Land indiscretions have to be ...

other purchased lands.

In the early ʼ90s when President Jagan came to power and ACDA was in existence, President Jagan had sent Brindley Benn to discuss what our foremost concerns were. Among other items was the issue currently addressed, but though he was receptive, Cheddi Jagan died before the issues could be activated. As for the legacy of President Forbes Burnham, in 1966 Independence found about a third of the mostly Afro-Guyanese population of Georgetown living in ‘nigger yards’; these were double lots occupied by some twenty families, with two latrines and bathrooms, and a middle yard standpipe that was a literal battlefield. These were unhealthy and contentious, with names like Camacho Yard, Jardine Yard, Slap Can Yard, Federation Yard, YY Yard here, there and everywhere. It was Forbes Burnham who from 1972 addressed those socially accepted concentration camps, with South and North Ruimveldt, Festival City, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, among other living spaces. He provided an exodus from slums to ownership; no one in the PPP can take that away from him. Mr Jagdeo of all people, the Pradoville Two creator, questions if the land issue will provide jobs. With the population of villages bursting at the seams, villagers forced to pay rent elsewhere because of congested situations, regaining land spaces, amounts to one reality: that of opportunity.

Over the last twenty years there have been unscrupulous collaborations between lawyers, people at the registry and politically linked criminal businessmen directed at stealing village and private lands; some succeeded, including relatives of politicians, and I am not referring to Pradoville Two, whether or not it is eventually proved to be indeed part of the post-emancipation owned lands. These indiscretions have to be reversed. Many incidents outside of the Afro-Guyanese community also occurred; they will also benefit from the corrective regulations that emerge from this African Land CoI.

Yours faithfully, Barrington Braithwaite

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