Turks and Caicos (McKoy’s News) – Jamaican Offered Top Post in Land Division: The Attorney General’s Chambers would like to announce that with effect from Monday, June 5, 2017, Mr. Cyprian Smith, will assume the post of Director of the Survey & Mapping Department. After a tireless search locally and in the Caribbean, Mr. Smith was chosen from among 5 candidates from across the Region. Mr. Smith’s selection was unanimously endorsed by the interviewing panel, supported by the Public Service Commission and has been formally appointed by the Deputy Governor.
Jamaican Offered Top Post: Mr. Smith is a 2008 graduate from the University of Technology Jamaica, from which he obtained a Bachelor’s (BSC) degree in Surveying and Geographic Information Sciences. He also holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA), with specialization in Project Management from the University of Wales, United Kingdom.
Mr. Smith began his Land Surveying career two (2) years upon his enlistment to the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) and achieved the award for top performing student in the Land Surveying Technician’s course at the University of Technology, for both years of the course.
He later pursued undergraduate studies in Surveying and Geographic Information. Upon completion of his Bachelor’s degree, Mr. Smith was appointed JDF’s Chief Land Surveyor, and he served in this capacity for approximately 7 years. During his tenure, he introduced new policies, procedures and operating systems and encouraged the implementation of new technology to improve the operational standards of the land surveying arm within the military. He also led the JDF’s introduction of GIS in mapping and analyzing crime data. His appointment also saw him administering crown lands occupied by the military and lecturing various courses at the diploma level at the JDF Technical Training Institute (TTI).
Mr. Smith subsequently worked as a Project Manager for one of the leading land development companies in Jamaica, where he had overarching responsibility for the residential and commercial land development projects undertaken by the company.
Mr. Smith has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of surveying and land administration. The task of Director, though challenging, is openly accepted by Mr. Smith. He is most grateful and excited to be afforded the opportunity to lead the Turks & Caicos Government’s Survey & Mapping Department.
As Director, Mr. Smith has statutory responsibilities that include authentication of all legal plans, mainly comprised of Fixed Boundary surveys and General Boundary surveys and the maintenance of GPS coverage of the islands and the control network which is vital to the cadastre. The coordination of the Departments survey services, including legal surveys, road surveys, control surveys, topographical surveys also fall under his remit. He will have responsibility for the maintenance and up-date of all spatial data, including the National Cadastral Framework, in both digital and graphical format. He will oversee the Survey and Mapping units of the Department and will interact on a daily basis with the Land Registry and the Crown Land Unit. In addition, he will have contact with other government departments including Public Works and Estate Management Departments, the Department of Physical Planning, Agriculture and others.
Commissioner of Lands, Mrs. Tatum Clerveaux, noted that; “Mr. Smith comes with outstanding credentials. He brings a reputation for effective management and team-building, and a first-class academic background, with complementary experience in the military and private sectors. I am therefore confident that he will be a catalyst who, with the support of his team, will help steer the Survey & Mapping Department into a new phase of professional excellence.”
Contributed by Dr. Colin O Jarrett