By: Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) officially concluded the Sustainable Land Development and Management (SLDM) Project on Tuesday—an initiative that has significantly strengthened land governance, improved long-term planning, and expanded technical capacity across the country.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, GLSC Chief Executive Officer Enrique Monize revealed that public demand for land has reached historic levels, with approximately 9,000 applications approved, totaling 150,000 acres.
“The demand is so much that we currently have over 30,000 requests for lands on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway,” Monize disclosed.
Despite progress, Monize said the Commission continues to face major challenges, with squatting remaining the biggest obstacle to efficient land administration.
“Even though we have completed several regularisation exercises, this continues to be a problem because people tend to choose public roads, dams, and lands needed for public infrastructure,” he noted.
Monize confirmed that GLSC is finalizing a major regularisation effort near the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, where more than 500 persons are occupying land illegally.
FAO Representative Dr. Gillian Smith praised the SLDM Project as a model of national collaboration, noting that it supported Guyana’s transition toward a modern, resilient, and people-centered land governance system.
“The project engaged 20+ national and regional agencies and trained over 600 individuals, building a strong ecosystem for land governance,” Dr. Smith highlighted.
She added that nearly 100 farmers, 30 miners, and 170 local actors were directly trained to diagnose land degradation and apply sustainable land-management tools.
“This is capacity built at scale—creating impact that lasts,” Dr. Smith stated.
The SLDM Project is expected to guide future land-use planning, reduce environmental risks, and support national climate-resilience efforts.
