Cayman: Lands & Survey appoints Deputy Registrar
Regina Ebanks
The Department of Lands and Survey (Lands and Survey) have announced the appointment of Regina Ebanks to the role of Deputy Registrar. The appointment is an internal hire as part of a succession plan where Regina Ebanks was identified as a potential successor to the role.
The Deputy Registrar is responsible for assisting the Registrar of Lands with the planning, organizing, directing and controlling of the Land Registry Section and is responsible for assisting with personnel management and development within the Department. The post holder is responsible to assist the Registrar of Lands in ensuring that the Registered Land Act and the Strata Titles Registration Act are enforced to facilitate the security of tenure and that the Registers are accurate. Decisions made by the Deputy Registrar (when acting) in carrying out his/her statutory duties are subject to the supervision of the Grand Court. The Deputy Registrar acts as the Registrar of Lands when required to do so.
The Director of Lands and Survey, Mr. Uche Obi added, “I am extremely pleased that Ms. Regina Ebanks has been appointed as Deputy Registrar of Lands as part of our succession planning. Since joining our department in 2006, Ms. Ebanks was identified for further training and through dedication and hard work she completed her legal studies as well as on-the-job training while working full-time. Over the years she has demonstrated that she has the drive, determination and skill set to perform at a very high level in this role.”
Regina Ebanks alongside Lands and Survey team members at leadership team attending the 2022 RICS Cayman Islands Property and Construction Conference. (L to R) Ruth Watson – Chief Valuation Officer, Uche Obi-Director, Jackie Carter-Assistant Registrar of Lands, Regina Ebanks-Deputy Registrar of Lands and Sophia Williams-Registrar Of Lands
Regina Ebanks is an experienced professional in land registration and conveyancing honed through serving various technical and administrative roles within Lands and Survey for 16 years. Ms. Ebanks joined Lands and Survey in July 2006 as an Office Attendant and further advanced through the ranks of the department. Intending to become a member of the Senior Management team, Ms. Ebanks served as Land Registry Assistant, Land Registry Officer and Assistant Registrar of Lands before her current appointment as Deputy Registrar. As Assistant Registrar, she supervised the public counter, developed and implemented strategies aimed at improving business processes, and provided final review and certification of registration documents to ensure legal and procedural compliance, amongst other key successes. Ms. Ebanks holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Liverpool and a Certificate in Land Registration Law and practice from the College of Law of England and Wales.
The Acting Chief Officer of the Ministry of District Administration and Lands, Wilbur Welcome commented by saying, “The purpose of the succession plan is to identify senior roles critical to the business as well as potential Caymanian successors who can fill these roles. Regina Ebanks is one of two Caymanians who were identified as potential successors to the critical role of the Deputy Registrar which is a highly technical role that requires significant legal experience in land matters. The plan is that Ms. Ebanks will undergo additional training and development to be equipped to obtain the Registrar role within the foreseeable future.”
Deputy Registrar, Regina Ebanks expressed how honoured and grateful she was to be appointed to this key role within the Lands and Survey. Ms. Ebanks added, “I am grateful that our Government is committed to the upward movement of Caymanian civil servants who demonstrate the ability to lead effectively. I look forward to carrying out my statutory duties with excellence and humility, as I continue to oversee our service delivery and work alongside the Registrar of Lands in tackling our more legal matters. With a strong foundation set, achieving this goal through the succession planning of our department is not the end game, but truly representative of the work and responsibility that lay ahead.”
For more information about the work of the Department of Lands and Survey, visit www.caymanlandinfo.ky