Tempers flared today as the Police and Court Marshalls clashed with residents and farmers, as they moved in to clear a disputed area within the village of Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara on the orders of the Court.

The land is reportedly owned by Rozel Di Leon Investments, but according to the residents and farmers, they have been occupying the lands for more than 20 years.

Armed with the order of the Court, a number of Court Marshalls and the Police moved into the area as workmen linked to the owner of the property dismantled and broke down the small homes on the land.

One resident – 26-year-old Nigel Johnson – told reporters that he grew up in the area, and he has now been told that he has to relocate. He said the residents are being treated unfairly with noting being put in place for them. He explained that they were all given just seven days to pack up and move from the land that they have been occupying for more than 20 years.

“A letter that I cannot say that we have been served a letter because this letter was just dropped to our doorstep, by our gate, and our fence being stick, saying that we will have to evacuate this place within 7 days. Now the Marshalls and the Police Force are here enforcing a Court law, saying that we have to come off of this place. This is unfair to us,” Johnson said.

Another man said, he was given permission to set up shop on the land, and after investing his money to prepare the land, he is now being ordered to vacate the area.

“This is affecting me very much. These people throw out all we thing outside, breakdown we door, breaking down we building. The lawyer now seh he filing an injunction stopping this thing. Trying fuh get these people to hold on until the lawyer comes, and people pulling crowbar pun me just because I am talking and defending me thing,” the man complained.

He said he and his family have invested in the area over the years and now they are unsure of their next step.

“I get family to mine, family to maintain off of this. I get children to send to school. How these people need me to send my children to school. How these people need to upkeep myself. What they want me to do,” he said.

But while the residents are crying foul, Director of Rozel Di Leon Investment, Junior Rutherford, said the company is simply taking possession of its lands.

According to Rutherford, Rozel Di Leon Investments purchased two parcels of the land from Ellaine Adams many years ago.

“We bought this land from Ms. Ellaine Adams. Ms. Elian Adams is the person we took our hard earned money, spent and we purchased the property from Ms. Ellaine Adams,” Rutherford said.

Pointing to copies of the titles, Rutherford explained that while a sale agreement was executed many years ago, it was not until April 2022, that the properties were transferred to the company.

“This title, it was transferred, we received title for this land, it is dated right here, April 22, 2022 –  that is when we received it,” Rutherford said.

He said contrary to reports, the company is not taking advantage of the residents, but is simply laying claim to its property with the orders of the Court.  

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