Ancestral lands being made a political issue by new regime

Dear Editor
Please see enclosed copies of Cudjoe McPherson’s transport for Kingelly which is dated July 1851. I am a legitimate proud heir of this former slave whose lands were never sold, leased, or titled to anyone. Out of the community spirit and generosity of my family we allowed some to occupy some areas due to need at the time, i.e. when they had nowhere to lay their heads. These lands were NEVER sold nor gifted to them, though occupation was allowed, and over the years as a result of remaining undisturbed, as per law, those persons (or descendants) will be eligible through prescriptive rights.

Kingelly plantation was bought from the colonial authorities in 1851 and transformed to a village. Cudjoe McPherson, who was one of the pioneers of the West Coast Berbice Village Movement, commissioned William Chalmers in February 1868 to survey the village. 32 lots were assigned to 32 persons on the southern side of the public road and the northern was kept by Cudjoe. To this date, by transport, northern Kingelly remains in Cudjoe McPherson’s name.

Contrary to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall’s claim, as reported in Guyana Times (20th August, 2020), these lands are NOT State property. Such a statement is far removed from the truth and seen as an attempt to empower people to illegally occupy and lay claim to ancestral lands of former slaves. Further, the Attorney General’s statement that the “PPP/C will work to ensure that it remains in the possession of the residents of Kingelly, who have been occupying the lands and depend on it for their livelihood” is cause for deep concern. This is an attempt to provoke racial conflict not legal and amicable resolution.

If as Anil Nandlall states, “there is no record of any Transport at the Land Registry to prove that several acres of land at Kingelly, West Coast Berbice (WCB), are in fact ancestral lands belonging to the lineage of trade unionist Lincoln Lewis, as he is claiming” then he and the Registry must account for the missing page. Clearly, it is evident that you cannot leave even the smallest pebble unturned.

This incident is no more than another effort by this regime to disenfranchise African Guyanese. The continued fencing of our lands has resulted in a fabricated charge brought against me for assault which I will appear in court tomorrow, Friday to answer. I am further advised from the Guyana Times’ story that “complaints of trespassing, assault and damage to property” have been filed with the Police against me. The ridiculous nature of this entire episode is made clear not only in the charge but complaint that I am trespassing on owned land.  I consider what is unfolding here not only an attack on Africans but a personal attack on me. One cannot help but note an emerging response of the new administration in using the judicial system to discriminate against African Guyanese and undermine their wealth.

Lincoln Lewis