APPROXIMATELY sixty residents residing in Queenstown on the Essequibo Coast are now affected, as a result of claims being made to the main access dam to gain ingress and egress, as private property.

According to one resident, the village has been in existence for over one hundred years and the particular dam was known to have been state land. The disputed dam is situated at the western end of Queenstown and next to the post office.

The area has occupants on both sides of the dam and it is one of the said residents who are now claiming the land.

As a result, a fence has been erected to prevent the other residents from using the dam causing tensions to rise. When contacted, one of the affected residents, who spoke to the Guyana Chronicle described the situation as untenable and a gross injustice to the people of the village. He claimed that he has been living in the area for almost 45 years and the dam was built and maintained by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

He further claimed that numerous letters were sent to Government Officials of the previous administration, including the former Minister of Local Government ,seeking his intervention. “Nothing was done since 2012 when the dam became an issue,” the resident said, adding that the NDC is fully aware of the matter but has been unable to provide an amicable solution.

He however claimed that at the last statutory meeting of the NDC, Councillors unanimously voted for the resurveying of the area in an effort to provide an access for the residents. Another affected resident explained that with the present uncertainty concerning ownership of the dam, he is fearful that should an emergency occur, no vehicle will be able to traverse there, because it is now being blocked with the erection of a fence. The current scenario is causing a rift between the other residents and the claimant of the dam and according to him, “it can lead to serious problems if the authorities do not intervene urgently.” A delegation from the village is set to meet with the Regional Chairman shortly upon the recommendation of the NDC. (Elroy Stephney)