Dear Editor,
I am once again trying to resolve this long and frustrating stalemate over land at Santa Rosa, Moruca, Region One.
Previous councillors and residents of Santa Rosa Village who are knowledgeable about this issue, had given me their full support at a village general meeting held in 2007, where the vote in my favour was forty-seven to one.
The majority of persons who were present at that meeting are still alive and they are willing to testify on my behalf. We can prove that there is no document anywhere in the village office stating that the land was ever given to Mrs Garrido. I can further prove that all the plants planted on the land were put there by me, and also that my grandmother was with me when she died and that I had never seen Mrs Garrido. The accusations that Mrs Garrido has made against me of being abusive are false.
I am therefore calling on the present Village Council to investigate and settle this problem once and for all without any outside intervention. I also wish this to happen in a timely manner so that we can all live in peace.
Following a recent letter I sent to Kaieteur News I saw a lengthy response in their edition of March 12 by Mrs Garrido’s daughter which was in the form of an open letter to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs. Editor, this letter is not accurate.
I would like to know why I have never seen any document to justify the claim on the land. I need an investigation and solid proof that this land belongs to Mrs Garrido.
I remember clearly when a piece of the land was taken over by the Village Council to build a multi-purpose building. As I was residing on the land already, the Village Toshau Mr John Atkinson (now deceased) said in front of Councillors Penelope Atkinson, Donna Henry, Theophilus Domingo, and Maxima Chappie, among others, that the rest of the land belongs to Margaret Abraham. Now because this land was taken without consulting me or anyone else, I proceeded to lay claim to the land as I was scared that more of it will be taken away. I was stopped by Mrs Garrido who claimed ownership of the land. All the while I was looking after Grandma, I was not aware of any transfer of land being done. And if it was done, then why was I not informed?
I am a mother of seven who has to struggle to provide for myself and children and this is not making it easier for me or them.
I am calling on the authorities to step in and conduct a proper investigation into this prolonged land dispute.
Yours faithfully,
Margaret Abraham
