Farmers, residents will be duly compensated if lands acquired for cables from Gas-to-Energy project – Nandlall 

Attorney General Anil Nandlall on Monday told farmers and other residents in Mahaica and Berbice that they will be duly compensated if their lands must be acquired by the State to facilitate electricity distribution efforts.

Lands belonging to these residents may be acquired for the installation of Guyana Power & Light (GPL) transmission cables bringing cheaper and more reliable electricity from the Wales Gas-to-Energy project.

Over 100 residents, particularly farmers from Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, to Blairmont, West Coast Berbice, were engaged on this project on Monday at the Latchmansingh Primary School, Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice.

Nandall told them that state lands will be utilised for the project. However, where state lands are not available, private properties will be affected. As such, any private owner will be duly compensated.

“In this exercise, the Government’s priority is to ensure that your proprietary interests are protected, that the process embarked upon is fair and transparent, and that, as far as possible, we arrive at consensual positions on what fair market value is for whatever property is being acquired.

“While the Government will provide lawyers and certificates of valuation, you will be free to retain lawyers of your choice and secure certificates of valuation from valuation officers of your own choosing,” a release from the Ministry of Legal Affairs quoted Nandlall as saying.

He also reportedly highlighted that farmers will be compensated if any of their crops are removed.

According to the statement, the transmission cables are intended to distribute electricity generated by the Wales Gas-to-Energy Project and will extend as far as Number 53 Village on the Corentyne Coast.