THE DECISION by the Land and Environment Ministry to dismiss Alfred McPherson from his post as Registrar of Titles has angered some members of the legal fraternity.The Jamaican Bar Association has taken issue with the manner in which Mr. McPherson was relieved of his duties.
On Wednesday Mr. McPherson was handed a letter of dismissal from the Land and Environment Ministry, however he refused to honour the contents until Thursday when he received a letter from the Office of the Governor-General.
According to Land and Environment Minister, Dean Peart the decision was made to relieve Mr. McPherson of his post as he had not fully met the requirements for the job.
But Past President of the Bar Association, Hilary Phillips claims that while there have been discussions regarding amendments to the functions of the Office of the Registrar of Titles, Mr. McPherson was not informed of the plans for his dismissal. "There has been no meeting telling him he's been charged with inefficiency, there's been no meeting of the Services Commission, there's been a revocation by the Governor-General without him being told why," she charged.
Miss Phillips believes Mr. McPherson's dismissal is the result of a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the role of the Office of the Registrar of Titles. "He understood his obligations one way and the Chief Executive Officer understood it another way" she said.
LOBBY FOR INDEPENDENCE
The Bar Association has been seeking to have the Office of the Registrar of Titles made an independent body instead of being part of the National Land Agency.
Miss Phillips said the association sought the opinion of the Solicitor General who indicated that the Registrar of Titles should be guided by the provisions of the Registration of Titles Act.
However, Permanent Secretary in the Land and Environment Ministry, Donovan Stanbury is maintaining that the proper procedures were followed in dismissing Mr. McPherson. According to him "due process was followed and he was properly terminated based on the terms of his contract, and the proper consultations took place."
The Bar Association has sought the intervention of the Prime Minister on the issue.
