CARDTP launches Aerial Mapping of SVG

by Eldonte Samuel

A ceremony was held for the launch of the aerial mapping of St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 on the Arnos Vale playing field under the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CDTP).

It was announced there that the Lands and Surveys Department, along with the entity, PLACE U.S., will be carrying out the exercise to draw up a high-quality digital map of the multi-chain of islands, using a fixed-wing drone.
With the aim to have most public services digitized, Chief Surveyor, Keith Francis, said he welcomes this use of technology, stating, “We intend to digitise each land parcel, and produce a base map that will be used for other activities”.

The hope is that the information can be accessed online and that at some time it can lead to a title registration system, for

the logging of land information, as opposed to a system that employs deed registration.

“That will make land transactions far easier. Many of us who had to deal with a process of land transfer, know the difficulties and extended time it takes to get a lawyer to do a title search,” Francis said.

Using aerial photography for precision mapping and data collection will greatly improve how the government manages and plans land usage, replacing old methods that relied heavily on manual work and often resulted in lost records.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, and Information Technology, Camillo Gonsalves, emphasised the need to modernise this country’s navigation and planning data, as the old aerial maps that were used no longer accurately reflect the current landscape.

The new approach aims to shift from a deed-based to a title-based land registration system, which will help reduce land ownership disputes. It was pointed out that currently, lawyers often focus only on title deeds during property sales transactions, and may neglect important documents like transfer and mortgage deeds, leading to multiple claims of ownership for the same property.

“When we transfer our system from registration by deed to registration by title, that title will have a history of all transactions on the land, and it will be the sole record of the history of that land,” Gonsalves stated, adding that it will save money and time that would be spent by a lawyer.

Advanced mapping technology will help with instituting preventative measures against climate change, such as relocating infrastructure and improving sea defences.

Gonsalves said recent hurricanes such as Beryl and Elsa, have changed migration patterns and urban growth, emphasizing the need for safer neighbourhoods and better disaster preparedness.

Minister of Transport, Works, Lands and Surveys, Montgomery Daniel, in his capacity as Acting Prime Minister, said during his delivery of the feature address that he has witnessed the effects of climate change in his constituency of North Windward which frequently has to bear the consequences of hurricanes and other disasters.

Daniel highlighted how the digital technology will aid in land surveying and agriculture, and shared his experience as an extension officer working alongside the St. Vincent Banana Growers Association to manage crop diseases more effectively. He related that he flew monthly to find problem areas and to decide, “whether or not to bring the [treatment]cycle forward or to delay it by two or three weeks because each application of insecticide was indeed a costly exercise to the Banana Growers Association”.

The acting PM said the introduction of the Land Information System (LIS), which is a “transformative step” will play a crucial role in disaster planning and resilience, with high-resolution imaging making it easy to map vulnerable areas and enhance safety.

“Equally, the system aids in policy development, where more informed decisions can be made about land use, zoning, as well as sustainable development.”

Daniel said his ministry will be focused on enhancing transparency, accuracy, and efficiency in land-related matters through policy decisions on zoning, environmental conservation, and urban planning. There also will be collaboration among various ministries to align the LIS with long-term developmental goals. Additionally, SVG will retain sole ownership of the collected data, ensuring future accessibility for local and regional researchers.