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Georgetown, Guyana (Credible Sources) During the 90th Sitting of the Twelfth Parliament on December 18, 2024, Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul passionately argued against the piecemeal approach to the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes (Amendment) Bill 2024. Speaking during the second reading and debate, Mahipaul called for the bill to be sent to a Special Select Committee for a comprehensive review to modernize Guyana’s land acquisition framework.
Mahipaul emphasized that the parliamentary opposition has consistently maintained this position, stating, “Our position from the very beginning of our meeting [with the Attorney General] was, and still is, for this bill to be sent to a special select committee.” He stressed that the current approach is inadequate to address the complexities of land acquisition in Guyana’s rapidly evolving socioeconomic context, driven by oil revenues and massive development projects.
Highlighting key issues, Mahipaul questioned the ambiguity surrounding the term “prompt” in the bill, suggesting the need for a defined timeline for compensations. He stated, “I wanted a specific timeline so that… in two days, I can get the money. In three days, I can get the money.” This, he argued, would offer greater assurance to affected citizens.
Additionally, Mahipaul raised concerns about the provision stipulating compensation of “not exceeding 80%.” He argued that the language could allow for lower compensations, potentially as low as 10% or 5%, and called for a guarantee of 80% compensation, a recommendation he said the Attorney General later accepted.
The opposition MP also advocated for the establishment of a tribunal to handle compensation disputes, pointing to examples from countries like Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Canada. According to Mahipaul, “The tribunal is all about addressing the matter in an adequate and timely manner…and may even give way for people who cannot afford a lawyer to appear themselves and make a case.”
Mahipaul called for unity in addressing the bill, stating, “We could have stood together and said we did it for Guyana. Unfortunately, our friends on the other side did not see it fit for us to modernize this legislation.” He assured that the opposition would prioritize modernizing the law when in government, saying, “After elections 2025, when we take government, we will modernize this piece of legislation for the benefit of all of Guyana.”
