Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall led a delegation yesterday to meet with residents of Hope/Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, to discuss with them the issuance of Certificates of Title for house lots which they occupy.
According to a release from the Attorney General’s Chambers, the minister informed that some 59 families stood to benefit from the exercise. These individuals are, or were former employees of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) who purchased these lots since 1996 but were not issued with titles.
He also pointed out that a Certificate of Title is an instrument of fundamental importance. “It is that document which conclusively declares you to be the owner of the land to which it relates. No one, not even the State can lawfully take that land away from you without compensation. It is that document that enables you to borrow from the commercial banks; it is that instrument which permits you to transmit that land to your children and future generations.”
Nandlall noted that it was a campaign promise of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to identify these areas across the country that are affected and to ensure that they are regularised and Titles issued for the lands. He identified Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara as one of the areas where the initiative was successfully completed and over fifty families received their Certificates of Title. A similar initiative launched some three weeks ago at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo and a different variation of the exercise is being conducted at Cotton Tree, and # 4 and 5 villages, West Coast Berbice.
According to the minister, the titles will be ready by May next year.
Nandlall’s delegation included staff from his Ministry, the Ministry of Housing, officials from the Sugar Industry Welfare Fund Committee (SILWFC) and officials of the Region.
