By Balford Henry,
Senior Reporter
THERE IS nothing in the marriage licence that prevents nude weddings, says Silvera Castro, Corporate Area civil registrar.
Responding to questions about the nude nuptials planned for Hedonism III hotel, Negril, on February 14, he said that as far as he knew, the Minister of National Security has no legal authority to halt the weddings.
"You don't need a licence from the ministry if you have 15 days or more to post the banns. If it is less than 15 days, you go to the Ministry of National Security and fill out the form and get a licence. Then you can marry the same day or three months later. There is no stipulation on dress. It is your choice", he said.
Mr. Castro said he had received at least 30 calls asking if he was officiating at the weddings. "Even when I explain that I am not involved, some people don't believe me," he said.
"I guess probably civil registrars in that area will do it, because I don't think any minister of religion will want to do it after the current publicity," Mr. Castro told The Gleaner.
"It is very difficult for civil registrars from Kingston to get weddings to do on the north coast, because they are so lucrative. Pastors in the rural areas don't want outsiders performing weddings in their areas," he said.
According to him the charge for doing a civil wedding in a hotel could range from US$100 to US$200, plus tips. He was not sure how much the Valentine couples would pay, as the charge was included in their all-inclusive bills and the registrar was paid by the hotel.
Mr. Castro said that because of the rivalry on the north coast, he marries tourists mainly at hotels in the Corporate Area. His fees could be even higher on the north coast, he said.
He had no doubt, he said, that nude weddings had taken place in Jamaican hotels before. "I am almost sure they have had nude weddings before and nobody heard anything about them. But, this time it is prejudiced by the publicity," he said.
Asked if he would consider handling the Hedonism nude weddings, Mr. Castro said, no. "I wouldn't be able to go back to my church the next morning. If it was a private wedding, I wouldn't have a problem with it, because that is how the couple want it. But, once it has attracted this much publicity it becomes a show", he said.
He said he had never been requested to do any unusual weddings.
"But I hope the person who performs these weddings are dressed," he said.
Mr. Castro says his customers are primarily divorcees and tourists who get married at their hotel as well as young people who want to save money for early marriage expenses.
