Dear Editor,
In response to a letter published in the Stabroek News of Sunday, December 2, 2012, titled ‘Lands and Surveys charges for copier are extortionate,‘ by Victoria Giles, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) would like to inform Ms Giles and the general public, that a comparison between GLSC and a private copying business like Metro is unrealistic.
It must be understood that when one visits a photocopying establishment to make copy of any material that person must have the material in his/her possession to be photocopied. The photocopying entity does not own or maintain the material to be copied. Also, such entity costing is spread over the range of services they provide: enlarging, reduction, colour printing, etc.
In the case of GLSC, the Commission provides prints of plans and maps for legal purposes and these records have to be researched, retrieved, restored and reproduced when necessary. The Commission’s fee is, therefore, for the function of photocopying and service; for providing the record to be printed, and retrieving, restoring and repairing the record. The cost for these records varies based on the sizes, if they are to be certified for legal purposes, and the material that has to be used to reproduce the record.
In concluding, GLSC provides a specialised service and its rates are not set to be competitive with private photocopying establishments.
Yours faithfully,
Doorga Persaud
Commissioner of
Lands and Surveys
