Blockchain technology to address tampering of public records

Government is advancing efforts to digitise public records across all offices and agencies in a move aimed at increasing transparency and reducing fraud, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said.

Speaking at his weekly press briefing at Freedom House on Thursday, Dr Jagdeo noted that the introduction of digital systems, particularly blockchain technology, would eliminate the possibility of tampering with official records.

“The Blockchain technology is what powers digital currency… it’s almost tamper proof. You can’t go back and change codes that are from the past so we have to use that technology in some places where we have had complaints about tampering with public records,” he said.

He cited the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) as a department that frequently receives complaints about land ownership disputes.

“The Land Registry for example, GGMC where often we hear small miners come and complain that the moment they have a piece of land and the moment they make a discovery of gold on the land then some…bigger miner comes along and says but my application was before this person. The person who made the discovery and you know we have the policy at GGMC first come first serve, it’s done on that basis the allocation of the land. So if you discover a prior application then obviously the other person will get the land and they often tamper with the records. You know they just go and stick in an earlier application from a wealthy guy or someone of that nature and there is no way the policymakers can verify this,” Jagdeo said.

He added that adopting blockchain for record-keeping would foster a fair process for all stakeholders.

Dr Jagdeo’s remarks come as Guyana ramps up digital transformation initiatives to modernise its public services.