by Kurt Campbell
The name Esther Perreira became a household name in Guyana back in 1998 as she became the centre piece of an elections petition that was filed against the 1997 elections.
The petition was successful as the elections were vitiated. It was filed in Esther Perreira’s name as an elector and as a supporter of the People’s National Congress.
Today, Esther Perreira, is taking on a different fight and is upset that the PNC which forms part of the coalition government is not doing enough to assist her. Her battle this time is over a part of her farming land in Sophia.
She fought back tears today as she told News Source that she is fearful that she may be at risk of losing the large portion of land.
In the same year that the petition was filed, another woman and her family were given the plot of land to the right of Perreira’s Block E, South Sophia property. She said that move was done by People’s Progressive Party Member Philomena Sahoye-Shury.
At her home today, she complained that since the woman was allotted the plot of land, she has been claiming at least one-third of the land that she has occupied since 1983.
Perreira explained that the land was given to her by former President L.F.S Burnham himself and she later paid the sum of $10,000 for it.
She was taken before the High Court and the case concluded in October 2015 in the favour of the other woman, Zola Cameron-Luben.
Although Perreira was ordered by the court to remove two structures that occupy parts of the land that was awarded to Cameron-Lubin, she is insisting that an injustice was done to her.
She said she had been using the land to farm for several years and claimed that since she filed the petition she has been victimised under the previous government.
“I couldn’t get work nowhere. Look I applied for light and GPL refuse to give me light. I had to tek light. I even went for my passport and never get it. Is only last year I get my passport,” she added.
The woman also feels that she is not getting any support from the party she fought for and supported while in opposition, although she has written to President David Granger himself.
“I feel frustrated. I tell you the truth, I feel like I can die right now because Burnham give me this land… I fought for my party. If I know this would have happened to me couple years back I wouldn’t stay here. They told me hold on they weren’t in power. Now they in power and I go to them and none of them ain’t helping. This is advantage and my party I fight for them they should do something for me,” she said.
Perreira is now asking for the public’s help to secure a good Lawyer to fight her case.
“I asking anybody who can give me a help. My party let me down. I know Mr Granger. He answer the letter but the people behind him ain’t good. I need help and answers. I am a poor woman and I am a single parent,” she added.
News Source was able to speak briefly with Zola Cameron Lubin who believes that Perreira was being unfair and greedy.
She said she was forced to take Perreira back to court for disregarding the court’s order to remove a wooden structure that once served as a grocery shop and another concrete building that is under construction.
Perreira now has one month to tell the court why she has refused to remove the structures.
The woman claimed that she and her children were threatened by Perreira and her refusal to remove the structures was affecting them, especially during the rainy season.
Cameron – Lubin explained too before she approached the Court she went to Congress Place but Perrier was not willing to cooperate and settle the matter cordially.
She is insisting that the land was allotted to her and she has her title and receipts to prove her case.
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