GL&SC repossesses over 1000 acres of Mocha lands for non-performance

Dec 24, 2017 News

Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GL&SC), Trevor Benn, has defended a decision to cancel the leases of four businessmen in the Mocha Community and debunked claims that the move had any political motives.
“I have had very clear instructions that whatever happens here must be as a result of decisions made at the level of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). I don’t receive any instructions from any minister in relation to whose land should be taken away,” Benn told the media on Tuesday last.
He was at the time making a statement at an end -of-year press conference. During the briefing, the commission noted that further steps to repossess more than 1,000 acres leased to four businessmen. None of the land was occupied in four years.
“We took back the land and we are about to give to the residents of Mocha over 200 house lots which they are clamouring for because they really need it, together with other agricultural lots,” Benn said, adding that the Lands and Surveys Commission was at the same time taking steps to repossess lands for failure to beneficially occupy or use them or pay their fees.
Addressing the issue of non-performance of leases, the Commissioner explained that the Commission usually sends the defaulter a letter which gives him/her six months to get things together.
“If they don’t get themselves in order, steps can be taken to repossess the land,” Benn explained.
He said that following the appointment of the new Board of Directors and management team, the commission began implementing a number of measures, designed to ensure delivery of a higher quality of service to all clients.
Sharing some of the highlights of 2017, the Commissioner noted the entity’s compilation plans for various areas such as Great Diamond, Houston, Herstelling, Eccles and Peters Hall, its move to digitize cadastral plans, to improve the lease application process, and lease management system, with the completion of the Lease Revenue Portfolio.

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