By: Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News|
FRIENDSHIP, EAST BANK DEMERARA — The long-feared deadline for the farmers of Friendship arrived with devastating force today. In a massive joint operation that began late Tuesday morning, heavily armed police ranks and court marshals descended upon the village to enforce a court-ordered eviction, dismantling homes and farming structures that have stood for decades.
The exercise has left scores of residents—including women and children—displaced and scrambling to salvage personal belongings from the rubble of their former lives.
The Operation: 11:00 AM Execution
The quiet agricultural community was transformed into a scene of chaos as law enforcement moved in to secure the perimeter of the 1,000-plus-acre tract.
- The Dismantling: Using heavy machinery and manual labor, teams began tearing down makeshift homes, storage sheds, and livestock pens across the disputed Plantation Friendship.
- Tense Standoffs: Displaced occupants, some in tears and others shouting in defiance, engaged in heated exchanges with officers, questioning the morality and timing of an operation that has left them homeless in a matter of hours.
The Claimant: “Legally Acquired”
Amid the outcry, Junior Rutherford, the Director of Rozel Di Leon Investments, was on the ground to defend the action.
- The Title: Rutherford presented a Certificate of Title to the media and authorities, asserting that the property was legally acquired through the proper judicial and land registry channels.
- The Legal Mandate: According to the claimant, the court order authorized clearing the property as of Tuesday, March 17, rendering the current occupants “illegal squatters” under the law.
The Human Cost: “We Have Nowhere to Go”
For the residents, the presentation of a paper title does little to dull the pain of losing their ancestral and economic footing.
- Lack of Notice: Many, including resident Nigel Johnson, insist they were never served with formal eviction notices or offered any form of relocation assistance. “I’ve been here all my life. To wake up and see men with guns and bulldozers at your door… where are we supposed to take our children tonight?” Johnson lamented.
- Economic Ruin: Beyond the homes, the destruction of farming infrastructure means the immediate loss of income for over 60 families who supply produce to the local markets.
Timeline of the Friendship Dispute
| Date | Status |
| Pre-2026 | Farmers occupy and cultivate 1,000+ acres for decades. |
| Feb 2026 | Rozel Di Leon Investments secures a court order for possession. |
| March 15, 2026 | Farmers warn of a “betrayal” by a former surveyor. |
| March 17, 2026 | Operation Execution: Homes dismantled; families displaced. |
Appeal for Urgent Intervention
As the sun sets on a transformed Friendship, the displaced families are issuing a desperate plea to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Office of the President. With several families currently without shelter, the community is bracing for a long and difficult night on the roadside.
The legality of the title remains a point of contention for the farmers’ legal representatives, who are reportedly seeking an emergency injunction in the High Court to halt further demolition.
