Dear Editor,
Thank you for affording me the opportunity to make a response to the letter written by B S Persaud, captioned “Six year wait for word on Pomeroon land” (07.10.03).
As is customary in such letters, not all of the facts have been brought out. One of the reasons might be that the matter is not as simple as it is made out to be, and that there is a dispute.
This matter has its genesis in land which was originally held by someone who is now deceased and whose lease expired. A vague agreement of sale made by one son on behalf of the wife of the deceased underlies the claim.
The entire Pomeroon river area was later subject to a land tenure regularization exercise in which the writer, as well as a grandchild of the original lessee, made claims for the land. Before the exercise was brought to a conclusion, both parties proceeded to occupy the land, leading to a confrontation and police action. Notices to cease were sent not only to the writer, but also to the other party.
In cases of dispute, such as what we consider this to be, we utilize arbitration, free of cost to the parties, where GLSC provides a land attorney to hear and rule.
This is where we are, and the offer for arbitration will be made to both parties shortly. If this fails, then a court system will be the next recourse.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Bishop
Commissioner of Lands and Surveys
Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission
