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Georgetown, Guyana (Credible Sources) During today’s 90th Sitting of the Twelfth Parliament, Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson delivered a compelling contribution to the debate on the contentious Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes (Amendment) Bill 2024. The MP raised concerns about the lack of public consultations, inadequate treatment of affected citizens, and the need for the bill to be referred to a special select committee for comprehensive review.
MP Ferguson questioned the government’s timing and approach to introducing the legislation, noting that the public was largely uninformed about its contents. “Guyanese are of the belief that their lands, whether ancestral lands or privately owned lands, are under threat by this government,” she said.
Highlighting the case of residents in Peters Hall and Caneview Mocha, Ferguson pointed to the use of what she described as “bullyism” by the government in acquiring lands for the construction of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge. She alleged that residents were forced off their lands without adequate preparation or support. “We know that you have to relocate… but the government’s approach could have been more mature,” she stated, adding that the lack of involvement from social workers exacerbated the stress on affected families.
Ferguson also criticized the government for not addressing public concerns about compensation. She noted that in the initial draft of the bill, the minister was positioned as the sole arbiter of what constituted adequate compensation. “A private citizen would not have had the benefit of seeking compensation from other competent valuators,” Ferguson remarked. She acknowledged that some opposition concerns on this point were addressed in amendments during “committee” deliberations.
Calling for the bill to be referred to a special select committee, Ferguson stressed that public participation is essential. She argued that allowing citizens, especially those with ancestral lands and without formal titles, to present their concerns would strengthen the legislation. “Citizens feel that once this bill is passed, the government can move onto their lands by tomorrow,” Ferguson warned.
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