DailyPost Administrator posted on November 15, 2008 07:45
Some Sections within the Department of Lands are no longer providing regular services to clients and notices placed at the main entrance to the building that houses this government department state that some of these departments will be updating their records as well as reasons of the Christmas festivities approaching, resulting in the executive in the Ministry of Lands deciding to close a few sections within the Department of Lands, Survey and Records.
Daily Post visited the Department yesterday and found some of its offices closed but others were providing services as indicated by a notice for clients to read at the main entrance that only the Registry Section, Enforcement Section, Cashier and Land Projects section would be providing services until next year.
While the Director General could not be reached yesterday because of his commitment attending government meetings, a senior officer in the department stated that while some of the sections are closed, their staff have been redirected to assist other sections.
It is understood that the Ministry and Department of Lands are the second largest revenue earner for the Government and the revenue collection by the Department has already reached 95 percent target of the Vt700 million that was projected to be raked in this year, as so far over Vt600 million has already been collected.
But while the Lands officers may be doing a good job in collecting revenues, Daily Post has found that the main reason for the closure of some of the offices may be more than what clients are informed of through public notices at the front entrance of the building.
Very reliable sources in Government have informed Daily Post that both the Department and Ministry of Lands are facing an outstanding of over Vt21 million that is still to be settled with over 20 different private companies.
The highest in this list of bills to be paid is an outstanding rent for the property that houses the Department of Lands at an amount of between Vt9 million to Vt12 million.
And the second highest outstanding is that owed to Unelco for utility costs that stands at over Vt8 million.
This outstanding also includes amounts owed to office suppliers, and accommodation providers.
Already some frustrated clients of the Department of Lands, Survey and Records have expressed concern over why they have to wait until next year to access the services provided by the Sections within the Department that have been closed.
One registered surveyor in Santo voiced his concern that negotiation certificates usually take 12 months to process because they have to pass through the Santo office first before their papers reach the Port Vila office and if the responsible office is currently closed then no survey plans will be submitted for approval and this means development will not go ahead.
The registered surveyor said his concern is genuine, as clients need to be informed of what is going on.