The High Court has ordered the possession of three properties at Peter’s Hall along the East Bank of Demerara to the Guyana Government. The three properties are among several properties that have been compulsory acquired by the Government to make way for the new Demerara River Bridge.

In granting possession of the three properties to the Government, High Court Judge, Navindra Singh, also ordered that the owners of the properties deliver possession to the Government by the 20th September 2024.

A total of 50 properties have been compulsory acquired by the Government for the bridge project, and the vesting of the properties were completed several months ago.

While most of the property owners accepted the Government’s financial offer for the properties, 13 of them refused, prompting the Government to move to the Court to be granted full possession and for market value of the properties to be determined.

In the three cases that were before the Court, the current market value for the properties was put to the Court.

In each of the three cases, Justice Navindra Singh, ordered less compensation to be paid for the properties than the compensation that the state was offering.

In one case, the Judge even stated that the land value in the Peter’s Hall area and surrounding areas has not varied to any great extent.

The compensation package that was offered by the Government included house lots, with or without a house, commercial lands along with monetary compensation and costs associated with moving, and in some cases, rental where a house was not available.

There are still some cases before the Court, and the Government has stated that it will continue to vigorously pursue possession orders in respect of those matters.

The Attorney General’s Chambers has stated that at some point, if possession of the properties is delayed, the Government may have to insist on its legal rights, and eject the occupants from the properties.

In the proceedings determined by Justice Singh, Ronald Burch-Smith appeared for
the Attorney-General’s Chambers, while Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, and Attorney Dexter Smartt appeared for the property owners.

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