Dear Editor,
Kaieteur News has reported on 16 February, 2026 that the Ministry of Housing has given notice to residents of Schoonard, West Bank Demerara to relocate for construction of a community recreational area. We call on the Ministry of Housing and other Government bodies to meet the needs of the citizens whose lives are affected by the construction of the community ground in Region 3.
We hope that all other community members will also advocate with the Government to ensure that the community ground in Region 3 is not built on the distress of any citizen of Guyana who will not have a suitable home. We need community grounds and spaces to promote healing and wellness, not to be legacies of inequality and oppression. We note that the Ministry of Housing seems to be inconsistent in their application of law.
The Ministry of Housing and the Central Housing and Planning Authority have not moved against the private business which is operating in the Farnum Playground in Subryanville. Unlike the citizens in Schoonard, this private business moved into a long-established community space, even as there were reports in October 2025 about a notice to stop construction. The Ministry of Housing must also pursue actions to ensure that the private business removes from Farnum Playground.