Regularization in No. 5 village to benefit over 200 households

Over 200 households will soon be regularised commencing July 11, without any documentation to show ownership, after decades of occupying land in No. 5 Village, Region Five.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, made the announcement on Saturday by during a meeting with residents, during which, he informed them of the process. It was noted that homeownership is something that the President, Irfaan Ali-led government has been advocating for since taking office in August 2020.

Nandlall disclosed that when the lands are regularised, residents will be presented with certificates of title, making them legal proprietors. AG Nandlall explained that a survey of the entire area will be done first followed by individual lots to kick-start the process for persons to receive their certificates of title.

The minister enlightened residents that according to the law, they are deemed squatters. However, he said that government is determined to make them owners of the land they are occupying. As such, residents were encouraged to fully participate to ensure the process is a success. “This thing cannot happen without your cooperation, and the speed that it takes will depend upon how speedily you are going to be cooperate with the process. Sometimes we are very frustrated because we do not get the cooperation from you, and if one of you do not cooperate, it may affect a whole host of others because sometimes the houses are in one line and you’re holding up the process, will hold up the process for others,” he stressed.

The minister noted that the process of regularisation began over a year ago at Cotton Tree Village, and is aimed at capturing all the surrounding communities, including No. 3, 4 and 5 Villages. The Attorney General revealed that he was instructed by President Ali to visit communities countrywide to identify legal issues people have in relation to land. He said once government is able to intervene, it would try to resolve the matter as far as possible.

It was noted that residents welcomed the process. One such person was Parbatia Misir who has been in the area for close to four decades. “I think it is a very good exercise the government is doing and I am glad because is everyday you see people fighting with their neighbour, so I think it is a very good idea,” Misir said.

Lelon Johnson, a resident in the community for the past 60 years shared similar sentiments. “The process is a good process because everybody would be able to get title for their land and you would be able to go to the bank that you can obtain a loan,” Johnson said. Nandlall revealed that since taking office, government has stressed the importance of homeownership. It was noted that only last year, 53 Enterprise families on the East Coast Demerara obtained their certificates of title for land they bought and occupied for over 20 years ago. Additionally, the process was spearheaded by the Attorney General.