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Georgetown, Guyana (Credible Sources) A virtual panel discussion organized by the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) delved into the contentious proposed amendments under Bill No. 16 of 2024, which would revise the Acquisition of Land for Public Purposes (Amendment) Act. The panel voiced sharp concerns, particularly over the potential impact on African ancestral lands and broader questions of equity and fairness in land acquisition processes.
Participants emphasized that the bill, once passed, could undermine historical claims and intensify the threat to land ownership among African Guyanese communities. “The bill is so broad that we cannot clearly define what the law means by land for development by the state,” said panelist Deon Abrams. He warned of the risks posed by the bill’s vague definitions, which could allow state actors significant discretion to seize lands under the guise of development.
The discussion revisited the historical struggle of African Guyanese to secure and maintain land ownership after emancipation. “Africans have always been losing lands for the purpose of development, for the railway, for roads, and other things,” Abrams noted, referencing cases like those in Mocha Arcadia and Peters Hall. These instances, he argued, reflect a systemic pattern of unequal treatment when land is appropriated for public purposes. Participants also highlighted the state’s neglect of drainage and infrastructure in predominantly African communities, which they claimed had deliberately hindered economic development and land utilization.
Attorney Darren Wade criticized the bill as “a recipe for fraud,” citing its lack of clear definitions for terms like “interested person” or “authorized person.” He raised concerns about the absence of procedural safeguards to protect rightful landowners from exploitation. Wade argued, “This legislation is draconian… It gives the minister the power to steal.”
Panelists urged collective legal action and proposed the establishment of an African Land Commission to safeguard ancestral lands and ensure equitable treatment. Wade reiterated the need for legal clarity, stating, “Our constitution guarantees us the right to property. This bill violates those fundamental provisions.”
In the landmark ruling in the Peter’s Hall case, the High Court struck down the State’s request for immediate possession of lands for the New Demerara Harbour Bridge project. The court ruled that the State must finalize compensation agreements before seizing land, reinforcing the principle that landowners’ rights cannot be overridden without fair compensation. Participants linked this judgment to their broader concerns about the proposed bill, arguing that it risks undermining similar constitutional protections.
The conversation moved beyond legal concerns to stress the importance of community mobilization and economic self-reliance. Audreyanna Thomas encouraged attendees to organize at the village level and take practical steps to secure land records and initiate surveys. “The land cannot find solutions for us. We must find solutions for the land,” she remarked.
Panelists also emphasized the need for renewed attention to succession planning to address the fragmentation of family lands and to prevent dispossession. Wade noted that African Guyanese must adopt mechanisms like wills and trusts to protect land ownership across generations.
The event sounded a clear call to action: participants were urged to engage with local Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to express opposition to the bill and demand that it be referred to a special select committee in the National Assembly for further review. “African Guyanese will not surrender their lands under the guise of public purpose,” Thomas asserted.
The issue resonates far beyond the immediate implications of the bill, touching on questions of dignity, equity, and the legacy of African land ownership in Guyana. Panelists reiterated the need for vigilance, legal advocacy, and community solidarity to safeguard the interests of African Guyanese.
