–Min. Harmon urged new land surveyors

MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon on Monday admonished land surveyors to be impartial in the execution of their function as he delivered the feature address during their swearing-in-ceremony held at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission headquarters.

“Guard against professional dishonesty,” he urged those present at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, noting that deceitfulness often times result in land disputes and prolong judicial cases.

Emphasising that Land Surveyors ought to be honest, impartial and fair, Minister Harmon urged that they execute their tasks with integrity while adhering to the highest standard of professional ethics. Such, he said, would aid in the prevention of discord and land disputes.

“Provide accurate description of surveyed lands for the preparation of legal documents such as transports, leases and grants, strive at all times to serve the public’s interest, (and) at all times you must avoid being in situations of conflict of interest,” he further urged.
Underscoring the important roles of Land Surveyors, the State Minister said as Guyana undergoes major infrastructural changes in the coming years, there will be need for even more surveyors.

“Mr. Chair, the Government is about to invest heavily in catalytic physical infrastructural projects in agriculture diversification in renewable energy, in agro-industrial processing, as well as in massive drives to provide affordable housing for our citizens. These activities will take place in all regions of Guyana, on the coastland, in the hinterland and will entail making available large tracks of lands in an orderly fashion and in ways that will facilitate those investments,” he posited while pointing to the need for more Land Surveyors within the system.

Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Commissioner Trevor Benn, in his remarks, said 2018 marks the start of a new era for Land Surveyors, as he signalled the Commission’s intention to further enact the Land Surveyors (Profession) Act. Though the Land Surveyors Bill was assented to in May 2014, it has not been enforced in full, and as such, the Commission will be taking steps to ensure further enforcement.

“This Act provides for, among other things, the Registration of Land Surveyors, the Regulation of Practice, and administering penalties in accordance with the Act. Surveyors will now only be able to conduct surveys legally if she or he has a certificate of registration,” Commissioner Benn stated. It was explained that certificates will reflect if the Surveyor is a Government or Private Surveyor.

Additionally, from 2019, in keeping with the Land Surveyors (Profession) Act, the Board of Land Surveyors has agreed to have all potential surveyors to complete internship. “Starting in 2019, all qualified persons must complete a period of internship with an assigned Senior Surveyor before that individual becomes eligible for swearing in as a SLS. This means that this is the last ceremony where one can be sworn in without participating in an internship,” he explained.

This announcement was welcomed by the Minister of State, who emphasized the importance of having firsthand experience before becoming a fullfledged professional.

In 2017, Benn had noted that Mathematics and Astronomy had recorded high failure rates – today the situation remains the same. However, in keeping with a recommendation made by Minister Harmon, the Commission last year facilitated extra Mathematic classes for the students – a move which resulted in a slight improvement on the past rate.

“We have moved from five to eight passes from a similar number of candidates sitting the Sworn Land Surveyors Exam. The Math course will be offered again in 2018 and onward until such time that we can have confidence that our students no longer need same,” Commissioner Benn noted.

Additionally, the Lands and Surveys Commission will soon be signing Memorandums of Understanding with the Government Technical Institute (GTI) and the University of Guyana (UG).

The Commission will be looking to strengthen GTI’s surveyors programme and while over at UG, they are looking to commence a Diploma Programme in Land Administration for its staff.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Dylon Best, who also sits on the Land Surveyors Board and is an examiner, dispelled the notion that examiners are bias in their selection of surveyors. .
“I can tell you as a matter of fact that the examiners are bound by the provisions in the Land Surveyors Profession Act.

The second schedule sets out the process by which examiners must mark the students who are presenting themselves as candidates, and it also outlines the procedure that they must follow. On my watch I am pleased to say that we do not condone favoritism, we follow the law,” Magistrate Best stated.

He also used the opportunity to applaud GTI, noting that the institution plays a critical role in the Land Surveyors Programme. Like Commissioner Benn, he committed the Commission to assisting GTI in enhancing its Land Surveyors Programme.

The newly sworn-in Land Surveyors are: Katfai Sue, Orvil Parris, Romario Denhart, Kevon Williams, Moyica Dodson, Mahendra Sahadeo, Bhagestwar Murli and Brentnol Bart. They were all sworn in by Commissioner Benn and presented with their certificates. Katfai Sue, a Civil Engineer University of Guyana Graduate, was declared the Valedictorian.