Senator The Honorable Colin Derrick
Minister of Justice
ADDRESS
On the
Public Unveiling of the Landfolio Cadastre
& Land Registry Project
At the Grand Royal Antigua Beach Resort
Wednesday 14th September 2005
Distinguished members of the Head Table,
Distinguished representatives of the Organization of American States and
Stewart Information International,
Senior Public Servants,
Members
of the Bar Association and other professional organizations,
Representatives of
Statutory Bodies,
Other Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today marks a very significant milestone in the history of Antigua
and Barbuda, as we are about to witness the Public Unveiling of
the Landfolio Cadestre and Land Registry Project. This
project was made possible through the generosity, confidence
and foresight of the Organization of American States and
Stewart Information International, which undoubtedly will improve
the accuracy and efficiency of land management, land records, tax
collection, planning and infrastructural development in our twin
island state.
My government is most grateful to the Organisation of American
States and Stewart Information International for choosing Antigua
and Barbuda as the site to execute this pilot project.
In July, the Ministry of Justice hosted for the first time,
a private briefing and unveiling of this Landfolio Cadestre and
Land Registry Project. Cabinet Ministers and
Senators, Senior Government Officials, Heads of Government
Divisions and Departments as well as Representatives of
Statutory Boards, were the recipients of an impressive
demonstration mounted by Stewart Information International which
outlined in great detail the governance
capabilities of such a system and the numerous benefits that
may be derived by both the public and private sector on a long
term basis.
This demonstration also provided information on the opportunities
of using this system as the foundation of a National Geographic
Information System.
Let us consider for a few moments the many benefits
that will be derived from a computerized Land Registry System. In
particular, it will:
- allow rapid scanning, indexing and verification of records,
thus eliminating the mistakes, difficulties, and frustrations
of manual title searches in land transactions.
- ensure accuracy and efficiency in the registration of transactions
affecting land. No transaction should take more than 48
hours to complete.
- ensure accuracy and increased efficiency in the assessment
and collection of property taxes by the Inland Revenue Department.
- Accurately plan and implement infrastructural and housing developments.
- Accurately identify the location and ensure rapid response
to requests for assistance by the police, ambulance and
emergency services;
- accurately plan and implement appropriate responses to
disasters, having regard to population shifts.
- Accurately designate and monitor land usage in our twin island
state.
- Improve the integrity of our electoral system as the new technology
will provide the aerial mapping of the country to permit location
by street name and number of any building in any electoral constituency,
thus allowing for precise registration and targeting of voters
in future elections.
This should be great news for the Banking and Real Estate sectors,
the Antigua and Barbuda Royal Police Force, the Defence Force,
Departments in the Ministries of Health and Agriculture, the National
Office of Disaster Preparedness, Antigua Public Utilities Authority,
Public Works and the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the
Development Control Authority, and The Electoral Commission, to
name but a few.
No longer should Public Works commence road works without
knowing the location of APUA water and electricity installations.
I have been further assured that this innovative Stewart and OAS
e-Government technology model being unveiled today will
also be of immense value to businesses and organizations
in the private sector. The system will permit authorized
private sector entities authorized computer access
to the records at the Land Registry from the comfort of their offices,
thus eliminating the current need to physically journey to the
Land Registry, to seek information. This undoubtedly will
accentuate transparency, greater efficiency and productivity
in the businesses conducted by our bankers, legal practitioners,
architects, surveyors and insurance companies.
Importantly the computerization of the Land Registry is a vital
advance in our thrust to e-government and is another example of
my Sunshine Government’s delivery on its campaign promises.
Most of you will recall on page 43 of our Manifesto entitled ‘Agenda
for Change’ we assured you that a UPP Government
will ‘develop a comprehensive e-government platform to
provide the population with easier access to government information
and services, and to generally increase the efficiency of interactions
between government and its citizens.’
More particularly, ‘computerize all government departments
to ensure that technology infrastructure remain at the leading
edge and can deliver reliable government services at the lowest
cost.’
Further, that we would ‘utilize computerized technology
to provide secure, efficient and cost effective record keeping
and retrieval.’
Today’s unveiling is an emphatic confirmation that delivery
on this promise has commenced, and the reorganization and modernization
which this project represents is a symbol of the Sunshine Government’s
commitment to bring transparency and streamlined procedures to
our economy.
At this point, commendations are extended to Registrar of Lands
Mrs Cecile Hill and her dedicated staff. As you have heard
in her presentation they have worked relentlessly and tirelessly
over a period of time, together with patient and dedicated
representatives of Stewart Information International to make this
occasion a reality.
It is my hope that you will find today’s unveiling most
informative and exciting. My government is grateful for all
that this new system will contribute to the advancement and development
of our economy, particularly the transfer of technology that accompanies
the project.
Thank you and may God bless you all!
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