Dear Editor,
The recent call by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Anil Nandlall, S.C., for local democratic organs to enforce laws against illegal squatting and the unauthorized occupation of government reserves is a welcome step toward order and accountability. The principle that state lands should be accessed transparently rather than taken by force is essential. However, if this campaign is to succeed and hold true credibility, it must address the glaring double standard in how squatting is defined and policed across our communities.
When the issue of squatting is raised, public focus almost exclusively targets residential occupiers. Yet, a far more pervasive form of squatting occurs in plain sight: commercial and corporate encroachment. In nearly every community across our regions, government reserves, originally designated for public utility, drainage, or infrastructure, are currently occupied by private business operations, industrial storage, and unauthorized structures. These commercial entities often operate with little to no consequence, while local authorities direct their enforcement efforts solely toward small-scale, vulnerable residents.
This uneven application of the law ignores a massive opportunity for community development. These vast, state-owned reserves are often situated in prime locations, frequently adjacent to essential drainage and irrigation access. Rather than allowing these lands to be hoarded by private businesses for industrial use, we should be reclaiming them to serve the public good.
Every community in Guyana has access to these government reserves, and they should be transformed into assets that serve the people living there. By reclaiming these spaces, we can convert them into vibrant agricultural hubs, such as communal shade houses, or create much-needed recreational facilities.
Turning these occupied reserves into productive agricultural spaces, managed by community members and young entrepreneurs, would provide a significant boost to local food security and household nutrition. Furthermore, developing recreational facilities would provide a positive outlet for our citizens, particularly the youth. Providing such spaces is an effective way to keep young people engaged, foster healthy lifestyles, and create meaningful alternatives to social distractions.
If the government is truly committed to its vision of agricultural modernization and community-led development, then its “zero-tolerance” policy on squatting must be applied without fear or favour. Reclaiming state land must start by holding large commercial entities accountable for the public space they have unlawfully taken over.
We are calling on local and central authorities to stop looking past commercial squatting and start prioritizing the needs of the surrounding communities. Let us clear these reserves of private industrial clutter and return them to the people, ensuring they are used for agriculture, health, and the betterment of our youth.