Nassau, The Bahamas. GrahamThompson (GT) Consultant Counsel Dana Wells and GT Partner Alistair Chisnall were recognised at Government House, along with other members of the Land Reform Committee, for their dedicated and historically significant service. The work of the Committee was lauded by Attorney General, Senator the Hon. Ryan Pinder, KC, as “one of the most significant legislative accomplishments in decades”.
The Committee’s work led to the passage of the Land Adjudication Act, 2025 and the Registered Land Act, 2025.
Appointed in 2022, the Committee – Co-chaired by the Hon. Leon Lundy and Sharlyn Smith – was constituted by a cross section of public sector stakeholders including various government departments and registries, and key private sector stakeholders. GT Partner Alistair Chisnall underscored that “the central issue ultimately considered by the Committee was the long overdue need for a land ownership and conveyancing system that provides greater clarity, simplicity, security and reliability”.
The Committee’s work spanned a 3½ year process of extensive research, consultation and review. Eventually leading to the Committee's drafting of a Land Adjudication Bill and a Registered Land Bill. This work, which the Attorney General says “will transform our society, our economy”, marking, “a critical step towards the modernising of land conveyancing and the securing of land tenure in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas”, was described as “decades in the making”.
GT Consultant Counsel Dana Wells emphasised how vitally important and necessary it was for he and Alistair to contribute their time and experience to the Committee’s work. The resultant pieces of legislation provide a modern framework for land ownership and registration in The Bahamas.
The Land Adjudication Act, 2025 provides for “systemic adjudication of rights and interests in land within The Bahamas”, including the demarcation of boundaries and related matters. The Registered Land Act, 2025, provides for a centralised system for the registration of titles. The legislation addresses the handling of long held issues surrounding unclear titles, incomplete records and other issues that have undermined land ownership for years; and will bring transparency and security to land titles.
“The new laws”, Alistair asserted, “will have the effect of revolutionising Bahamian land law and conveyancing practice, with incalculable benefit to The Bahamas, its economy and future generations”.
The next steps for the Government will be implementation, including establishment of the new Adjudication Board and Land Registry.
Committee members were honoured for their historically definitive work, in an appreciation ceremony last Wednesday, September 17th, under the auspices of Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Cynthia Pratt.
Nassau, The Bahamas. GrahamThompson (GT) Consultant Counsel Dana Wells and GT Partner Alistair Chisnall were recognised at Government House, along with other members of the Land Reform Committee, for their dedicated and historically significant service. The work of the Committee was lauded by Attorney General, Senator the Hon. Ryan Pinder, KC, as “one of the most significant legislative accomplishments in decades”.
The Committee’s work led to the passage of the Land Adjudication Act, 2025 and the Registered Land Act, 2025.
Appointed in 2022, the Committee – Co-chaired by the Hon. Leon Lundy and Sharlyn Smith – was constituted by a cross section of public sector stakeholders including various government departments and registries, and key private sector stakeholders. GT Partner Alistair Chisnall underscored that “the central issue ultimately considered by the Committee was the long overdue need for a land ownership and conveyancing system that provides greater clarity, simplicity, security and reliability”.
The Committee’s work spanned a 3½ year process of extensive research, consultation and review. Eventually leading to the Committee's drafting of a Land Adjudication Bill and a Registered Land Bill. This work, which the Attorney General says “will transform our society, our economy”, marking, “a critical step towards the modernising of land conveyancing and the securing of land tenure in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas”, was described as “decades in the making”.
GT Consultant Counsel Dana Wells emphasised how vitally important and necessary it was for he and Alistair to contribute their time and experience to the Committee’s work. The resultant pieces of legislation provide a modern framework for land ownership and registration in The Bahamas.
The Land Adjudication Act, 2025 provides for “systemic adjudication of rights and interests in land within The Bahamas”, including the demarcation of boundaries and related matters. The Registered Land Act, 2025, provides for a centralised system for the registration of titles. The legislation addresses the handling of long held issues surrounding unclear titles, incomplete records and other issues that have undermined land ownership for years; and will bring transparency and security to land titles.
“The new laws”, Alistair asserted, “will have the effect of revolutionising Bahamian land law and conveyancing practice, with incalculable benefit to The Bahamas, its economy and future generations”.
The next steps for the Government will be implementation, including establishment of the new Adjudication Board and Land Registry.
Committee members were honoured for their historically definitive work, in an appreciation ceremony last Wednesday, September 17th, under the auspices of Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Cynthia Pratt.
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