Guyana’s booming economy will generate high demand for surveyors – President Ali

– as 17 land surveyors take Oath of Office

With Guyana on the cusp of major economic development, President Irfaan Ali on Friday charged a new batch of land surveyors to prepare themselves to fill the demand that will arise as the country embarks on this journey.
The batch of 17 land surveyors, which included four females, took their Oath of Office on Friday at State House before the Head of State.
In his charge, the President outlined the importance of land surveying not just to ensure orderly use of land but also the country’s natural resources – both of which he noted are integral to the planning and execution of development works.
“Guyana needs land surveyors. There is a mismatch between the demand for land surveyors and the availability of qualified land surveyors; and there is an even greater gap for qualified, experienced land surveyors,” he said.

According to President Ali, with Guyana’s economy rapidly expanding, the demand for surveyors will significantly increase over the next 10 years.
“Economic development will skyrocket over the next 10 years and beyond. Megaprojects are planned for the energy and transport sectors. The tourist sector will experience economic takeoff. More than 50,000 house lots will be developed over the next five years. Private Sector development will also intensify. A booming economy will generate a high demand for more surveying services,” he posited.
However, while recognising that these surveyors are the pacesetters for the future of the profession, President Ali encouraged the young men and women to further elevate themselves to keep up with the changes that are occurring in the developing world.
“Don’t for a moment believe that you have arrived. Don’t believe that you have arrived today. You are just beginning the journey. Things are changing, dynamics are changing, technology is changing, skills set is changing and it requires continuous change in your outlook. We have to learn to unlearn to relearn. That is the new paradigm we live in. Technologies that were relevant 10 years ago are obsolete today,” the President asserted.
He went on to point out that surveying without GIS (Geographic Information System) training would not meet the requirements of the future. One such example the President mentioned is the emergence of marine surveyors in the blue economy sector. He also highlighted the need for surveyors in the planning of a new city who will be required to have a basic understanding of urban planning as well as in the decentralisation of the economy, which requires an understanding of regional planning.
To this end, President Ali urged the new surveyors to build on the foundation they have now so that they can position their careers to satisfy those future demands.
“Do not sit down and relax, and believe that you have arrived. You have to get the experience and you have to look at the future requirements and needs of the economy will be. Here is where all the potential will reside, right within our boundaries… Over the next 10 years, opportunities will, therefore, abound particularly for educated, smart, highly-skilled, trained and talented young people. This cohort of land surveyors is, therefore, a pacesetter for producing the quality skills needed for national development,” he stated.
As such, the Head of State posited that Government will ensure that these surveyors get the opportunity to enhance their skill sets and disclosed that there will be specific programmes in his Administration’s 20,000 scholarship initiative for surveyors.
However, President Ali cautioned the 17 news surveyors that while they will be working in a new economy, they must be wary of the temptations out there.
“Let me be very frank with you, temptations will be high out there, especially the way the economy is taking off. But then it when you have to rely on the Oath that you took,” he stressed.
The President further charged them to emulate behaviour that would garner them a “spotless” reputation.
“I urge you to let the law direct your actions as professionals… You belong to an important profession – one in which your character and reputation matters. As land surveyors, you’ll also be expected to embody ethical responsibility. You will be expected to epitomise spotless integrity. Land surveyors are expected to act with the utmost competence at all times, and to exhibit the highest standards of personal and professional probity,” he pointed out.
With this addition of 17 new land surveyors, the 50-plus capacity at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission is now significantly boosted.
Acting Commissioner Enrique Monize told Guyana Times that they would need at least over 100 surveyors for the GL&SC to be operating comfortably in Guyana’s economic development.
During his remarks, Monize also charged the new surveyors to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism as they join the field at a time when the country is on an upward development trajectory.
These surveyors were the successful candidates from two batches that were trained in 2018 and 2019. They had to undergo one year’s training and attain a 60 per cent and above pass rate in five surveying areas before qualifying to be certified.