The National Land Commission (Para-surveyors and Paralegals) Operational Regulations, Statutory Instrument no. 11 of 2023

ST-{TTITORY INSTRUMENT Extt'aordinory Guette YoL CIJ(M No'64 Sqplernant to the Sierra Leone ddted lSth October,2023 TMNATIONAL LAND COMMSSION (PARA'SURVEYORS AND PARALEGALS) OPERATIONAL REGUIATIONS' 2M3 PART I PRELIMINARY l. InterpreratioD. 2 Application. PARTII-OTSTOMARYI-AND TITLE RECISTRATION: OPERATIOIiIAL STANDARD TORPARA.STJRVEYORS. 3. Requiremens for accredilation application to oPera& as para-sEveyor' 4. Requirements for recruiting govemmcot Ptra-$Irvef,o(. 5. Training for Para-surveYors' 6 Applic*ion for accreditation as govemmont Para-surveyor' 7. Arrard or reirsal ofaccreditation' & Accreditatioo fee. 9. D.rratlon of accreditation ' lO. Para-survryors' field work' ll. Para-surveyors' survey Plan' I 12 Ofience. 13. Register of accredited para-surveyors' PABS II[-CUSTOMARYLAND TITLEREGISTRATION: OPEtuIIONAL STANDARD FOR PARALEGAIS. 14. Application for accreditation under Legal AidAc! 2012' 15- Duration of accreditation' 16. Paralegalh fieldwo* t7. Accr€ditatioD fee 1& Register of accreditedparalegals' PARTIVI}IFRINGEMENTS AND PENALUES. 19. InfiingemeDt atrd Penalties' TT{E NATIONAL LAND COMMISSION ACI' M22' (Acr No' 19 oF 2022) THE NANONAL LAND COMMISSION (PARA' SURV'YORS AND PARALEGALS) OPERAT'IONAL REGULATIONS' 2023 In exercis€ of the powfls corfened uPon the Commission *dr, tod; ;i, th; commission afier consuladon with the Minister' berebymalG the follorring Regulatioos SreruroBY lxsrr.r.mrr No' ll or 2023 Published f&h daY ol Qctober, 202j requres Shofi tittle PART }-PRELIMINARY h these Regulalions unless the context othcrwise In'terPrcrstioo "Act" means the National knrt Commissim'Ad'2A2' (AclNo. 19 of2022) .Direcror of Surver^" rneans the Head ofte Surveys "ff;A;;;i*int of the ministrv responsible ior lands and iny duly aPpointed oflic€r acutrg on his behalt "Dis'trict Iffd Commission" meas the Distrid l'atrd "a:;;t*;-..ttulished under section 35 of the rt"tbn"f iuna Com-ission Acr. 2022; "Disbicl l-,aDd Offic€r" meals the officer referred to in 1i*mB***'mmlli!lf o"'o'*" 'District Surveyorn mesns the hezd of the survey "d$"H.; ;i,h; .i"itttv responsible for lands in a district; 2 Applicatior. Reeuirettrents for aacrediiation sPplicotion 1o opemto as paB-rurvcror. "Paralegal" means a person who has completed basic training and acquired key competencies and qualifications in advising clients on the regisrarion of propety rights and supporting tbem in prepa'ation of iegal docur.entation requircd for land registratiorf and is authorised by the Commission to wort as a paraiegal for land registralion puposes; "Para-surveyor" means a person qualified by education" rraining or work experience to perfomr cadasn-al surveying work that requires krowledge of surveying oonc€pts, rnapping techniques and d€marcation tools and authorised by the Commission to undertrke q'ork as a paB-surveyoc "Tertiary Education Commission" means the Cornmission established by the Tertiary Education CommissionAct,2001. 2 These Regulations shall apply to para-surveyors or paralegals auhorised to assist communities io the pmviqc€s to rEgister their laad under customary tenure. PART IL{USTOMARY T-TND TITLE REGISTRATION: OPERAIIONAL STANDARD FOR PARA.STIRVEYORS, 3- A person applying for acq€ditation to operate as a para surveryor shall (a) have compieted Senior Secondry Sciool; @) have completed saining in the following areas O fundamentals of surveying and insfumentation; Ct intoduction to cartography; GD land dispute and coniict maaagement; 3 (iv) land law. land policy and gendeq (v) introduction to Information and Conununication Technologres; (c) have passed a practical cxamiDation organised by the training institutiol and ovirseenby a representalive ofthe Director of SurveYs; and (d) speak the dominant local language of the alistrict in which he intends to operat€' 4 Apersonrecriritedbva govemme*tT"ry'9Yi-Tl lffi: or a!!enc1 zls a Dafa-surveyor for the purpose of urdertalotrg mass goYcmmcot titfe ri'si";dion in the proviDces shalt m€€t the minimun requiremens pan *ri ""ilpf"" *1"*ri in the areas specified in Regulation 3 ' sutY'vor' 5- (l) Training for Para-surveyors may be conducted by (a) &e School of SurveY; (b) an accredited educational insdnsion; (c) a non-govemmental orgsnisation; or (d) a government ministry, department' or agency' in accordance with the curriculum apProved byfu Tertiary Education Commission. Tr&irlitrg for pa6-surYcyoB (2) The Director ofSurveYs slull (a) provide to the Tertiary Educatior borntrission with the Parameters for deteloPing a standardised curriculum for pan-surveyor training inchldingcontinuous traiiing as qrll as technical assistance to approvc Par:t-suweyort'aining programnes; 4 (b) set additional rquirEm€nts to be.ome a para surveyor. (3) On completion of the para-surveyor training' a successtrl candidato shall be issued a certificate by t e training institution ApDlicatioo for accreditatiol as gove rmeDl p!nr-sufte,'or @) An application under sub-regulatioo (l), shall be ad&ess€d to 8E DisEict l-and Officer md shall inclu& the applicanfs (a) certificate as evidence of successful completion of his training; O) telephone numb€{ and email addrcss' saned in the application (3) The District Land Officer shall, on receiPt of an apptcdion for accrcditalion, commudcate an acknowledgment of rec€ipt to tlle applicant by email or text message within 48 hours lffif, 7. (l) A decision to award or renne accreditation shatl be acrrcditstioD. made by tbe Diso:ict l-and OfEcer afrer consultation witb ottrer urit heatls of the Disrict Land Commission and $all be commmicated to lbe eplica within 7 days of receip of &plicatioL 6.. 0) An application for accreditation as a govenrm€nt paf,a- surv€yor shall be made in writing to the District Land Commission in the distict where the Para-surv€yor int€nds to wo*. ) (2) w]ler€ ac{r€ditation is grante4 the flame of the pafa surveyor shall be entered into a publicly accessible rcgister ofPam surveyors to be maintained at the offices of the District l.and ' Commission with a unique i&ntifier. (3) The Districl l,and Commission sbaU horward' once every quarter, a list of all accredited para-suNeyors to the Comnissiooer{eneral of the Narional laad Corrmission' (4) Where accrcditation is denie4 the apPlicant may app€al totk Commissioaer4elsal of6e Natiural kld Comnission within 5 days ofreceipt ofthe decision (5) The Commissioner4eneral may confrm or overtum the decision ofthe District Land Commissiol and shall corrmunicate his decision within 7 days ofreceip ofthe appeal' (O Where the Commissioner General overturns the decision of the District l-and CommissioD, the appellant shall be granted accreditation by the District l-and Commission and his nm ,t ull b" ir"lud.d io the register ofpam-surveyors in the district 8. (1) A person applying for accreditation shall pay a fee to lrcc'editrtion be determined by rhe DisEict l,and Co'nmissioL (2) A govcrnmElrt BiDistry, dcpartmont or aEancy recmiting para-sritveyors for the purpose of dertaking *""s tide registati-on shall be responsibte for the paymeot ofthe acdeditation fee to the Districr Land Commission' 6 (3) A government ministry. department or agency undertaking mass title registration mal' apply for and obtaiu al exemption iom the District Lard Commission and where such exemption is gante{ the District Land Commission shall waive palment ofthe accred itation fee Durorion of 9. 0) Accreditation shall be for a period ofz years and shall acscditation be renewed at the exPiration ol the period gralted' subject to satisfrctorY Performance. (2) Renewal of ac.reditation shall be automatic in the absence ofperfonnance issues, with evidence ofcontinuous training and oD payment ofthe prescribed fee. 10. (1) A para-sur,seyot's q'ork in the field shall include (a) collectiou ofdata Points or land coordinates . using approved devices and methodologies; (!) delineate land with commrmity rembers and identi$ing areas along the boundry for establisbing marteB; (c) work with paralegals and community stakeholders to address boundary disputes; (d) prcpare a basic surveY Plaq (e) any other work that the Director ofSurveys may deem approPriate Para surveyors' fi€ld rro*. 7 (2) A Paresun'eyor shall not work in a district for Y/hith he has not b€en accredited. (3) A Para-surveyor accrcdited to wort in one district may apply, in accordance with thes€ Regulations" for acqeditation in another district (4) A pan-surveyor shall only wort on land govemed by customary law. (, A para-suweyor may charge a fee forhis work guided by a fee schedule set out in tlle Suwey Act or Survey Rules' (Q Additional rules goveming the wod<' conduct and disciplining of pam-surveyors may be set out in the Survey Act or Survey Rules ll. (l) A survey plan produced by a para-suweyor shall Pfl' ' include the para+urveyot's nane' unique accreditation nrmber' his survcy plao signature {rd the date lie survey plan was drawL (2) A $.rrrey plsn produced by a para-surveyor shall be submitted to a District Surveyor for apploval . (3) The District Suweyor shall aPprovc or rEject the survey plan within 7 working days ofrecerpt ofth phn' (4) Where a survey Plan is approvd the survey plm and any orher required documentation may drea be submitted tothe Distict Land Commissioa for registration' 8 (5) Where a surrrey plan is rejected' the Dislxict Surveyor shall proffer reasors for the rejection and the survey plan may be resubm ed after lhe reason for its rejection has been addressed by the para-surveyor. (6) The Director of Suweys shall develop additional staodard oPeratfug Procedures for the ellcient processing ofsurvey plaDs submitted by Para-surveyors to Districl Surveyors' 12- (1) A person without accreditation to operate as a para surveyor rmder these Regulations shall not offencc Regi$6 of .ccrcdit€d pafs survcro$. (a) hotds himself out as a para-surveyor; (b) charge or collect money for the purpose of undertaking the work of a para-sun'eyor, (2) A person who contraveDes sub-regulation (1)' comrits an ofreoc€ and on c.5nviction is liable to a fine not exceediag 50.000.m L€oDes or imPdsoDment for aterm not exceeding 24 nronrhs or to both such 6re and imprisonment 13. The District l,and Cornmission shall maintain a regiser of acqedited para-surveyors in the distdct containing their names' addresses, accreditation number, accreditation duration and any other relevatrt ttetail me Dlslricr Land Codtnission shall dccl,r ncc-5'ar7' 9 PARTIII{USTOMARY LAND TITLE REGISTRAJIION: OPER-,AiflO}iAL STANDARD FOR PARALEGATS 14. (l) A non-go!€rnmer$al organisatioa or a civil society Aopplicarion organisation accredited to proYide Paralegal services unde' 4l , ilfu'ffi Ai4 Act,2012 may appty to the Dist-ict Land Commission lor Aid accreditation of is paralegals to work with or support mmmmities Acq 2012 or families seeking to register tide to land rmder cusmmary tenure' Q) (l), shau be An application for accreditation under sub-regulation (a) made in writing to the Disfict La d Corr,mission in the district where the organisation's paralegals will opemte; {b) addrcssed to the D. istrict Land OfEcer and stlall include evidence of kgal Aid Board accreditalion and co act details for the orgaoisation; (c) conlain the names, addressec emails, and telephone contacts of the paralegals; (d) a statement confrming ttrat the paralegals speak at least one of the conrmon local tanguages in the districq i0 (e) a statement confirrning that the paralegals are tnowledgeabte in d€ Customary I-aDd Rights Act 2022, rhe National I-and CommissionAct 2022 and any other relevant laws or rEgulations. (3) The District iand Officer shal! on receipt of an applicatiotr for acq€ditalion under subregulation (2)' communicate anac owhdgnem ofrcceiptto the applicant by email or text message within 48 hours (4) A decision to aurard or refuse accreditation shall be made by the District Land Offic€r aft€r consultatiol with other rmit teaOs ottre Oistrict laad Commission and shall be cotrmunicated to the applicaot wi$itr 7 days ofreceipt ofapplication' (5) Wlere accreditatioB is granted' the name of the organisation and its paralegals shall be entered inlo a publicly *-"o.fut" .tgirtt otFralegals to be maintained at the omces of the District t and Commissioo (O The District Land Commission shall forwarq once every quarter, a list ofall accreditrd paralegals to the Comrnissioner General ofiLe National Land Commissiott (7, Where accreditation is denied' the apPlicant Dmy appeal to tk Cormissioner-General oftheNational Land Commission within 5 days ofreceipt ofthe decision' (8) The Commissioner{eneral may confirm or overtlrrn the decision ofthe District l,aod Comnission aDd shall comntmicate his decision withia 7 days ofreceipt ofthe appea!' lt (9) Where lhe Commissioner General overturns t'he decision of the District l-and Commission, the app€llant sha be granted accreditatioD by the District t and Comrnission and 6e name I ofthe organisation and its paralegals shall be included in the regisra of accredited pamlegals in the district (10) The National Laud Commission secretariat shall, ina district where a District Iand Commission is not establisM, (a) perform the functiom ofthe District Land Commission in relation to lhe accreditation of para-surveyors and parategals atrd rclaled firnctions, until such time &d-a Dstrict tand Commission is estabiished; or (b) direct an established District Land Commission in the region to perform the fimctions of the Dislict Land Commission in reldion to the accreditation of pa-a-surveJlors and paralegals ard related fimctioas, for the time being (2) Rerewal shall be automatic in the absence of performance issues, on payment ofthe prescribed fee. 15. 0) Accreditation of a non-governrenal organisatiotr orDumlion of a civil society organisation shall be for a periotl of2 years aad shallaccrcdiratioL be renewed at the expiration of the period granted subject to satisfrctory perfonnance. t2 Prralegal's field work. 16 (1) A paralegal's work ir' the field shall include (a) education of cornmurfties on the process of title registration with the District Land Commissioq (b) facilitating the signilg of boundary harmonisation agreeolents; (c) facilitating tbe develoPment of community rules to govern land; stabiishment of Village Area(O assist in the e Land Committees' Town Land Comnittees and Chiefdom I'and Cornnitr€es; (6) supporting land (boundiry) dispute resolutioa Processes; ({) accompaning commulities tbraugh :he process oftitle registmlioD and documenting the exp€Iimcel G) any other masers relating to dre regisu-ation of customar'v title arising from the Customary Land Rights Act' 2022' the NatioDal l-and ComnissionAct' 2022 and any other relevant laws or regulations' (2) An accredited organisation and its paralegals sball in accordance wfththe t-EP:ul/lid A*'zAlzprovidepro bano assistance * *a**o o. *i1ies regis.tcriLg titlc to their lard l3 17. An oBanisation appb,ing for accrcditadon shall pay a fee Accrediraioa to be determined hv the Disnict t-afld Conrmission. fec' l& The District L,and Commission shall mai ain arEsister of Rcgisr.f of accredited paralegals and parale gal organisations ur"ri.ting ffijjff comrnunities and fam ilies to regisrer ,ieir land, containing tlreir nancs, addresses, accreditalion numbel accreditation duration and any other r€levant detail the Dis&ict Land Commission sball deem necessarv. B) A paralegal organisation sha[ not provide assistanc€ to commrmfties or lamilies registering title to their customary land without accroditation by the District Land Commission. PARTIV.INFRI^I\GEMENTS AND PENALTIES 19- (l) A person shall not in&inge thes€ Regulalions- Infringcment znd penaltics. @) An in&ingement of any of these regulations herein may rcsult in (a) non-accreditation ofanapplicanq @) suspension or cancellation of accreditation; (c) imposition ofa fine; (d) any other censure that the National Land Com,'nission de€ms just. (3) A person x,ho is aggrieved by a decision or action of the National l-and Comnission may institute legal poceedinAs in a court competefi t4 MADE this &Y of ,2023. SHEIKH SEUABU SOWA COMMTSSIONER.GENERAL NATIONAL I-/ND COMMISSION FREE-mWN, SEPIA LEONE Px.DarED AID PuBuslED BY TsE GovErRNr'E T PRrNnNc E\\RA1BDN/R| G/2ErE'No. ffc l8Ts Deero,or, SIErrrr Leoxa OcrosB, 2023. l.