THE REGISTRAR General's Department (RGD) in the North East Region is to begin conducting registry weddings at its office in St. Ann's Bay soon, according to the Jamaica Information Service (JIS).
The office, which was opened in 1999, serves the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland.
Acting regional manager, Desmond Davis, told JIS News that in order for the new initiative to be implemented, a part of the office would be converted and equipped for the occasion.
Mr. Davis pointed out that other than local marriages, many persons were coming from abroad to get married here. He noted that many of those weddings took place in hotels along the north coast.
In relation to other services offered by the RGD, Mr. Davis said that because of the office's location, clients from St. Mary and Portland who would normally go to St. Ann's Bay, found it easier to go to Kingston.
He explained that in order to address that matter, outreach programmes were organised where staff from the RGD visited communities to accept applications for the various services provided.
"This office has a target of 20 visits monthly, and each speak to not only the regular services the office offer, but also to late registration, late entry of name, correction of error, and the adding of a father's particulars to a record," he said.
He said that about 75 cent of those persons who applied and paid for certificates received them on time.
In order to keep the statistics current, he said RGD personnel would visit people every month in the large districts of St. Ann's Bay and Alexandria in St. Ann; Annotto Bay and Port Maria in St. Mary, and Port Antonio and Buff Bay in Portland. RGD personnel would be visiting smaller districts every three months, he said.
Mr. Davis urged parents to register their children, and called on hospitals to ensure that the RGD was notified of each birth within one year. "Unless these tasks are carried out, parents will have to apply for late registration," he pointed out.
He stressed that parents had up to six weeks to do the registration, and they should ensure that the father's particulars were filed. However, if the father was absent, the mother should use her surname, and then add the father's name at a later date.
In interviews with JIS News, some members of the public gave their opinion about the services provided by the RGD.
Sharon Williams of Ocho Rios, who had applied for her marriage certificate, said she found the service quite good. "I was told to come and collect my certificate in three months, and here I am, on time, to collect it," she said.
"The service is good, because you can rely on the dates to come and collect your documents," Clayton Johnson of Thicketts in St. Ann said.
Angella Wood from Kingston, who had her baby in the parish, said she was pleased with the department's service.
Wedding co-ordinator at Grand Lido Sans Souci, Teca White, told JIS News that she used the service of the RGD on a regular basis, and it was quite
efficient.
