Dear Editor
I wish to bring to your attention a situation in Farm Village, East Bank, Essequibo, one of the Villages that was bought by our formerly enslaved ancestors.
The situation is one of land-grabbing in all its forms led by some Councilors at Farm Village, EBE. As part of their schemes, some years ago they decided to build a road to pass between the residences on the old road and those on the West Demerara Highway. They also decided that they will annex portions of the properties on the old road to accomplish this goal. No discussion was held with property owners, no notice given. When brought to their attention, some of the owners objected.
Let me be very clear, the objections were not and are not against the road itself. The property owners are against the unilateral appropriation of their properties in the first instance then the fact that the amount of land appropriated is over and beyond what is needed for the road. The amount of land has now increased to 42 feet as revealed in a Survey held yesterday, Saturday, May 22, 2021. All of which is taken from properties on one side (the old road) and none from the properties on side with the highway.
The property owners have been objecting for years to the earlier PPP Government, to the present Government and in the recent past, to the APNU Government. My sister Joycelyn Cameron (deceased) three years, April 30 had made many representations to the NDC and the Region before her death. The last Regional Executive Officer, but one, had instructed the employee of the region who is also a Councilor to cease from damaging private property and to refill the ditch dug through the properties using equipment of the Region.
As I said there have been countless objections. Many visits to NDC Office at Farm and to the Regional Office speaking to the many Regional Executive Officers and NDC Chairpersons. Countless instructions, have been given to the employee of the Region who is also a Councilor to cease and desist and to restore the properties to their original state, including replacing the fences he removed. He would stop for a while and then return again. Despite the objections, the findings of survey upon survey, heavy equipment was brought in and ditches dug to claim now 42 feet of property and construction of the road is in progress.
Towards the end of April, the Region sent workers to begin building the Road. One of the residents in Farm Village again raised objection to the NDC and the Region. The Regional Executive Officer said that he was unaware that private property was involved and again there was an order to cease while the details of the properties are ascertained. Attached are the letters in response to the most recent objections. The information about the reserve severely conflicts with the measurements of the properties as contained in their deeds.
All that the property owners wish is that their properties are not appropriated and that they be restored. If not just compensation be awarded. There is said to be a reserve the size of which has shifted over time from 8 feet to 18 feet to 27.18 feet (Letter from REO) to now 42 feet as the survey on Saturday revealed. Councilors, representative from the NDC along with villagers were present at the survey and a pall was set to mark the boundary. The fact that many property owners are overseas, or ill or deceased has given much rise to the pillaging and plundering of other people’s properties in the Village.
In another matter, lands, this time in the back-dam, without the permission of the owners have been graded and planted again led by the councilors. My letters to find out who is occupying my lands have been totally ignored by the NDC and the Waters Users Association. At the same time I, like other property owners, continue to pay our taxes. If land is being used that belongs to someone else, however worthy the effort the least you do is seek permission from the owner. This simple approach is a challenge to those involved.
Whether you would take up this matter or not I ask that you visit Farm Village. If you will, I will give you the names of the representative of at least one of the land owners who have been involved in this struggle.
Thank you
Faustina Ward Osborne
