UPON the instructions of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Attorney-General (AG) Anil Nandlall met with the residents of Kingelley Village, West Coast Berbice in respect of a claim by Lincoln Lewis that his foreparents owned the village.

In the company of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Region Five, Member of Parliament (MP), Fizal Jafferally and former MP, Harry Gill, Nandlall told residents that, from all indications, the land is State Land and that the government will regularise their occupation in due course.

Most of the residents disclosed that they have been living in the village, in their individual homes, from birth and their parents lived there as well.
Some of them are now eighty years old. In short, their occupation of that village dates back to over a century.

Trade unionist, Lincoln Lewis, also made his claim of ownership to a Commission of Inquiry, in respect to ancestral lands, established by former President David Granger.
Mr. Nandlall prepared a written statement on behalf of the residents and submitted it to that commission. Additionally, Nandlall filed Applications for Prescriptive Title for more than 20 of these residents and all were granted.

Some persons received their transport already. The Registrar of Deeds’ Report disclosed that there was no titular owner of the land. No one, including, Lincoln Lewis lodged any opposition to the Applications for Prescriptive Title as is required by the law.

Notwithstanding, Lewis continues to maintain his claim of ownership and has erected fences in certain parts of the village, in some cases, fencing off persons’ homes. In addition, he has been bullying and threatening the residents and has been charged by the police.

The residents complained to the ministers of agriculture, housing and water, local government and the attorney general seeking the assistance of the government.