By: Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
MAHAICONY, EAST COAST DEMERARA — A bitter dispute has erupted between the Ministry of Agriculture and cattle farmers in Mahaicony, escalating into a high-stakes political row over land ownership, racial equity, and the definition of “State Lands.”
While the Government maintains it is developing critical infrastructure for the national good, Opposition MP Vinceroy Jordan is labeling the move a targeted attack on Afro-Guyanese ancestral property, promising a looming legal battle.
The Government’s Stance: “State Lands for National Drainage”
In a strongly worded statement, the Ministry of Agriculture refuted claims that the farmlands are privately or ancestrally owned.
- The Classification: The Ministry asserts the areas in question are State Lands, historically under the jurisdiction of the government.
- The Project: Officials state the land is being cleared for critical drainage and irrigation (D&I) infrastructure. They argue this project is essential to protect thousands of other farmers from flooding and to modernize the region’s agricultural output.
- The Rebuttal: The Ministry dismissed allegations of racial bias as “reckless, inflammatory, and a calculated attempt to mislead the public,” stating that infrastructure development is based on technical necessity, not ethnicity.
MP Jordan’s Counterclaim: “A Pattern of Dispossession”
MP Vinceroy Jordan fired back, arguing that the government’s “State Land” label is a convenient tool used to bypass the rights of Afro-Guyanese families who have occupied the area for over 60 years.
- Ancestral Rights: Jordan noted that these families have reared cattle on these lands for generations. “From all that they know, the lands came down from their ancestors,” he stated, questioning why neighboring plots owned by Indo-Guyanese families (such as the Manickchands) are recognized as private while these are suddenly deemed state-owned.
- The “Race Issue”: The MP was unapologetic in his assessment, stating: “It can never not be a race issue in Guyana when only Afro-Guyanese are pushed off of their lands.” He cited similar land disputes in Fyrish as evidence of a “worrying pattern” where the State covets ancestral lands without offering compensation or consultation.
- Lack of Consultation: Farmers expressed deep disappointment that their grazing lands were being cleared and infrastructure was “taking shape” without any prior warning or discussion regarding their livelihoods.
Key Points of Contention
| Issue | Ministry of Agriculture Position | APNU / MP Jordan Position |
| Ownership | Classified as State Land. | Ancestral land held for 50–60 years. |
| Purpose | Essential Drainage & Irrigation (D&I). | Sidelining communities and destroying heritage. |
| Consultation | Proceeding according to national plan. | No warning or alternative grazing offered. |
| Treatment | Applied fairly across all regions. | Claims “preferential treatment” for Indo-Guyanese. |
Next Steps: Legal Recourse
The situation is moving from the pastures to the courtroom. MP Jordan confirmed that the farmers have already engaged lawyers to challenge the government’s move. They are seeking to stay the construction of the D&I infrastructure until a court can determine the rightful status of the property.
As the bulldozers continue their work and the legal files are prepared, the Mahaicony land dispute stands as a microcosm of the deeper, unresolved issues surrounding land titling and ethnic land rights in Guyana’s rapidly developing landscape.
