Georgetown, Guyana – Outrage is brewing across several African-Guyanese communities following the government’s proposed amendments to the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act. Residents in Litchfield and Belladrum have described the move as a “clear-eyed attempt to steal ancestral lands”, while anonymous sources accuse the government of acting with “contempt, insensitivity, and political opportunism” under the guise of development.
The amendments, tabled by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, grant the state greater clarity to acquire lands deemed necessary for “public purposes,” promising “prompt and adequate compensation.” However, the government’s assurances have been met with skepticism and anger, particularly among Afro-Guyanese families whose ancestral lands have been in their families for generations—often without updated titles.
“This government must be ashamed,” a resident from Belladrum remarked. “Who will they negotiate with when they come for our lands? In many families, these lands have passed down for centuries, and the formal paperwork is lacking. This isn’t just about titles; it’s about robbing our heritage.”
The community’s frustration stems, in part, from recent events in Mocha, where lands seized under similar claims were later allocated to individuals widely described as “PPP cronies.” Residents believe the amendments open the door for politically motivated land grabs while dispossessing vulnerable African-Guyanese families. “They talk about ‘public good,’ but who decides what is public good? This is the same government that bulldozed homes in Mocha and gave the land away to their friends,” one resident added.
The amendments also exacerbate long-standing concerns over the rights of Afro-Guyanese to ancestral lands—properties that have often been occupied for generations but lack formalized titles. Critics argue that the government’s language of “ownership and possession” is a thinly veiled tool to target lands belonging to communities that historically face systemic neglect. “They know full well that our people’s land doesn’t come with pristine paperwork. These amendments make it easier for the state to say, ‘prove ownership or lose it.’ And what happens then? It’s allocated to their political allies,” said one anonymous political commentator.
Sources close to the situation accuse the government of showing contempt for Afro-Guyanese communities under the guise of development. “This is not about schools or hospitals. If it were, there would be trust. But when you see what happened in Mocha, how can we believe this government? The Amerindian communities are being sidelined, and now they’re coming for African-Guyanese ancestral lands. Afro-Guyanese must wake up from their slumber,” a Litchfield resident warned.
The Attorney General insists the amendments only clarify the existing law and ensure “prompt and adequate compensation.” However, residents remain unconvinced, pointing out that land taken today for “public good” is tomorrow controlled by the politically connected. “The PPP claims this law protects us. But who protects us from them?” one resident angrily questioned.
The government’s proposed amendments will be debated in the National Assembly on Wednesday, but the firestorm of distrust and anger it has sparked will not subside easily. For residents of Litchfield, Belladrum, and beyond, this is a battle to protect their heritage, dignity, and rights against a government they feel has no respect for Afro-Guyanese and no respect for their ancestral claims.
