There is only democracy if there is a guarantee of property

A former top official in Colombia's land registration system has warned that the country’s democracy is undermined by fragmented institutions responsible for property rights, calling for urgent reform to prevent corruption and inefficiency. The official, who previously served as superintendant of Notariado and Registration, argues that the lack of unified systems and digital infrastructure has allowed bureaucratic loopholes to persist, enabling graft and delaying processes that should be simple. The current structure involves five separate entities, Registration, Notariado, the National Land Agency (AGNT), the Institute of Agrarian Development (IGAC), and the Unit for Land Restitution (URT), each operating under different ministries with their own budgets, procedures, and bureaucracies. This fragmentation, according to the official, creates a situation where citizens struggle to secure legal proof of land ownership, while the state continues to waste resources on outdated and overlapping systems. The official emphasized that property rights form the foundation of democracy, stating that true democratic legitimacy comes when citizens can verify land ownership without excessive bureaucracy or intermediaries. He noted that during his tenure, efforts were made to modernize the system through digitalization, including the creation of a Unified Registration Window and electronic signatures in notarial services. These initiatives initially showed promise, offering citizens a glimpse of streamlined processes. However, progress was quickly derailed by internal and external mafia interests that opposed modernization. These groups benefited from the existing disorder and complexity, which allowed them to exploit the system for personal gain. As a result, the country reverted to obsolete, manipulable systems that prioritize the needs of bureaucrats over the rights of property owners. Financial figures underscore the scale of the problem. Between 2022 and 2026, the National Land Agency signed 56,730 service contracts worth 2.51 trillion pesos; the IGAC signed 35,196 contracts totaling 1.3 trillion pesos; and the Superintendence of Notariado and Registration signed 13,878 contracts valued at 468 billion pesos. Additional contracts inherited by the URT further compound the issue, highlighting a massive expenditure without corresponding security for property rights. Finance Minister Miguel Gómez has pointed out the need to cut spending by 21.9 trillion pesos, emphasizing that the solution lies not in creating new taxes but in reducing expenses and merging duplicate agencies. President Abelardo de la Espriella had promised such reforms during his campaign, underscoring the urgency of consolidating these entities into one unified body. The official called for clear delineation of responsibilities among government ministries. He suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture focus solely on agricultural production, the Ministry of Justice on administering justice, and a newly created Property Agency handle all aspects of titling, registration, cadastral mapping, and ensuring property rights. Currently, these functions overlap, leading to confusion and inefficiency. Drawing parallels to past successes, the official cited the creation of the RUNT, a national database integrating vehicle information, insurance companies, and citizens, as evidence that Colombia can achieve similar results in land management. He questioned why the country remains stuck in the past when it comes to land records, arguing that a Unified Property Registry could offer the same level of integration and efficiency. The call for reform highlights deep-seated issues within Colombia’s administrative framework, where historical problems have led to systemic dysfunction. Addressing these challenges requires political will, institutional restructuring, and technological investment to ensure that property rights are protected and transparently managed.