ECD squatters attack NICIL, GuySuCo officials

…Police respond with tear gas, rubber pellets

Police ranks were on Wednesday forced to resort to firing tear gas and rubber bullets to maintain the peace as persons illegally occupying lands belonging to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) at Vryheid’s Lust, Success and Chateau Margot on the East Coast of Demerara became violent when officials went into the area as a part of efforts to have them peacefully removed.

Squatters are objecting to their removal from the cane lands

GuySuCo has been urging the squatters to remove as it is in the process of reviving its operations at East Demerara. It said that squatting on these lands is hindering the land preparation process. In an advertisement dated September 27, 2020, GuySuCo issued a Red Notice to squatters, saying that within the next seven days the lands which they are illegally occupying will be flooded.
The newspaper advertisement stated: “Approximately 17 years of priceless research work was destroyed by the trespassers in their quest to clear the lands by burning cane fields. An investigation has been launched, and the perpetrators would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Further, with the reopening of the Enmore/LBI Estate, and as part of the normal land preparation activities for replanting canes, you are hereby advised that those lands would be flooded within seven days from today.”

A bridge built across this canal by squatters was demolished during the exercise

Last month, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal met with the squatters and reminded them that the lands do not belong to the ministry, and that they should desist from all illegal occupancy. In an effort to have the trespassers removed, officials from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and GuySuCo visited the area to have discussions with a number of persons who have sought to illegally occupy lands, in a further effort over the past months to have them removed peacefully.
Police ranks accompanied the officials to ensure there was no breach of the peace. During this engagement, persons became aggressive and hostile towards the officials and the Police ranks, and began throwing a bombardment of missiles at them. This continued despite the Police calling on the citizens to desist from such activities.
As a result, the Police resorted to the use of tear smoke and rubber bullets to maintain law and order.
Subsequent to the shots being fired, the crowd brought forward a male who was injured by the rubber bullets. He was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is receiving medical attention. His injuries are not regarded as life threatening, Police reported.
GuySuCo, in a statement on Wednesday, said: “Additionally, a number of fields in the cultivation house the Corporation’s Germplasm collection which is vital for the Corporation’s Cane Breeding Programme. Some of these fields have been vandalised by the squatting activities, resulting in the destruction and/or loss of material developed over a decade of scientific research in variety improvement, therefore setting back the development of better yielding varieties by a number of years.”

We want land
When Guyana Times visited the area on Wednesday, squatters occupying the lands indicated they are refusing to move and claimed the lands belong to them because they are Guyanese. Many of them revealed that they applied for house lots but still have not received allocation. In this regard, they called on the new Government to issue them with house lots.
Squatters were observed hurling abusive remarks at Police ranks. A wooden bridge built by the squatters to access the land was demolished. This resulted in several squatters being left stranded in the cane lands. Several incomplete wooden and concrete structures were observed on the lands.
Many of the persons who spoke with this publication admitted that they moved on the GuySuCo lands, but they claimed it was abandoned by the Sugar Corporation and they have been maintaining the area.
A mother of six said, “I got me children. I does work for $65,000. When I done tek out rent fuh $50,000 and pay light bill and water bill, me ain’t got nothing left back.”
Another person said, “We apply for lands long. Them tell we come and pay half, and when we go, them tell we if we can’t wait, tek back your money. I living in a family home. I done pay $500,000 for me land. They telling you you must live in your own home, and on to now you can’t get land.”
Meanwhile, another man who occupies the lands stated that he and other persons built the bridge. He added that he and other squatters will hold a united front to ensure that they are not removed from the lands.
“I build a zinc house on this land, and I am not removing. I need somewhere to live. Everybody here apply for house lots long-long now, and them just keep pushing we around. Now that we occupy the lands here, them coming to put we off. We are not removing! We staying right here with we families!”
The squatters disclosed that they will be staging a peaceful protest this morning.

Rebuilt
President Irfaan Ali has affirmed his Government’s commitment to ensuring the survival of the sugar industry by implementing a comprehensive strategy. The approach to the sugar industry, he noted, is one in which the Government would have to bring back three of the estates into operation.
“This would require capital investment, field investment and infrastructure investment. Even if the ultimate goal is to have a right business mix, whether it is a public-private partnership or private investment in these estates, the asset and the industry itself must be of concern and be optimised to realise the full value and potential,” the Head of State has disclosed.
Since the PPP/C Government assumed office, a team from NICIL visited several of the sugar estates. Most of the estates which were closed by the APNU/AFC Government were left to deteriorate. The team, during the visits and assessments, pointed to the waste of millions of dollars in equipment, which were left abandoned at the estates.

Meeting today
Meanwhile, the Central Housing and Planning Authority on Wednesday evening invited persons who have occupying lands south of the railway embankment, in the Vryheids Lust, Success, and Chateau Margot communities on the East Coast of Demerara to initiate the process for land allocation. The Housing and Water Ministry will be hosting an exercise today at the Chateau Margot Primary School geared at assisting these families in their quest for lawful homeownership.
“Persons are invited to visit the venue, from 8:00 hrs. with a valid form of identification (passport or national identification card), proof or affidavit of income, TIN certificate, and marriage certificate if applicable. For persons with children below the age of 18, copies of their birth certificates are required,” CH&PA said on Wednesday evening.
It noted that applications forms will also be available at the venue, adding that the ministry is committed to facilitating this process as it is the first step in the direction of legally owning a plot of land from the agency.
“For persons who have an existing application in the ministry, if there is a need for updated information to be added, this will be facilitated as well,” CH&PA said. (Feona Morrison)