GEORGETOWN – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall today announced a comprehensive legal offensive against land fraud, assuring Guyanese citizens that the system now provides unprecedented layers of protection against criminal plots to steal property.
Speaking on the Starting Point podcast, Nandlall emphasized that while fraud remains a challenge, the government has successfully “rooted out collusion within agencies” and overhauled property law to make it “appreciably more difficult for criminals to succeed.”
The Digital Trap and Real-Time Alerts
A key victory against fraud, Nandlall revealed, is the transformation of the Official Gazette. Previously inaccessible to many, the government spearheaded the Official Gazette Online Act, giving the digital publication the same legal force as the print version since 2012.
This creates a real-time defense against theft: Nandlall explained that because all property transfers are legally announced in the online Gazette, citizens, especially those living abroad or in rural areas, can monitor transactions instantly. If a property owner notices an unauthorized transfer, they can file a formal objection, which automatically places the transaction on hold until the courts resolve the matter.
Ending the Double Sale Scam
The Attorney General detailed how new legislation is closing off old criminal loopholes, specifically targeting the common scam of “double sale,” where the same property is sold multiple times. Under the amended Deeds Registry Act, once an agreement to sell property is signed, it must now be filed at the Deeds Registry.
This places the burden of due diligence squarely on prospective buyers, giving them a legal recourse and eliminating the previous ambiguity surrounding multiple claims.
Crushing Forgery with Digital ID
Fraud involving powers of attorney, a tactic often used by criminals to forge documents and impersonate owners, has also been targeted. Nandlall announced that the Powers of Attorney Act was updated to require stricter verification: individuals granting power must now present two forms of pictorial identification to a notary public, who keeps copies on file for verification. Nandlall stated:
“This makes it far more difficult for criminals to forge documents or impersonate someone else in property transactions.”The Minister stressed that these sweeping reforms, including the Security Interests in Movable Property Act and the Condominium Act, are not intended to “burden citizens” but to protect their assets.
He concluded by urging citizens to remain vigilant: “Fraud has not been completely eliminated… Citizens must also play their part in safeguarding their property.”
