FAO hands over new GLSC Offices in Bartica & Port Kaituma

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has officially handed over newly constructed office facilities in Bartica and Port Kaituma to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), marking a significant milestone in strengthening decentralized land administration across Guyana’s hinterland regions.

The handover ceremonies were held in Port Kaituma and at FAO’s office in La Bonne Intention. The official signing was officiated by Mr. Enrique Monize, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of GLSC, and Dr. Gillian Smith, FAO Representative in Guyana.

Bartica, a rapidly growing township, now benefits from a modern GLSC office and staff accommodation, while Port Kaituma has received its first-ever GLSC office. Constructed through the Sustainable Land Development and Management (SLDM) Project funded by Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), these facilities are designed to strengthen GLSC’s operational presence in Regions One and Seven, improve access to land administration services for communities, and support sustainable land development initiatives at the regional level.

Speaking at the ceremony, Commissioner Monize highlighted the critical role the new offices will play in improving the efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of land-related services, particularly for mining, forestry, agriculture, and Indigenous communities in the regions.

He emphasised the importance of GLSC’s presence in Bartica, noting that over the past five years the Commission has issued 1,255 leases covering approximately 3,202 acres of land and has regularised a significant number of areas within the region. The Commissioner also expressed appreciation to FAO for its continued partnership in the successful implementation of the SLDM Project.

Mr. Monize further noted that the new Port Kaituma office represents a significant step toward advancing land development to meet the growing demand for services in the area. He highlighted that the facility houses one of the eleven GPS base stations supporting the country’s new digitized land surveying platform.

The building also includes modern staff accommodation on the upper level, ensuring improved working and living conditions for personnel stationed in the region. In addition, boats and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were provided to enhance mobility, improve efficiency, and support effective service delivery in Port Kaituma and surrounding communities.

Dr. Smith underscored that the Bartica and Port Kaituma offices form part of a broader SLDM investment aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, advancing geospatial and land governance systems, and supporting practical, field-level sustainable land management interventions across the country.

She emphasised that improved physical infrastructure, combined with digital systems and trained human resources, is essential to achieving long-term sustainability and inclusive development. Dr. Smith also thanked GLSC for its strong partnership and the opportunity to support its vision for modern facilities that enable the decentralization of land administration services nationwide.

Speaking at the ceremony in Port Kaituma, Mr. Brentnol Ashley, Regional Chairman of Region One, stated that “this new building marks a historic milestone for the people of Port Kaituma and the entire Region One. This is not just the opening of an office, but the beginning of a new chapter of access, equity, and opportunity for communities that have long endured challenges due to limited access to essential services.”

He added that this people-centred approach recognises inclusivity for all, regardless of location, and delivers practical development with real impact. Residents, he noted, will no longer be required to travel long distances at significant cost to access land titles, leases, surveys, and other critical services.

Mr. Ashley further emphasised, “This means improved service delivery and greater security of land tenure. It means faster processes and empowerment—because land security is fundamental and foundational to housing development, livelihoods, and sustainable community growth.”

With the completion of these two facilities, the SLDM Project has supported the construction of three new GLSC offices (Bartica, Port Kaituma and Black Bush Polder) and the renovation of one office and staff accommodation in Mabaruma.

These investments in regional infrastructure, digital land administration, and capacity building reinforce the Government of Guyana’s commitment to responsible land governance, sustainable development, and its obligations under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).