Slothfulness and unprofessionalism at the Govt. Valuation Office

Feb 14, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

I wish to bring to the attention of the general public and the relevant authorities, the unprofessionalism and slothfulness of the Government Valuation Office when it comes to completing a valuation of a property. Since last month I have been following up a request for a valuation to be completed on a property that I am about to sell. I have been given the royal runaround and there appears to be no end in sight.
In March 2018 the GRA issued a statement indicating that it “wishes to announce that with immediate effect, a Valuation is not required when applying for a Certificate of Compliance to transfer land or property by way of sale, gift or tender. This intervention is intended to relieve the procedural strain and burden on the taxpayers.” This information can be corroborated from the GRA’s website via link: https://www.gra.gov.gy/publications/press-releases/797-valuation-not-required-for-land-property-certificate-of-compliance.
Nevertheless, there is still a need for a Valuation Certificate to be done since it is required by the banks when they are being requested to finance a property acquisition. In this case, this is exactly what has happened; the proposed buyer needs a loan from the bank and has requested a valuation before an agreement of sale and purchase is signed, which is of course very reasonable.
I first contacted the Valuation Office in the last week of last month and was told that the valuation would take “a couple days”. It has now been over two weeks and I am still without a valuation after several frustrating follow-up calls and visits to the Valuation Office.
After several frustrating attempts to follow-up with Mr. Paul (the Valuator), last week I attempted to speak with Mr. Barrington, who oversees the Valuation Office, however, this has proven futile since he is always “busy” or “out of office”.
Last week I was told by Mr. Paul to come on Friday at 1:30 pm to collect the valuation. When I arrived I was told that Mr. Barrington had to sign the document and he would not be in office until Monday. I was requested to visit the office once again on Monday morning. I visited again, as requested, at 10 am, and was once again told that Mr. Barrington “has not come in as yet” and I should visit in the afternoon at 2 pm. I complied and visited at 2 pm but still Mr. Barrington had not signed the valuation as he was “busy and only came in for a few minutes and then left”.
Editor, I am an understanding person and know that at times these officials can be busy, but what is so difficult in having an alternate sign off a document in your absence. I have already paid the fees for the valuation and I am currently at the mercy of the Valuation Office.
I can only hope and pray that when I do eventually get the document the potential buyer is still interested. I have turned away other enquires about the property, since I already committed to selling to an individual, however, she and I cannot go ahead with the agreement until a valuation is done and the bank gives its approval of the financing. I have thus far expended significant time and finances in this process and I am frustrated and fed up.

Name and address withheld

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