The Attorney General’s Chambers and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, today launched a land registration exercise which will bring residents of Nos. Three, Four and Five Villages, West Coast Berbice (WCB) closer to formal title for lands they and their ancestors have occupied for decades.
In a meeting with residents at the No. 5 Primary School, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall SC explained that the exercise began over a decade ago at Cotton Tree Village, WCB and is now being extended to the neighbouring villages.
A release from the Ministry of Legal Affairs said that he informed the residents that since the Cotton Tree Village exercise is about to be completed, the exercise is now being extended.
He emphasised the importance of having formal legal title for the lands.
“It is this legal instrument that will allow each title holder to lawfully transmit this land to their heirs and beneficiaries. It is this instrument that will lawfully allow for the lands to be sold and for the purchasers to receive a Title and it is this instrument that will allow for the lands to be used as collateral for borrowing at commercial banks and lending institutions,” he said.
He added that the Government will be bearing almost all the costs in this exercise.
“The beneficiaries of these titles in the end will pay little or nothing but will get a Certificate of Title for their lands after living as glorified squatters for generations,” he added, according to the release.
He cautioned that co-operation by citizens is crucial.
“You are to assist and cooperate with the sworn land surveyors from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission who will begin work in your community. It will entail a survey of the entire block of the village as well as an occupational survey of each house lot. It may involve persons being required to adjust their fences in order to have clear ingress and egress to streets in the community as well as to bring alignment to persons property that may extend beyond its lawful boundaries,” he said.
Also in attendance at the engagement were Faizal Jaffarally Member of Parliament, Region Five; Rion Peters, Vice-Chairman, Region Five and staff from the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Leading the team from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission was Rene Duesbury.
