ATTORNEY-GENERAL (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., has announced that new Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (DCRA) offices are on the horizon for various regions across Guyana.
Speaking during his online programme ‘Issues in the News’, on Tuesday, Nandlall underscored the administration’s dedication to regional development and modernisation with plans to significantly enhance access to essential legal and business services.
“We plan to build offices of the Deeds and Commercial Registry Authority in all these regions. That’s the grand plan, everything takes time, but we are getting there. That is what modernising the country is about.
“When we speak about modernising the country, it’s not lip service, and it’s not only talk. We are following it up with concrete actions for the benefit of all of our people, wherever they are located,” Nandlall said.
The new offices will be established in Mabaruma, Lethem, Bartica, and Linden, among other areas, providing much-needed services like notarisation, business registration, and resolution of land disputes.
SUCCESS IN MABARUMA
According to Nandlall, recent outreach in Mabaruma highlighted the urgent need for these services.
Over 100 transactions were completed during the outreach, with 77 new businesses registered on the spot.
Nandlall described the outreach as a “spectacular success,” noting that it addressed a wide range of legal issues faced by the community.
“Mabaruma is riddled with land issues because most of the land there is state lands and persons are occupying based upon leases.
“Once you give advice on a particular issue, and that advice is followed, it impacts positively on the resolution of hundreds of these legal disputes,” Nandlall explained.
The outreach also provided notarial services, which are often inaccessible in remote areas, and helped correct clerical errors in birth, marriage, and ID documents with the assistance of the General Register Office and the Guyana Elections Commission.
The plan to establish permanent offices is a significant step towards resolving long-standing issues in these regions.
“These offices will provide employment to local residents who are qualified to work in these positions,” Nandlall explained while pointing out that it’s not just about providing services but also about creating jobs and supporting local economies.
The Minister also criticised the previous APNU+AFC government for not addressing these needs during their tenure.
“They established townships but never attempted to install the requisite services that a township would require.
“Mabaruma doesn’t have a bank or a commercial deeds and registry office, yet it’s a town. We intend to put those services there, but it will take time,” Nandlall said.
The establishment of these offices is also expected to encourage business formalisation and legal compliance.
According to Nandlall, during their outreach at Mabaruma, registering 77 new businesses in Mabaruma was only just the beginning.
“These were 77 persons conducting their businesses without registration. Now, there is regularity and compliance with the law, and a formal business community can be established,” he said.
He also highlighted the long-term vision of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government.
“We plan to build buildings in the future so that the Deeds Registry Authority can have its own accommodation in these regions. That’s the grand plan, but everything takes time. We are getting there, and that is what modernising the country is about,” he said.
Nandlall acknowledged that the outreach and establishment of new offices should have been done earlier but emphasised the government’s commitment to making up for lost time.
“We plan to do these types of outreaches all year round. Better late than never,” he said.
The government aims to provide a constellation of services in these localities, qualifying them to be true townships with all necessary facilities.
Established under the Deeds Registry Act Chapter 5:01, the DCRA operates under the Ministry of Legal Affairs.
The Deeds Registry is crucial in the country’s legal framework, particularly for property transactions.
It serves as the official repository for property-ownership documents, essential for verifying the legality of property transfers.
This function is indispensable for both sellers and buyers during property transactions.
The Deeds Registry’s primary mission is to efficiently manage laws related to land transactions, including transports, leases, and mortgages.
It also handles powers of attorney, contracts, and various other deeds, ensuring legal compliance and protection of property rights.
The Commercial Registry, tasked with administering laws related to companies, business names, and intellectual property, aims to provide accessible and responsive services.
It supports the legal framework for corporate activities, ensuring proper administration of related laws.
Guyana has experienced a significant increase in business and company incorporations over the past four years.
In 2020, 6,633 businesses were incorporated, rising to 22,606 by the end of 2023.
Similarly, company incorporations increased from 791 in 2020 to 1,448 in 2023, reflecting the country’s growing entrepreneurial spirit and economic expansion.
The government has made substantial investments in industrial estates and small business development.
