Residents of Leonora Pasture in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) that had a land issue that affected them for more than 100 years were granted titles to the land by President Irfaan Ali.
During the Office of the President-Direct outreach at the Leonora Track and Field Facility on Friday, Ali presented the land titles to the residents, granting them legal ownership of their lands.
The resolution was made possible by the concerted efforts of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), and the Land Registrar. The GLSC had already completed a plan in 1969, which aided in the process, and the remaining work was completed within 24 hours.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, clarified that the area, which falls under the purview of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), has about 59 occupants. While the first 12 ownership documents were handed over, the remaining titles are still being processed.
“These are persons who are cleared and who were available within the last 24 hours. The process will continue. Those persons will have to come in to sign their agreement so that we can be clear that they are the occupants,” he further explained.
The minister said the Housing Ministry will also need to continue its occupation survey in the area to verify that the individuals coming forward are the rightful occupants of the land.
Housing was one of the main issues addressed during the two-day outreach in Region Three, with the housing ministry engaging approximately 3,000 individuals during the activity.
Alongside those who received title, over 300 people with pending applications in the region were also granted house lots. Additionally, other residents were provided with the chance to apply for house lots, turn-key homes and the steel and cement subsidy.
