IN response to the article captioned “Supreme Court & Land Registries need professional management” in the June 24, 2015 edition of the Kaieteur News, I wish to inform the “Name withheld person” that he/she has written utter rubbish with regards to Land Registry. That person is totally misinformed, and needs to take a seat when reading what I have to say.The status of Land Registry is as follows:
1 I have signed off on all “In Order” transfers for the year 2014. Many have been uplifted by the respective lawyers.
2 Transfers filed for 2015 are being checked so far to April and are still being checked.
3 Mortgages filed for 2015 are being processed for June.
4 Corrections returned to Land Registry by the respective lawyers are being processed for August 2014.
5 Ministry of Housing transfers are being processed for 30th January, 2014. For this Ministry, we have 8,391 transfers filed for 2014.
6 Applications for Lost Grosse/Mutilated Grosse and Certificates of Sale are being processed for June 2014.
7 As for “Out of order’ matters, the Land Registry does have from 2007 to 2012. I have sent notices to the lawyers with minimal response; so I’ve resorted to advertising same in the Chronicle Newspapers, again with the same minimal response. I have stopped this, as it is costing the Land Registry thousands of dollars, and we are getting nowhere.
8 Customers visit this office and complain that they have paid off their lawyers, who inform them that the matters are filed with the Land Registry. That is indeed so, but when we inform them that the matters are out-of-order, and that the lawyer needs to do the corrections, they sometimes take the queries or have the lawyer’s clerks come in and they do take the queries but the matter is left unattended and I GET THE BLAME. Is that fair? I am ready to expose all and sundry, as I am doing now.
This “Name withheld person” also said I am arrogant; I suggest that that person Google this word, along with honesty, sincerity, integrity and principle. I operate within that framework. On many occasions, I work alongside the staff at the counter when we have an influx of customers, and people tell me that I am not what others say I am, including this “Name withheld person”.
I have often said that I do not take a sweet drink, a fry rice or knock glasses with anyone; therefore I am not friends with anyone, and I like it that way. I was put here to do a job, and I know I do it well, regardless of what others say. And, incidentally, I was not placed here by Dr. Luncheon, as the know-it-all said in the article. I will give that person some homework to find out who put me here, and I will give them a hint. I worked at the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court Registry, as well as at the State Solicitor/Public Trustee and Deeds Registry, which latter I left as Deputy Registrar before assuming the position of Registrar of Lands.
Finally, why did you withhold your name? You know fully well what you wrote is rubbish, but just to jump on the bandwagon, you will do so. I call you a coward!
JULIET SATTAUR Registrar of Lands