Hundreds rush to squat on lands behind Diamond Scheme
– new govt. warns occupation unauthorized, illegal
In cars, on bicycles, and on foot, and armed with brush-cutters and cutlasses, hundreds of men, women and even children converged on a miles-long swath of land at the back of the Diamond Housing Scheme to stake claim on plots that they claimed they were told to occupy.
Some of the squatters
This followed a similar rush for land on Saturday at Lusignan and several other areas along the East Coast of Demerara.
But the A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government yesterday denied that President David Granger had authorized the activity, which it said was “illegal and authorized.”
“The APNU+AFC is disturbed at recent reports of illegal and unauthorized grabbing of land in some communities,” the Coalition which will form the new Government said in a statement.
“The Coalition wishes to inform the public that President David Granger has not authorized any of these illegal activities. To those participating in these activities, we say please do not be misled by persons who may have encouraged these actions and rest assured that all Guyanese will be given fair and equitable access to land under the new governments’ land distribution policy.The Police and other lawful authorities have been instructed to maintain peace and good order in all locations where attempts have been made to stake illegal claims to land.”
Scores of squatters converge on a controversial piece of land at Non Pariel
From as early as 07.00 hrs yesterday, several people were seen heading to the back of Diamond Housing Scheme, where there is a vast swath of empty land.
Many of the land-grabbers carried cutlasses and brush-cutters, and almost all had signs with their names to place on plots that they had marked out. But no one could say who had told them to occupy the land. One man alleged that he had heard that an official from Grove, East Bank Demerara had authorized the act. Others said that they were told that “the government” said that they should occupy all vacant land.
Some of the individuals admitted that they already had house lots in Diamond. Many were clearly well-off, driving to the scene in cars and other vehicles.
One man revealed that he has been rearing cattle, swine and sheep in one area for the past six years. He’d also planted trees in the area, but one of the squatters had taken over the plot. He had marked out another plot nearby.
But it all began on Friday when squatters moved in on land at Mon Repos and Lusignan.
In the case of Lusignan, the land at Lusignan Pasture was leased to the dairy farmers for a 50 year period from the year 2003.
The residents who began parceling out plots on Friday, claimed that they were instigated by a member of the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic cabinet to occupy the land, which currently serves as a pasture where antelope grass is cultivated.
But members of the Lusignan Dairy Farmers Services Cooperative Society Limited (LDFSCSL) are appealing to residents to remove from the land, which has reportedly been leased to the Co-op Society.
Some of the squatters claimed that their applications for house lots have been lying idle at the Ministry of Housing for several years and they believe that the time has come for them to take action.
The land grabbing also spread to other parts of the East Coast of Demerara, including Mon Repos, Enmore/Haslington and Mahaica.
This newspaper was reliably informed however that they were cautioned by former APNU Member of Parliament, Ernest Elliot.
But from all indications, the move to occupy the land at Lusignan Pasture began about a week ago when persons set fire to it.
Jaibarran Seekumar, treasurer of the LDFSCSL explained that cattle farmers in the area were given access to the 52-acre plot in 1986 through the National Dairy Development Programme to cultivate grass for their animals.
This arrangement was further strengthened in 2003 by the 50-year lease.
Seekumar said that on Friday several persons descended on the land and began farming out plots.
Yesterday, more residents took up lots at a controversial plot of land at Non Pariel.
The land was the subject of a bitter dispute between the previous government and other concerns. It led to the then Housing Minister Sheik Baksh flooding it.