Developer, squatters clash over land

Much confusion has been created over the past few days at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, as squatters stopped an excavator from clearing a plot of land owned by a well-known city businessman.
Guyana Times understands that the developer had arrived at the location with an excavator and workers to start clearing the land when a group of persons turned up claiming ownership. While they have not yet built permanent structures, the

persons have already demarked areas to start construction.
Guyana Times further understands that the squatters have been cultivating the land despite their being aware that it was transported property.
This standoff resulted in the engagement of the Guyana Police Force and the Communities Ministry. On Thursday, officials from the ministry instructed the squatters to desist from occupying the land, measuring five acres; but the

squatters insisted that they have been occupying the land for the past three years, and when it was under bush, they were the ones who had cleared it.
After the squatters had demonstrated reluctance to remove from the area, the Police were called in. The intervention of the Police was successful in removing the squatters on Thursday, but the squatters again returned on Friday, refusing to move and calling on the Government to find land for them to farm.
When contacted, ‘D’ Division Commander Leslie James explained that the Police had received the report of the disturbance and would have deployed ranks to deal with the matter forthwith. He noted that the land is indeed owned by a city businessman, and it was illegal in the first place for persons in the area to squat on the privately-owned land. As such, he would have met with both the squatters and the land developer to thrash out the issues. He was confident that the meeting will bear fruit, and that the matter would be resolved amicably.
In an invited comment, the city businessman noted that he would have bought the plot of land several years ago, and was waiting on the opportune time to develop it. He noted that the manner in which the squatters behaved was quite distasteful, especially since they knew fully well that the land is privately owned.