THERE is no place for corruption in the Land Registry. This is the firm belief of newly appointed Registrar of Lands, Rosalie Robertson. In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Robertson said she will be adopting a “zero-tolerance” approach to corruption. “If anyone in my office is accused and found guilty of being corrupt, we will get rid of him immediately. We have to weed him out,” the Registrar of Lands stated.
Notwithstanding her zero tolerance approach to corruption, Robertson believes that “the source of allegations of corruption (in the Land Registry) might have come from the backlog of cases.”
She noted that persons visiting her office may have felt that they “could pay an incentive to get their documents back readily.”
The Registrar of Lands noted that she is working with staff to ensure that they provide the best quality service to the public.
“We plan to deliver a professional service, make it (Land Registry) a model department delivering excellent service…We will not entertain any form of corruption,” she said affirmatively.
Over the years, many lawyers have complained bitterly about the levels of corruption that existed at the Land Registry under its former head But Robertson stressed that corruption will not thrive under her watch, since she will ensure that all matters are dealt with as quickly as possible.
Robertson calls on the public to report any incidents of corruption at Land Registry noting that the service offered at the Registry is public and not private.

CHALLENGES AND PLANS
The current accommodation for the public has been described as “woefully inadequate” due to the number of backlogged cases. “Staff is inadequate but it is a chicken and egg situation…I can’t overtop the staff because when we are through with the backlog there won’t be a real need for the extra staff”. Robertson stated that the hiring of temporary staff is neither feasible nor realistic. “I am hoping the backlog is done with quickly,” she said.
Given the number of accumulated cases to be completed, it is a challenge for staff at the Registry to flip through thousands of stacked records. “We are working with what we have at the moment…but I plan to dedicate staff to specifically deal with our records. These records are very important, so there will be the strict supervision of the vaults.”

SYSTEMS TO BE DIGITISED
In the future, Robertson plans to have the systems at the Land Registry digitised. “This is a long term plan, but at the moment we are working with what exists. It will be a while before the process starts…we haven’t come to grips with the volume, as you know records don’t die, we have been preserving records here since 1968 or thereabout.”
Accordingly, every title or any updates to same are kept in one portfolio so it can be properly traced. “Every change is documented…but I am optimistic that we can have the process started soon enough,” the Registrar of Lands said. While challenges exist at the Land Registry, Robertson remains optimistic that they will be conquered. “I believe with the support I am receiving from all stakeholders, we shall overcome them (challenges). I am looking to better the institution; I expect hurdles- and I will deal with as them arise.” She said she has a vision for the Land Registry and she is working towards it. “We (Registrar and Deputy Registrar) will take the department where it should be,” she told the Chronicle, confidently.