Dispute arises over land claimed by Uitvlugt Pasture Jamaat

Members of the Uitvlugt Pasture Jamaat are distressed that residents have infringed on transported land belonging to the mosque and have started to erect a fence on a portion they claim is reserve land.

They showed Stabroek News (SN) documents which supported their claim that the land which measures 200 ft. by 300 ft. and adjoins the “Muslim cemetery” had been given to them over 40 years ago by GuySuCo for the construction of the mosque.

They had in fact, started to replace an existing fence which was in a deplorable state, on the same spot when the men bullied them and claimed about 10 ft.

According to them, they raised funds and were in the process of conducting renovations to the building as well as to the fence.

But on Friday, they looked on helplessly as the men erected a frame for a fence in front of theirs, infringing on their property and preventing them from accomplishing their task.

A few members of the mosque look on helplessly at the fence that the residents have started to erect in front of theirs (with larger posts)
A few members of the mosque look on helplessly at the fence that the residents have started to erect in front of theirs (with larger posts)

They recalled that right after acquiring the land about 40 years ago residents had encroached on 40 ft. “but the older folks left them, they didn’t say anything.”

The members said too that, “Now they feel they can take the land from us and we would remain quiet but it is not fair. This was given for religious purposes and many people from the community are benefitting from it.”

As this newspaper was speaking to the members, an elderly resident who gave his name as Aaron said that “the estate had given the land for (a) playground… but it ceased to be a playground and it is now a reserve.”

He said too that the area where the members were putting up the fence was a walkway but the members vehemently denied his claim and insisted that their fence was always on that spot.