Dear Editor,
Rabble-rousers are at work again, and I join Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, in pointing out that the political Opposition is misrepresenting the “established and known” facts surrounding the Friendship land debacle, which is a dispute between a private landowner and persons claiming to be occupants of the land. So, first thing’s first, as this is indeed a “private” matter, with a well-documented history:
Rozel Di Leon Investment Limited is the bona fide, sole and rightful owner of the property, by virtue of holding the Certificates of Title, consequential to “lawfully purchasing the said Property from Elaine Adam, who previously owned it.” This transaction, the dates and participants thereof, can all be verified from available and already-displayed court documents. This issue, by the way, goes back to 2009, adding the fact that “at the time of the sale, the company was given vacant possession, and all persons occupying the land were given notice prior to and following the transaction.”
So, Rozel Di Leon Investment Limited, who now “legally” owns the entire property, did nothing illegal or unethical when the supposed over 50 families were evicted, as this resulted from a court order, way after the occupants were given more than 18 months’ notice to move and they did not comply. By way of information, I am referring to the parcels of land at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, now being made a political “hot spot” to target the totally uninvolved People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government.
Let me add that outside of all legalities, now being rightfully imposed, “… all persons occupying the land were given notice prior to and following the transaction.” The issue then should have been met with complete acquiescence; in fact, occupants should not have been there by now. They have exhausted “overtime”.
Secondly, and this is quite bizarre, the New Friendship Farmers’ Cooperative Land Society, on behalf of the “illegal” occupants, did file legal proceedings against the company, Elaine Adams, and the company’s Principal, Leon Rutherford. Is this not laughable?
The occupants, both then and now, have no stakes between the seller and buyer and, instead of “scramming” during their extended mercies, acted and are still acting with insolence and impunity. Look at this, please! “The Society sought to have the Company’s titles declared void based on allegations of fraud.” This nonsensical manoeuvre ended when Justice Peter Hugh dismissed the Society’s application in its entirety, noting that the Court found no merit in the allegations of fraud and thus granted the Company’s application for an order for vacant possession.” Yet these “squatters” are being obstreperous and have political mavericks rallying behind them. This exercise is one of silly otiosity.
Editor, I quote: “At that hearing [I made mention of], representatives of the Society and their attorney were present in court when the Judge made the order. The Society subsequently gave an undertaking to vacate the Property by January 31, 2025 … [and] A copy of the Order was formally served on the Society.” So why and how this act of mischief? It was only after the Society failed to honour its undertaking that the Company said it was left with no choice but to seek enforcement of the Court’s ruling. Who does argue with this?
I need not go on, except to join the chorus that, indeed, there is a “disturbing trend of disinformation and misinformation” emanating from opposition figures surrounding the ongoing land matter. As the Minister intoned and as I have delineated, “At no time, as is being claimed by mischievous elements of the opposition, has the PPP/C Government had any hand in the removal of the squatters on the Friendship land.” The matter is simply being “rightfully” and legally played out.