President Ali Addresses Mocha Squatters Following High Court Ruling

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has commented on the recent High Court ruling concerning the remaining squatters in Mocha, stating that their current predicament is a result of the opposition exploiting them as pawns. In a live broadcast on Thursday, he emphasized his government’s commitment to all citizens, irrespective of political affiliation.

“We are a humane government; we don’t see PNC, APNU, or any other faction; we see every single citizen as our responsibility,” Dr. Ali stated. He reiterated that an opportunity was offered to all squatters, which he described as fair. However, some individuals reportedly rejected this offer, allegedly misled by the opposition.

Addressing the squatters, President Ali affirmed, “We are a government for the people; your President is always ready to work with you. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic government maintains an open-door policy aimed at improving the lives of every Guyanese, including yours.”

The situation illustrates a clear distinction between the parties involved, with President Ali asserting that one side genuinely cares while the other seeks to manipulate the circumstances for political gain.

The squatters, who failed to establish legal rights to the Mocha Arcadia/Caneview lands, are now required to pay $2 million in costs to the respondents: the Attorney-General, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). This ruling, delivered last week by Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George, affirms the government’s ownership of the land and its authority to evict the squatters.

Legal expert Ralph Ramkarran noted in his Conversation Tree blog that there are important lessons to be drawn from the High Court’s dismissal of the squatters’ case. He remarked that the Mocha-Arcadia squatters had been significantly misled, leading to attempts to politicize the situation.

The case arose from a long-standing issue of squatting in Mocha-Arcadia, where numerous residents occupied state land intended for a major roadway. Most squatters accepted government compensation and relocation offers, while seven individuals resisted, despite negotiations dating back to 2008. Ramkarran pointed out that the Ministry of Housing had extended substantial compensation and alternative housing options, but some squatters outright rejected these offers, with one demanding as much as $60 million.

In January 2023, after years of unsuccessful negotiations, the government initiated the demolition of the remaining structures, resulting in confrontations between officials and squatters. Ramkarran noted the opposition’s significant involvement, with senior figures framing the evictions as discriminatory, which led to the situation being charged with racial overtones.

Chief Justice George’s ruling dismissed the squatters’ claims, stating that once they refused the government’s relocation offer, they became trespassers on state land. “The applicants would have become trespassers after being asked to vacate the land for which they had no title,” Justice George remarked, emphasizing the legal ramifications of their refusal to move.