–beneficiaries to be drawn from GL&SC, sister agencies

AS part of efforts to boost the government’s capacity to improve and modernise its land administration and management, 26 employees of the Guyana Lands and Surveys (GL&SC) and its sister agencies are set to benefit from a $20.6 million training programme funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

The programme, which will be facilitated by the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, will begin on March 23 and end in July 2023.

In addition to employees of GL&SC, other beneficiaries will be drawn from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (two persons); the Guyana Forestry Commission (two employees); the Central Housing and Planning Authority (one person) and the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary – Agricultural Development Authority (one person).

Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GL&SC, Enrique Monize, called the initiative timely, noting that it will boost the human resource capacity of each participating entity.
As it is now, the government is utilising land surveyors to conduct land administration processes, and gather information.

“The letter of agreement today would strengthen the capacity of technical staff in the areas of administration in Guyana. The letter of agreement is as a result of a few months of negotiation among the GL&SC, FAO and the University of Guyana,” Monize said.

He related that those types of upgrades to the human resource capacity of the organisation would directly improve land management.
He further said that his staff requires updated, modern and innovative approaches to address complex land issues.

They also need to understand legal instruments, valuation vividness, conformity with environmental regulations and assessments, optimal land uses, and land management practices, among other specialised areas of land administration and management.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Paloma Mohamed, said that the university remains committed to being involved in the sustained development of Guyana. To this end, after receiving a request for additional learners to join the land management programme, the university waived the tuition costs for six persons.

This allowed the number of learners enrolled in the programme, which is funded by the FAO, to increase from 20 to 26.
She said that this is the second such programme being facilitated by the university.

Resident FAO representative, Dr. Gillian Smith, said that, overall, the project seeks to help with the government’s and the country’s agenda to improve and modernise its land administration and management processes. She encouraged the participants to utilise the training provided to improve the services offered to Guyanese.

“To you the students, my final words, and I see a few of you are here today, I really would like to urge you and really hope for you that you make the most of this really wonderful opportunity. Your organisation and your country need you to do very well in this course, and to become a part of Guyana’s vision to transform land management and administration that is going to support the low carbon sustainable development,” Smith said.