MINISTER within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker has disclosed that the occupant of a house, allegedly, built on the Government reserve at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, Ms. Jocelyn Singh has taken court action against the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

He said the local authority has been served with an injunction to stop demolition of the building.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Whittaker said that, apart from securing the injunctive, Singh has also filed for a restraining order against the NDC.
He informed that the Ministry’s Legal Officer, Ms. Sadie Amin will be dealing with the matter, as she also represents the NDC in Court.
The hearing has been scheduled for July 23 but, in the meantime, Whittaker said a meeting between the Better Hope/Vryheid’s Lust NDC and the ministry has been set to further discuss the issue.
Month’s notice
Last week, when members of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 4(Demerara/Mahaica) and the NDC went to demolish her home, they served the woman with a month’s notice and informed her that the structure is located on the Government reserve and, as such, will have to be removed.
However, workmen were unable to break down the edifice and departed the scene after a brief confrontation.
Singh has alleged that the RDC and NDC want to move her property in order to make the land available for a business in the community.
But she insisted that she was given the lot number and has the necessary documents to acquire electricity and water connections.
Singh said she has been living at that address, uninterrupted, for the past 15 years and has experienced no problem, so far, about being on the land.
She added that, over all those years, she has had the old wooden house there but it collapsed and she is now making a stronger one of concrete.
Singh is questioning why the NDC has been accepting rates, taxes and other payments from her, if the subject of those charges is illegal.
She said, while she received the notice from the RDC this month, it was dated in May.
Lawyer’s letter
Additionally, she said she sent a lawyer’s letter in response but the officials refused to accept it, declaring it not valid and that her house would have to be destroyed anyway.
Singh also alleged that the NDC overseer, Mr. Tika Persaud had demanded a $500,000 inducement to allow her to keep her house there.
Persaud, however, refuted the allegation, pointing out that an overseer has no authority to demand money or sign documentation for land.
He said Singh’s accusation makes no sense as he carries out only the Council’s decision and, even with a bribe, has no power to overrule the RDC’s orders and directives.
Persaud said, as the overseer, he had been asked to be present when officials attempted to dismantle what they claimed is an illegal structure at Vryheid’s Lust North.