UG launches historic Diploma in Valuation programme
–critical pillar in effective land administration- Min Hastings-Williams
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, February 6, 2020
The University of Guyana today launched a historic Diploma in Valuation programme in collaboration with the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission.
The launch of the programme makes the university only the second in the Caribbean to offer the diploma aside from the University of the West Indies (UWI).
A total of 30 students are enrolled in the 18-month course at the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Persons enrolled are representatives from the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Lands Registry and Deed Registry.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening, Minister of State Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams said that land has always and continues to play a crucial role in human activity. The Minister noted that the value for Guyana’s land will skyrocket since it is now an oil-producing nation. For this reason, she emphasised the critical need to improve the country’s land administration and management systems.
“Valuation is a critical pillar in effective land administration. It is the basis of negotiation between buyers and sellers for land rent, land taxation, compensation, mortgages, secured borrowing, future investment, land use planning and identifying the value of an organisation’s assets,” she stated.
Describing the diploma programme as a commendable initiative The Minister noted that it will equip the professionals with the requisite skills to play key roles in understanding Guyana’s developmental needs, mapping, surveying, planning and land administration in the country; which will help to build a functional and effective valuation system.
Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission Trevor Benn posited that “the programme is crucial to allowing the country to earn its full and right share of revenues from properties in the country. We have to be able to oversee our nation’s patrimony in a way that brings good value to the people of Guyana.”.
According to the University’s Registrar Dr. Nigel Gravesande, the institution fashioned a programme that will meet industry needs but satisfies the prescribed academic best practices and standards.