Land Surveyors Association of Jamaica
“MISCLOSURES” April 2005
NEWSLETTER Website: www.lsaj.com
Lead Story Headline Inside this
LEAD STORY Where there is no should the surveyor Quarter’s Issue
beach or foreshore be instructed to
Article submitted by (i.e. the difference indicate incorrectly
Mr. Ainsworth Dick between the high and the position as high Table of 1
low water mark and ) water mark? Content
On a subdivision why should the
survey of part of position of the Also if the common Editorial 2
PEDRO PEN, Saint registered boundary boundary is along a
Elizabeth, the along the shoreline sea wall, would the President’s 2-5
registered boundary be incorrectly surveyor need to Notepad
of the property along indicated as the high incorrectly label the
the sea was reopened water to satisfy the sea wall as high water NLA Corner 5-6
along the shoreline. Director of Surveys? mark in order to get
The plan was not his plan passed by the
approved as the The high water mark Surveys and Mapping Utech Corner/ 6-7
Director of Surveys is defined as the Division?
was insisting that theposition marked on Utech Flyer
registered boundary the foreshore by the Does the LSAJ need to News Items 8-9
should be labeled as sea at its highest have further
the high water mark. levels, which discussions with the
according to the Director of Surveys to Land Surveyors 9
As the provisions for Oxford Dictionary is have the matter Wives
adjudicating the different from the properly addressed or Association
boundary along the shoreline which is should we designate
shore is contained in defined as the all common
the Beach Control Act position where the boundaries with the Calender of 9
and not the Land sea meets land. sea as high water Events
Surveyors Regulation Where there is a rock mark?
it would appear that formation or Birthday & 9
the provision is for embankment where Anniversary
the protection of the the sea meets land
beach. S shoreline)ts off iinterest:
(the pecial points andnterest:
Special poin o
there is no Births & 9
Lead Story discernable high Cover Obituaries
President’s Notepad water mark why 2-5
NLA Corner 5-6 A bit of Humor 9-10
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. EDITORIAL
2. THE PRESIDENT’S NOTEPAD
3. NLA CORNER
4. UTECH CORNER
5. NEWS ITEMS
a. Article courtesy of Mr. Everald St. A. Scott
b. UWI Career Day Expo 2005
c. LICJ COURSE – Introduction to Arcview
6. LAND SURVEYORS WIVES ASSOCIATION
7. CALENDER OF EVENTS
8. BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
9. OBITUARIES
10. A LITTLE BIT OF HUMOUR
2
1. EDITORIAL
On a personal note we need to
Firstly let me communicate our joys and sorrows
congratulate the with each other, so we can rejoice in
“Editor on leave” for your joys and be there for you in your
the birth of her sorrows.
bouncing baby boy
and wish them on The Misclosures is still the most
behalf of all of us effective way to communicate with a
continued good wide cross section of surveyors (at no
health. We look cost to you) even with the advent of
forward to her reclaiming her post at modern technology.
the Editors Desk before the end of the
year. So please let us hear from you on a
timely basis.
While reviewing the surveying Degree
Programme at Utech I was really Ainsworth Dick
delightfully surprised at the weight Editor, Misclosures
given to Communication in the 2. THE PRESIDENT’S NOTEPAD
syllabus. This reinforced the
importance of communication in It is once again my honour and
successfully running a business. privilege to say special greetings to all
Land surveyors and here’s hoping that
Firstly if we do not communicate our we all enjoyed a happy, holy and
Technical skills and professional restful Easter weekend and are well
attributes to the general public no one refreshed to take on the second
will know of us, however qualified we quarter of the Land Surveyors Calendar
are. year.
Secondly if we do not communicate Our Association has had quite a busy
with the various government first quarter. Now what is refreshing
departments and agencies on a timely about this is that much of the activities
basis the approval of our have to do with issues within the
professionally done jobs will be broader society rather than being
delayed, because of inherent confined to our specific sphere of
inefficiencies. activities which is land surveying.
Thirdly if we fail to communicate Portland Cottage
effectively with our clients and our
bankers it will be just a matter of time In keeping with our commitment to continue
to display a sense of social responsibility to
before our thriving business will members of our society, a group of
decline. representatives from the association namely
Past President Ainsworth Dick, Council
However we need to communicate with member Valentine McCook, Council member
each other to learn from each others Roosevelt Thompson and yours truly
journeyed down to Portland Cottage to make
mistakes and experiences to maintain the official presentation of our donation
the vibrancy of our profession. towards the relief effort for the poor and
3
dispossessed persons within that community. development when we consider the fact that a
We identified two gentlemen who were of most umber of issues and matters pertaining to the
urgent and critical need. They continue to Act will now have to be propelled into action,
reside in the community centre, as their homes not the least of which would be the matter of a
were completely demolished by the effects of practicing certificate. There will be also the
Hurricane Ivan We made our presentation to appointment of new members to the board
the local co-coordinator of the relief effort and and the inclusion of Land Surveying
advised her to first see to the immediate needs Technicians into the act and their roles in
of these gentlemen, in terms of food and cadastral surveying. Hence the provision for
clothing and as far as possible render cadastral mapping and procedures is also a
assistance to other needy persons in the new Lecture of the Act. While the act is being
community. We say a big thank you to those Gazetted we need to get ourselves in a state of
who contributed, in future we can continue readiness to take on the new challenges that
this effort of coming to the assistance of the will face us, by virtue of the new provisions.
needy, of course we are living in a country None of these are insurmountable, after all, the
where the vast majority of our citizens are revisions are for the most part our own doing
seriously challenged economically and and what we saw as being best for the
whatever way we can help, we would like to be improvement of the practice of Land
associated with this type of generosity. Surveying. We look forward to the cooperation
of all well thinking members in ensuring that
Highway 2000 the provisions of the act will work and that it
will redone to the benefit of the members and
the public in general.
Our calls on the government to
accelerate the plans and Land Surveyors Board Examination
implementation of the Bushy Park to
Ocho Rios leg of Highway 2000 The Land Surveyors Board recently
certainly did not fall on deaf ears. As took the decision to discontinue the
you would have noticed, the media was requirement that surveys carried out
paying very special attention to our for the purposes of the Land Surveying
press release. We had several radio Examination be oriented only by
interviews several articles appeared in astronomic methods. The board took
the various newspapers. On the this decision in light of the out
broader scale the Association seems to datedness of the practice of astronomy
be gaining recognition as we continue in so far as land surveying is
to maintain a high level of public concerned together with the recent
visibility. We encourage members in difficulties being experienced in
their own individual way to join in and acquiring up-to-date star almanacs for
comment on issues within the public land surveyors. This has made the
domain in so far as it best represents computational process inaccurate as
the views of the association and so let old almanacs were being used for the
us continue to display a sense of civic last two (2) years with extrapolations
responsibility when it comes to issues being done to ascertain current values
of national importance. which of course is inaccurate. The
The Land Surveyors Act
method would therefore not be
creditable. The Board believes that
Having met with member of parliament Mr. other options should be explored and
Andrew Holness who apparently has the therefore what is going to be required
responsibility of piloting the Land Surveyors is that the surveys be tied to national
Act through parliament, it has come to our grid. This may be done by any means
attention that the Land Surveyor Act has been
passed in the Senate. This is a significant
that the student so desires, whether it
4
is by traversing, triangulation or GPS. process at survey department all the
What the student is required to do is to more smoother and thereby allowing
demonstrate their aptitude at these our clients to get their plans in good
methods and present the observational time.
data and the computation as they
would do for any other method. This Land Administration and Management
approach is considered to be more in Programme (LAMP)
line with current trends. We have
observed that a number of state The Land Administration and
agencies that are involved in housing Management Programme (LAMP) which
developments and other projects are in was a pilot project to map 30,000
fact asking that these project surveys parcels, 25,000 parcels by private
be tied to national grid and so sector company, Land Management
students should be encouraged to Consortium (LMC) and 5,000 parcels by
practice their surveying this way by the Survey and Mapping Division of
tying their surveys to national grid. NLA, ended on the 31st March 2005.
We are now looking towards the We have had the benefit of a good
preparation of an island cadastral map. seminar which explored the issues and
Tying our surveys to national grid goes generatea discussion over those issues.
a far way in aiding this process and We look forward to a full and
will improve on the plan checking comprehensive report on the
process programme. Whereas we are
interested in the successes of the
Pre-check Plans programme, we are equally interested
in any failures that may have occurred.
The Surveying and Mapping Division of After all, as a pilot project, the purpose
the National Land Agency is reporting as we understand it is to give a full and
improved results in so far as their complete exposure to all the processes
checking of plans is concerned. As we of such an undertaking and to help us
have mentioned before the Survey and to understand all the difficulties and
Mapping Division has set themselves a problems that would arise, so that
target of checking a plan within 35 when we take on the herculean task of
days. What they are reporting for the mapping the entire island, we would
October to December 2004 quarter is have benefited from a well
that 78% of the plans that were documented approach which is trouble
submitted were checked within thirty free, expedient, efficient, accurate and
five (35) days. This is welcomed news cost effective.
and we trust that our members are
experiencing the effects of that Portmore Master Map
improvement. We also hope that our
surveyors continue to improve on the The surveying and Mapping Division of
way they prepare their plans and NLA is in the process of completing a
improve on their own internal check digital master map of the Portmore
processes so as to aim for the ideal, Municipality. This is a compilation of
that is, that their plans are certified all the digital plans in Portmore,
without the need for amendment. We superimposed on IKONOS imagery
strongly encourage surveyors to reach with various layers of attributes of
for this ideal as it will make the each parcel of land. One feature of
5
this map is that other attachments can summer employment. If it is not full
be uploaded such a photographs of the employment, at least allow for the
properties. That was demonstrated at student some opportunity of exposure
a recent presentation of this map by to the practice of Land Surveying. We
the Director of Surveys. One can click really would not like to know that our
on the parcel within this digital map students are on summer holidays from
and it displays the photograph of the the University and have to take up
parcel that is residing in the database. activities in accounting or some other
We look forward to its full and area that is not enriching their study of
complete release as we believe that land surveying. So, we appeal to all
products like these will certainly help members for as far as possible to try
us in making our searches far more and engage a student in the office and
efficient and more accurate. We in the field for the summer break.
congratulate the Surveys and Mapping
Division in its effort to continue to Scholarship for UTECH Students
improve on and create new products
As a profession we are facing very challenging
that are of significant value to its times. We still have to grapple with the fact
customers that is the general public as the even after 76 years the public still seems
well as us land surveyors. Products unwilling to acknowledge the importance,
like these go a very far way in significance and the rigors of the practice of
enhancing our ability to complete our land surveying and thereby continue to display
and unwillingness in some instances to
jobs efficiently, cutting down properly compensate land surveyors for their
significantly on search time and services. But ladies and gentlemen this matter
making our searches more accurate. is in our own hands for the treatment that it
We look forward to the presentation of deserves. The responsibility therefore lies
this map by the National Land Agency with us to demand and to make sure that we
are well compensated for the services that we
as well as all their other products, so provide. Unless we ensure that this aspect of
as to enlighten us and inform us to our practice is well taken of then, we are
what is current and available at doomed for failure. This of course is not an
Surveys and Mapping Division that will option that we would want to take, we must
enable us to improve the quality of our therefore have as an imperative to make sure
that we do not sell ourselves short and that we
work and thereby our service delivery continue to keep the profession alive by
to our clients. offering scholarships to students. This is
something we have not done in a long time but
Summer Employment for UTECH Students I would want to see this returned as an area of
priority for the profession and its members.
I take this opportunity to once again
We believe that at least 5 or even 10 firms on
wish for all Land Surveyors, Associate an annual basis can make awards or grants or
Members, Students, in particular those small scholarships to students as a means of
who are going to be sitting their encouraging the study of Land Surveying. It is
second semester examinations at the very difficult to attract new entrants to the
University of Technology, all the very profession. It is going to be increasingly
difficult for us as practitioners and employers
best for the ensuing months and as the to find those human resources to carry out our
summertime approaches I would want activities. We cannot afford for this to happen
to make a special appeal to all land so we have to find ways and means of
surveyors to as far as you possibly can, encouraging new entrants into Land Surveying
please make a special effort to assist and the offering of scholarships is certainly
one factor which can play a significant role in
students in training at UTECH with
6
that regard. We need to be able to say to our is capable of avoiding information overload as
high school graduates that when you attend its data is presented in ten (10) layers. The
the University of Technology there is the layers include parcels, roads, street centreline
opportunity for you to gain scholarships (vehicle tracking and street identification
through the Land Surveyors Association of capabilities), drains, green areas, special areas
Jamaica, this is something that we must (such as police stations, shopping centres,
vigorously explore and hopefully have this health centres, industrial facilities, school
activity launched at our Annual Awards and zones, utility areas and common parking
Dinner Function for 2005. areas), swamps, annotation and topography
(contour and spot height information and
Very best wishes to you all. survey control. This layer is of specific interest
to surveyors, engineers and developers).
Glendon G. Newsome The Portmore Master Map was produced from
President such data sources as lidar imagery, NLA
records and information field observations.
3. NLA CORNER
Persons interested in purchasing the Map can
Portmore Master Map Unveiled contact the Business Services Customer
Contact Centre at the National Land Agency,
23 ½ Charles Street, Kingston, telephone: 948-
9513, 948 9520, 922 6630-5 or 967 9983.
NLA’s Express Service “Simultaneous
Lodgements”
Developers can now benefit from speedier
transactions at the National Land Agency
through the agency’s express service,
Simultaneous Lodgements, which allows for
survey plans and land title application for
splinter titles to be lodged concurrently. This
enables the NLA to process the documents
within 40 days, once all the documents are in
good order. A developer who wishes to utilize
the service must make an appointment with
the NLA’s Customer Service Manager to have
his/her documents checked to ensure that
everything is in place to ensure the expeditious
processing of the documents.
The new arrangement is only applicable to
subdivisions with a minimum of ten lots and
attract a checking fee of $15,000 for each lot.
On March 11, 2005, the NLA unveiled its latest Customers not using the Simultaneous
product, the Portmore Master Map in hard Lodgement service would normally have their
copy and digital format at a Friday Policy documents processed in excess of 4 months
Forum hosted by the Management Institute for (80 days).
National Development (MIND).
For more information please contact the
The Map is GPS compatible and the digital Business Services Customer Contact Centre 23
format is referred to as an “intelligent map” ½ Charles Street, Kingston, telephone 948-
because of its flexibility to respond to specific 9513, 948 9520, 922 6630-5 or 967 9983.
needs of the user. Although its features are
quite comprehensive, the Portmore Master Map
7
RE: National Land Agency – Control
Marks
We are aware of the problem of
missing/damaged control marks
We have accepted a recommendation
regarding the use of the “Control Mark
Recovery Form”. We propose to make
the form available (hard or soft copy)
to customers purchasing control data
and it could also be used to facilitate a
“Credit Against Future Data” incentive
scheme.
4. UTECH CORNER
Practicum
- First Year Practicum for the B.Sc.
and certificate programmes will be
at Bishop Swaby Memorial Camp,
Negril from May 2 -13, 2005.
- Third Year Practicum, local
scheme, for the B.Sc. programme
will be in the Kingston & St.
Andrew area from May 2 – 13,
2005.
8
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA
SCHOOL OF BUILDING AND LAND MANAGEMENT
Date : Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Time : 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Venue: UTech, Faculty of the Built Environment, Lecture Theatre
Moderator
Glendon G. Newsome B.Sc. (Hons) M. Eng. Sc., CLS
Senior Lecturer – Geodetic, Engineering and GPS Surveying
Presenters Topics
Ted Smith …………… Surveying Application in the Construction of Wellington’s Westpac
Trust Stadium, New Zealand
Randy White ……… Surveying Application in Kansas International Airport, Japan
George Mattai …… Surveying Application in 6500 ft Road Surveying Project
Timothy Depass …. Surveying Application in Road Re-alignment Project
Conference Registration
(Please complete and detach on or prior to Wednesday, 6th April 2005 at 12:00 noon
and deliver to Mrs. Lorna Blackwood, Administrative Secretary, SGIS, UTech, 512-
2348)
Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………………
Organization: …………………………………………………………………………………………
9
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
10
5. NEWS ITEM Mr. Barnes was the first black to lead
a Christian mission to West Africa,
Article submitted by Mr. Everald St. assisted by white Europeans.
A. Scott
Commissioned Land Surveyor As a result of his survey training he
became a mineralogist and geologist
AN EARLY SURVEYOR in South Africa.
This an excerpt from a religious hard
talk program aired on Radio Jamaica The first black Managing Executive
94 FM on Sunday December 5, 2004. of a London base mining company in
South Africa before apartheid.
Host Ian Boyne interviewed Dr. Allan
Aire the founder of the Department of Isaac E. Barnes is the only black
Geography, University of the West person to speak to more than ten
Indies and former lecturer in the thousand people from the balcony of
department. City Hall in Capetown South Africa
Isaac E. Barnes who was trained as a before Nelson Mandela.
surveyor in the early Nineteen Century
was described as a very black, very Please note that this interview was
woolly, very tall and very eloquent about the Christadelphianism and not
man. so much about Isaac Barnes, therefore
some further research is necessary to
He is the founder of the Kingston determine what became of him.
Christadelphian Ecclesia.
I found this interesting and thought it
He was the first black Jamaican to might interest you too.
obtain a degree in Jamaica from the
Jamaica University that was located From Mr. Valentine McCook
in a building that is now part of Chairman – Education Committee
Jamaica College.
He learnt Arabic at Jamaica University and he spoke many
languages. UWI Career Expo 2005
The Education Committee wishes to
Isaac E. Barnes was the first black to thank the following members and
study and obtain a degree at the Associate members who by giving
prestigious university of Lipsche generously of their time helped to
Germany that was frantically racist make our Boothe at the UWI Career
at the time. Expo 2005 a success.
In 1890 he founded the Ainsworth Dick Andrew Gracey
Christadelphian ecclesia in Trinidad Rupert Robinson Glendon
and Hanover, Hamburg Germany. He Newsome
assisted John Blenman to set up an Major. Patrick. Aiken Vernon Kentish
ecclesia in Guyana. Llewelyn Allen Andrew Gordon
Edward Chambers Michael Spence
11
6. LAND SURVEYORS WIVES
A very special thanks to the Land ASSOCIATION
Surveying Division, UTECH and in
particular Mr. Oneil Ashman who The Land Surveyors Wives Association
worked tirelessly for this 2 day event. remains a vibrant voluntary
The Land Surveying Division provided organization on the Jamaican
information and equipment for the landscape.
boothe. May thanks also to Spatial
Innovision through Mr. Silburn Clarke The past year April 2004 – March 2005
for providing information for the was challenging, but a successful one.
boothe and for allowing Miss Hurricane Ivan brought with it some
Kizuwanda Reese a member of staff to stresses for some of our members.
assist. Some meetings had to be rescheduled
with changes to the venues. However,
LICJ COURSE – Introduction to the Association weathered the storm
Arcview and is back up and running.
Applications are invited for officer The charities sponsored by the LSWA,
within the organization to participate namely Reddie’s Children’s Home,
in the upcoming Land Information Waugh Hill Basic School and the
Council of Jamaica (LICJ), Geographic Women Centre continue to enjoy the
Information Systems (GIS) training association’s support.
course Introduction Arcview using
ArcsGIS 9 from April 18-21, 2005 at Members and their families enjoyed a
the Geo-Informatics Training Centre, fun filled day at the University Beach
191 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6 in July 2004 and an equally enjoyable
(Adjacent to Jamaica College). Christmas supper held at Mr.& Mrs.
Earle Spencer’s residence.
The cost is $7,000 for Government
Employees and $12,000 for other The Association has embarked on a
individuals. Kindly contact the membership drive and to this end
Ministry of Land and Environment, 16a would like all the husbands to have
Half-Way-Tree Road, entrance on their wives link with us.
Trevennion Park Road for a Course
Outline and Application Form. The LSWA hopes to do much more in
the new year and craves the support of
Confirmation of your participation the Land Surveyors Association.
should be communicated to Mrs.
Monica Roofe-Woolcock at 920- 7. CALENDER OF EVENTS
9117/3273 ext. 246 or by email at
cblake@cwjamaica.com by Monday,
April 11, 2005. 4th APRIL QUARTERLY GENERAL
MEETING
27th APRIL COUNCIL MEETING
12
of her son, to date mother and child
25 MAY
th
COUNCIL MEETING are doing very well.
22nd JUNE COUNCIL MEETING On behalf of the members of the LSAJ,
Misclosure wishes to express our
4th JULY QUARTERLY GENERAL condolences to any member who lost
MEETING loved ones during the last quarter, our
condolences are extended. Sorry we are
unable to do so personally, since we
8. BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES were not advised; however we share in
your grief.
JANUARY
Ruel Campbell
Preston Demetrius 11. A BIT OF HUMOUR
Carol Fisher
Horace Anderson Recently a teacher, a garbage collector, and a
Mark Williams lawyer wound up together at the Pearly Gates.
St. Peter informed them that in order to get
Gary Wright into Heaven, they would each have to answer
one question.
FEBRUARY
John R. Mais St. Peter addressed the teacher and
asked, "What was the name of the ship
MARCH
that crashed into the iceberg? They
Valentine McCook
just made a movie about it."
APRIL
None The teacher answered quickly, "That
would be the Titanic." St. Peter let him
ANNIVERSARY through the gate.
FEBRUARY St. Peter turned to the garbage man
Mr & Mrs. Everald St. A. Scott and, figuring Heaven didn't *really*
The Land Surveyors Association of Jamaica
need all the odours that this guy would
wishes to extend a warm birthday greeting to bring with him, decided to make the
all our colleagues who share a Birthday or an question a little harder: "How many
Anniversary over the last quarter. We wish for people died on the ship?"
you continued health, peace and prosperity for
the coming years.
Fortunately for him, the trash man had
just seen the movie. "1,228," he
10. BIRTHS/ OBITUARIES
answered.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!
"That's right! You may enter."
The Editorial wishes to congratulate
St. Peter turned to the lawyer. "Name
Miss Cynthia Edwards, Commissioned
them."
Land Surveyor at the NLA, on the birth
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