After the squatters of the Mocha Arcadia/Caneview lands were unable to demonstrate legal claims to the property, they now face a substantial financial burden, totaling $2 million in costs owed to the Attorney General, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). This pivotal ruling, announced by Chief Justice Roxanne George last week, confirms the government’s rightful ownership of the lands and its authority to take necessary actions to displace the squatters.
Originally owned by GuySuCo, the lands were subsequently transferred to the CHPA. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall SC commented that this ruling serves as a crucial reminder that squatters have no legitimate rights over the lands they occupy. During his weekly program, ‘Issues in the News,’ he emphasized the legal implications of this decision.
The squatters, despite receiving multiple notices since 2008 requesting their relocation due to plans for a new highway, have resisted moving from the area. AG Nandlall recounted that the government had made significant efforts to incentivize relocation, including offering house lots and compensation. “We compensated squatters with approximately $250 million, providing them with titled lands and housing, yet many chose to ignore the warnings,†he stated.
Furthermore, the squatters’ own submissions indicated they had approached the government to regularize their occupancy, undermining their argument for prescriptive rights. “If you genuinely believe it’s your property, why seek the government’s approval for regularization? Such actions indicate it is indeed state land,†he pointed out.
The Attorney General stressed that the claimants failed to prove any legal claim to the lands, justifying the government’s actions to remove them. “The law in Guyana, as in other nations, allows lawful property owners to take necessary measures, including reasonable force, to evict squatters without needing a court order,†he noted.
Nandlall also highlighted the lessons to be learned from this case, particularly the necessity of respecting land laws and property rights. “For anyone uncertain about their legal standing, this ruling clarifies that squatters possess no rights or claims to the land, and the property owner can remove them without any liability,†he asserted.
Turning to the political ramifications, Nandlall criticized the opposition for exploiting these individuals for political gain. He accused them of misrepresenting the situation and failing to deliver on promised legal support. He referenced a 2022 statement from Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, who advised squatters to remain on the land, claiming it was “ancestral land.†The Attorney General reiterated that Guyanese law does not recognize such a concept.
He pointed out that the very leaders who claimed the squatters had rights were absent when the time came for legal representation. “Despite having five lawyers in the opposition, none stepped up to defend the squatters in court,†he said, expressing disappointment over their lack of support when it mattered most.
Nandlall further criticized the International Decade of People of African Descent (IPADA-G), noting that while the opposition sought international attention for their claims, they failed to assist the Mocha residents when faced with the repercussions of their actions. “There has been no word from the Leader of the Opposition or any other opposition member regarding support for those who are now displaced. They exploited these individuals and then abandoned them,†he concluded.
