HM LAND REGISTRY REPRESENTATIVES ARRIVING SOON

St Helena Team
St Helena Team

Four representatives from HM Land Registry in the UK will arrive on 17 October 2013, for a period of two weeks to assist St Helena Government in the modernisation of their current land registration process and records.    

Emma Vincent, Head of Global Business Development has coordinated the visit of this team consisting of Julie Barry, Head of Global Engagement, Dr Andrew Trigg, Chief Geographic Information Officer, Len Craig, Senior Software Designer, and Tracey Salvin, Deputy Product Manager.  While here, the team will be arranging key meetings with principally the Registrar of Lands, Chief Magistrate John MacRitchie and Land Registry and Crown Estates personnel. The team will also meet with His Excellency the Governor, the Attorney General and the Head of Planning and Development Control, David Taylor.   

Electronic registration in England and Wales produces an easy-to-read document accurately reflecting the contents of all paper title deeds.  Land Registry provides secure online access to its database of titles and most plans (maps). All title information is kept on Land Registry’s database, reducing the need to store old and often inaccessible deeds. The register can be viewed quickly and securely online. The register is immediately accessible to officials saving substantial time searching through indexes and paper records to locate relevant titles.  Land Registry has over 23 million recorded titles and is a world leader in this field.

While St Helena has approximately five thousand titles there are considerable benefits in modernising the present paper based system, improving efficiency and certainty to property owners.

John MacRitchie stated that:

“On commencing the duties of Registrar of Lands for St Helena it became apparent that we would gain much benefit from a system which can provide (i) more accurate and precise identification of and information about land parcels, (ii) security from loss or destruction of data and (iii) efficient usage allowing regulated access to a unified system by all authorised stakeholders. We have skilled and enthusiastic local personnel and in particular considerable technological expertise available on Island. What we need is a system that makes full and efficient use of these resources.

“I therefore met with representatives of Land Registry while in the UK at the beginning of 2013. Following such discussions a most impressive team from Land Registry were invited to visit St Helena.

“This project is a glowing example of the operation of the United Kingdom Government’s commitment as set out in the White Paper on Overseas Territories and will tangibly help St Helena reach a considerably higher standard in this respect.”

Emma Vincent added:

“Land Registry has been in operation for over 150 years, and began the transition from paper-based registration processes to electronic systems in the 1980s.  As part of that change we have learnt a great deal and are happy to share our experiences with our counterparts in St Helena as they begin their own modernisation journey.

“We felt it was really important to come to the Island to see how the current system operates.  This will enable us to support our colleagues in a meaningful way – relevant to the unique circumstances on St Helena. This isn’t about simply replicating the model in England and Wales; it’s about determining realistic and appropriate next steps that fit the needs and requirements of the Island’s people.

“We were delighted to be invited to collaborate with the Registrar of Lands at this exciting time, and are proud to play our part in supporting Her Majesty’s Government’s objectives in relation to Overseas Territories.”

SHG

11 October 2013

 

Notes to Editors

  1. Emma Vincent is responsible for identifying and developing business opportunities for Land Registry, by sharing knowledge and expertise with other jurisdictions. 
  2. Julie Barry, with over 30 years experience in the field, specialises in land administration, stakeholder engagement and international relations. 
  3. Dr Andrew Trigg’s role in the team will be using his experience of mapping, surveys and GIS to assess the current map and survey processes on Island.
  4. Senior Software Designer, Len Craig has worked on similar modernisation projects, including the modernisation of land registration in Alderney in the Channel Islands 
  5. Tracey Salvin, Deputy Product Manager will be responsible for capturing the needs and requirements of SHG, and for making recommendations for how accessibility and processes can be improved.
  6. As a government department established in 1862, executive agency and trading fund responsible to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Land Registry keeps and maintains the Land Register for England and Wales. The Land Register has been an open document since 1990.

 

  1. With the largest transactional database of its kind detailing over 23 million titles, Land Registry underpins the economy by safeguarding ownership of many billions of pounds worth of property.

 

  1. For further information about Land Registry visit www.landregistry.gov.uk Follow us on Twitter @LandRegGov Find us on LinkedIn Facebook and our blog http://blog.landregistry.gov.uk/

 

Contact

Land Registry Press Office

Marion Shelley 0300 006 7543, 07790 690297

marion.shelley@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk

 

 

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St Helena Government Communications Hub

Telephone: 22470
Email: kimberley.peters@sainthelena.gov.sh