OF the 32 students who participated in the land surveyors’ course, five were sworn in Monday by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC).The five new surveyors, who’ve pledged to help boost the capacity of the commission and that of other government agencies requiring this specialised skill,
are: Travis Fields, Dexter Sam, Veith Mendonca, Amanda Bowman and Elton Pradhad.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who delivered the Charge at the swearing-In ceremony at the commission’s D’Urban Backlands offices, said land surveyors are bound by oath to carry out their functions faithfully and according to law, and as such they should avoid being involved in corruption at all costs.
Said he: “My understanding is that the graduates sworn in are beneficiaries of a programme that is offered by the GL&SC annually to prepare interested persons for careers as land surveyors.
“But if 32 persons are entering for the examination, then, usually, if you’re well taught, you would expect at least 32 persons would pass. So when we have a pass rate of 15%, something has to be examined.”
He pondered aloud whether the programme was prepared in such a way as to weed out others to promote the best, or if the programme should be re-examined, since persons, after going through a period of training, are still ill-equipped to pass the final course.
HIGHLY UNACCEPTABLE

“We need to examine if graduating such a small percentage is realistic, since a 15% pass rate is highly unacceptable,” Minister Harmon said.
Sharing his experience as a practising attorney, Harmon said there were occasions when multiple surveyors were testifying before the court pertaining to one piece of property, and they all would have different measurements and conclusions.
“We have to put an end to these instances; we have to ensure that when a survey is done, a surveyor puts his mind and training into the facts that are put together to determine what is the exact measurement of a piece of land,” he underscored.
Noting that surveying is an exact science and not one where mistakes or estimates should be made, Minister Harmon said,
“The State expects that the graduates should undertake their work with dedication and commitment, since there is no space for mistakes which could cause multiple problems within the system.
“As an attorney practising in the Land Court, it has exposed me to the amount of problems that people have, which happens when people don’t do their work right.”
Having said that, he urged practising surveyors to observe the standard operation procedures as set out by the Lands and Survey Commission, since deviation from rules always creates problems.

WORKING FOR THE STATE

A case in point, he said, is that when working for the State as a surveyor, the weight of the President is on that surveyor’s shoulders.
As he went on to explain, the President ultimately has the power to grant leases, and a surveyor’s decision is used when making those decisions.
“The level of exactness must be demonstrated in executing these duties, and we must strive at all times to serve the public. Your fist duty is the exactness of your science and then your professionalism and conduct.”
He urged that surveyors not be tempted by corruption, since many would likely make offers that will challenge the integrity of the work of a surveyor. “They are challenging all that you have learnt, and you have to rebuke them. Let them understand that you’re a professional, and you’ve sworn, under the law, to behave and deliver your work in a certain manner. So, avoid people trying to corrupt you, and people trying to corrupt the system.” he advised.
COURSE CONTENT
According to Surveys Division Manager Rene Duesbury, a lot of emphasis was placed on Mathematics, Science, Astronomy and Land Law in 2015 which is a new subject area as part of a requirement under the recently assented Land Surveyors Act.
He lamented the poor pass rates in mathematics, as this area still remained low and more emphasis would have to be placed on this subject.
Commissioner of the GL&SC Doorga Persaud, congratulated the graduates and advised that they should always put their best foot forward while executing their duties. Valedictorian Elton Prashad, who spoke on behalf of his fellow graduates, expressed his gratitude for the patience exhibited by the trainers, leading up to the examination. Prashad said there were times, like many of his fellow graduates, he felt like quitting but the encouragement he received from tutors was always a motivating factor. Prashad also vowed to carry out his duties with credibility and sound professionalism within the framework of the commission, so as to keep the good name of the commission intact.