Land Registrar justifies decision to withhold transports

Sep 18, 2012 News

Four days after the law office of Poonai and Poonai made allegations that the Land Registrar, Juliet Sattaur, had refused to sign off on “Land Transfers”, the woman has come forward stating that comments from the lawyer is unfortunate.
Mrs. Sattaur yesterday told Kaieteur News that she has always performed her duties in the most professional way. The woman made it categorically clear that she has never refused to sign off on transfers of lands.  She explained that she can only make transfers of lands when the requisite documents are produced before her, something that has not been done by Poonai.

Land Registrar, Juliet Sattaur

Sattaur explained that for three of the matters, the rates and taxes were not submitted, for two of them the titles weren’t submitted, two were already passed, for another the property taxes were submitted and for yet another one there was a court order attached to the property. The woman further told Kaieteur News that in some instances there were no powers of attorneys attached to the transfers.
The registrar said that Poonai went to the court and got a court order which compels her to pass the matters.  However the date which was given by Poonai is incorrect, she said. The woman produced documents showing that the order was granted on August 23, instead of May 11, 2012 as is being claimed by Poonai.
Poonai sought a High Court motion of contempt against Sattaur. According to a partner at the law firm, several complaints have been made against the Registrar pertaining to her alleged slothfulness in the transfer of lands.
The lawyer claimed that in some cases, years pass by; some persons die and the Registrar would still not make the title transfers despite the mandatory requirements of compliances, rates and taxes and power of attorney being provided.
Sohan Poonai alleged that instead, the Registrar would formulate several excuses in defence of her not making the land transfers. “…some matters, for as long as three years, she (Registrar) would take to effect a transfer. Fifteen applications for land were filed; some since 2009 for her to transfer title to the applicants…
Poonai told Kaieteur News that on May 11 this year, Justice Diana Insanally granted several orders compelling the Registrar to transfer land titles. He alleged that when the matter was called in court, the Registrar never made an appearance to justify why she was allegedly failing to grant the land applications.
The Attorney said that it was  Justice Ian Chang who  made an order compelling the Registrar to pass all the titles over to the respective applicants. He however claimed that Sattaur was still refusing to comply with the ruling, thus defying the order of the Chief Justice.
However, according to Ms Sattaur she is within her rights and she is prepared to have her day in court. On that occasion she said that she would highlight the shortcomings that hinder the release of the relevant deeds.