President Irfaan Ali has promised to modernize the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to meet the country’s growing demand for land.

The Government is pushing a four-year, $100 million plan to fully digitize the GL&SC. The move will see the upgrade of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and transition the agency into a fast, data-driven, and citizen-centred one.

Speaking at the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Commission, the President said the decision to establish the GL&SC in 2001 was a correct one, noting that the demand for housing and agriculture development was growing then. He said with that demand higher now, the Commission must position itself to stand the test of time.

“The decision to establish the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission reflected the recognition that land administration would becoming increasingly important to the country’s future and that a more specialized institution was needed to meet the challenge of a changing Guyana, it was bold and forward looking. 20 years, later, I believe history has proven that decision to be the right one,” the President noted.

The President said the work of the Lands and Surveys Commission is critically linked to national development, noting that every developmental project begins with the administration of land.

To this end, he said the Commission must fully be aware of Government’s developmental agenda if it is be ahead of the game.

“So, the work of the Lands and Surveys Commission is now entrenched, its now strategically aligned to our national development priorities and our global biodiversity alliance is coming on alongside the national low carbon development strategy and your work will get even more complex. If I am to summarize what we are building here at the Commission—it is an entity that is systems-based, people-centred and service-driven,” the President said.

The President also said as the need for land continues to increase for business, housing, agriculture and other purposes, the Commission must step up its work as the Government will work close with it to ensure its able to properly do its work.

“The objective in the next four years is to deliver an agency that is full digitized and one in which we will fully implement the most advanced technology to help our work here in every department and every aspect of our work and that is critical as we advance the work of the Commission,” Mr. Ali said.

The President said the Commission has also been playing a key role in assisting the Central Housing and Planning Authority in reducing its backlog for house lot applications.

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