Dear Editor,
I, like many other Guyanese, are concerned about the actions taken by the government or governmental institutions in response to the occupation of “state” lands at Success. The actions of the government and its institutions have no place in this century. It is abhorrent that our government is allowed to perpetuate these actions on our own population.
If this was an internationally funded project, the project would have ceased immediately because of the social safeguards that donors have as operational policies in dealing with local populations. The international safeguards policies would have necessitated not only the humane relocation of the persons but that the government bears the costs of the relocations. The Sunday Stabroek editorial of 18th October 2020 details the social and economic hardships of some members of the communities. It is amazing that the government could not consider leveraging the services of other sections of the government to address some of the issues identified by these citizens. It also reeked of arrogance that whilst the government was flooding some of our citizens it held a campaign-style activity on housing (the gigantic portraits of the president and ministers that adorned the event will be the subject of another letter).
National social safeguard policies for projects and activities in Guyana are urgently needed and the situation in Success is one of many that demonstrate the need.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)