My lead caption-and theme- is really another invitation to Guyana’s younger journalists, feature writers, even serious social historians, to explore the reality of just who “owns” how much of this place we call Guyana.
I am aware, firstly, that there are various types or levels of ownership – transport, lease, etc – and that where the State’s property is concerned, various institutions are responsible for managing, even divesting them. From the seemingly powerful Privatisation Unit, to the Geology and Mines, to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, to the humble Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Agriculture and oops, I nearly forgot the Forestry Commission, these latter agencies all have something to do with the Guyana land and space, even if you buy land or property on a private basis.
But what has prompted all this in this my anniversary column? Two reasons, I wanted an opportunity/excuse(?) to