International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly- Guyana (IDPADA-G), in a recent statement, titled “Protecting the Rights of Property Owners in Mocha Arcadia,’ said the organisation continues to meet with affected families since their initial visit to the site, last Wednesday, January 4, to determine a path forward that ensures this inhumane attack on their property rights is addressed, and these horrific injustices confronted.
Last Wednesday the Government visited the village and razed homes, business, motorcycle, livestock and crops with bulldozers and excavators. Residents have lost tens of millions of dollars and many are now homeless. Government sought to justify its actions by saying the residents’ properties were in the pathway of the new road. Evidence has shown this is not true. The government has also said they have offered financial compensation and land to residents to relocate. Residents denied this.
Some have lost millions in their beverage distribution business, destruction of their livestock some of which were sold at a loss and the excavators buried some alive. Homes were flattened to the ground, parents unable to salvage anything. One parent said her child lost her eye glasses in the rubble created by the excavators and now suffering from headaches.
Government has not provided social services and therapy for those who were affected by the destruction and would likely suffer trauma.
In the meanwhile, IDPADA-G said member organisations and the wider African Guyanese family are united in the pain felt “in seeing our brothers and sisters, children and elderly disrespected and discarded with such inhumanity.”
Expressing commitment to fighting together to restore what is theirs and heighten vigilance to protect African Guyanese property owners, to this end, IDPADA-G, stated the organization has brought all of the nine affected families together and has identified a team of lawyers and other experts to provide the assistance needed in this fight for justice. “The Mocha Arcadia families have coalesced and as a group will engage in the upcoming negotiations with the government represented by a team of experts organised by IDPADA-G.”
Calling on public spirited citizens to offer support to the families in their time of need, IDPADA-G is asking persons to “please donate to these families through Friends of IDPADA-G.”
The organisation is imploring “on all Guyanese of good conscience in Guyana and across the diaspora, to [the affected families], as they still suffer the shock of dislocation and tremendous loss.”
Pointing out that despite years of hard work and saving to build their homes and businesses, these families are now homeless, some have lost their livestock – their source of family income.
“Community members and relatives have generously opened their homes to shelter them. Your donation will help meet their immediate needs for clothing, food, medicine, legal representation and other expenses. Please contribute generously.”
Friends of IDPADA-G is a non-profit organization registered in the state of Maryland. All donations are tax deductible. Please click here to donate. Or visit IDPADA-G on Facebook to find the Friends of IDPADA-G link
Friends of IDPADA-G will provide full accounting for all donations and acknowledgement of receipt of donations for the purpose of tax deductions
