NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government is preparing to pass long-awaited legislation this fall that will establish the framework for registered land and create a land registry, according to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Ryan Pinder.
During his contribution to the Senate debate on the compendium of Intellectual Property and Registrar General Bills, Pinder stated, “We have released the Land Adjudication Bill and Land Registration Bill for public consultation, which will establish the framework for registered land and create a dedicated Land Registry overseen by a standalone Land Registrar.”
“We aim to pass this legislation in the fall and have active land adjudication panels processing titles for registration on the new land registry by early 2025,” he added.
Pinder outlined the next phase of land reform, including a new Law of Property Bill and Planning and Subdivision Bill. “These reforms are crucial to reducing transaction costs, improving efficiency, and resolving disputes over land titles in The Bahamas,” noted Pinder.
On intellectual property, Pinder criticized the current system’s shortcomings. “Our laws are inadequate, our registration process is slow and cumbersome, and we lack participation in key international conventions essential for protecting Bahamian intellectual property,” he stated.
Pinder highlighted upcoming changes, including the establishment of a dedicated Intellectual Property Office within the Office of the Attorney General through the Patent Bill, 2024. “We believe a focused Intellectual Property Office is necessary to effectively manage intellectual property rights,” said Pinder. “This reform aligns with international standards and is vital for driving Bahamian economic growth, especially in the creative industries and Orange Economy.”
Alongside these reforms, Pinder outlined plans to modernize the Registrar General Department. “The Registrar of Records and Registrar of Companies Bills are intended to set the legislative framework to do just this,” he said.
“I had hoped we would have moved into the facilities already, however, impediments beyond my control, such as supply chain challenges, have caused the delay. I am pleased to advise that we are on schedule to move into our new state-of-the-art facilities by the end of this month. We are concluding the last parts of the renovations, installing furniture and necessary IT cabling,” said Pinder.
He noted that the Registrar of Records will develop a new online portal for managing births, deaths, marriages, deeds, and documents.
“We look to launch the new Registry of Record portal by the end of this year – the new Lifecycle Online Portal. Likewise, the new Registrar of Intellectual Property will have a new, purpose-built online portal that we hope will provide a basis for the development of our orange economy and the success of our intellectual property registry. Providing acceptable service in today’s world requires investment in technological platforms, we are doing this to deliver exceptional service to our customers.”
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