and Leon L. Rutherford, judgment was delivered by Justice Peter Hugh on 25 September 2024, granting possession of Parcel No. 739, containing 13.6877 acres, Block XX VIII, Zone East Bank Demerara (part of Friendship, East Bank Demerara), in favour of the Second Named Defendant.

The Order was served on the Claimant/Respondent on 24 March 2025, and a stay of execution was granted until 31 December 2024. It was stated that the Claimant/Respondent, however, did not vacate the land within the prescribed period. As such, following an application by Leon L. Rutherford, a Writ of Possession was granted on 25 August 2025. Upon a request made on 22 December 2025, the Writ was issued by the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana on 7 January 2026, authorising Court Marshals to enter the property, remove the occupants, the New Friendship Farmers Cooperative Land Society Ltd, and deliver possession to Leon L. Rutherford as representative of Rozel Dilleon Investment Lid.

“The public is advised that Court Marshals are executing lawful Orders of the Court. All persons are urged to cooperate fully and refrain from obstructing the lawful execution of these Orders,” the court said. The Company in its statement had denied the claims now being circulated by the occupants as blatantly untrue. “Specifically, we refute the assertions that: The occupants were given only seven days’ notice to vacate. The legal process has spanned over 18 months, with the Order to vacate being granted in September 2024,” the Company said.

Further, the Company stated that the claims that its Principal, Mr. Leon Rutherford was retained by the occupants to conduct a survey of the property, is entirely false. Rozel Di Leon Investment Limited expressed that it is a law-abiding entity that has followed the proper legal channels to assert its ownership rights. “We regret that the execution of the law has been mischaracterised in the public domain, but we trust that the public will recognise this matter for what it is: the conclusion of a lengthy legal process to restore the rights of a property owner,” the Company stated.

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Court Marshals, Friendship, land ruling, marshals, Supreme Court

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