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Georgetown, GUYANA (Credible Sources) Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade has warned that the proposed amendments to the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act, outlined in Bill No. 16 of 2024, could pave the way for fraud and the unlawful dispossession of African ancestral lands. Wade made these remarks during a virtual panel discussion hosted by IDPADA-G on December 13, where concerns were raised about the bill’s broad and undefined language.
Wade described the proposed legislation as “a recipe for fraud and fraudulent conduct,” arguing that it grants the minister unchecked authority to determine ownership and compensation. He expressed alarm at the terms “interested and authorized person,” which appear in the amendments without clear legal definitions. “What is an interested person? Isn’t it not a title holder? Or someone with the power of attorney?” Wade questioned, emphasizing that the vagueness leaves room for manipulation.
The attorney further highlighted the risk of ancestral lands, often family-owned and unprobated for generations, being seized without proper legal recourse for descendants. “How are we going to treat with those properties?” Wade asked, warning that a single family member could strike a deal with the minister without the consent of others. “The legislation gives the minister the power to conspire and steal lands,” he asserted.
Wade also criticized the absence of requirements for public consultations or advertisements before land acquisition. This omission, he said, eliminates transparency and the ability of affected communities to challenge acquisitions. “It gives the minister the power to determine ownership without verifying whether a transport or title is fraudulent or authentic.”
The proposed amendments were framed by the government as a move to modernize land acquisition processes, aligning Guyana with international standards. However, Wade and other panelists argued that the bill disproportionately threatens African ancestral lands, which were purchased post-emancipation and hold deep historical and cultural significance.
Calling for legal action, Wade urged like-minded professionals—lawyers, historians, and surveyors—to come together to challenge the legislation in court. “Our African ancestral lands are dear to us… Our forefathers developed these lands, and to see them being taken away in such a manner is unacceptable.”
The virtual panel discussion underscored that communal lands, once the backbone of African Guyanese villages, have suffered neglect and targeted acquisition over decades. Panelists emphasized the importance of mobilization at local and national levels to resist the bill and protect the rights of affected communities.
