Every child needs the love and support of a father. More important, every child deserves the right to his/her father's identity. Giving the child this right starts with including the full particulars of the father on the child's birth certificate. This includes:

Full and correct name of the father.

Age of the father at the time of the child's birth.

Occupation of the father at the time of the child's birth.

Address of father.

Place of birth of the father.

The mother's particulars are usually added on the birth record at registration. However, the father's information is only automatically added if they are married. In instances where the parents are not married to each other, the father's particulars can only be added if he signs the record with the mother at the time of registration.

Statistics

Statistics from the Registrar General's Department (RGD) indicate that from 2003-2006, an average of 42,000 births occurred per year in Jamaica. Of that number, 84 per cent (143,618) of these births were out of wedlock. Of this figure 37 per cent (63,567) of these births were registered with the father's information.

However, since the introduction of bedside registration in 2007, there has been a 94 per cent increase in the number of fathers adding their particulars at birth.

Having the father's information on the birth certificate gives the child certain entitlements such as inheritance and immigra-tion. Fathers whose information is missing from their children's certificate should take the necessary steps to add their particulars.

MISSING INFORMATION

If the father's information is missing from your child's birth

certificate, then you may add his information by re-registration.

The Status of Children's Act of 1976 makes provisions for children who are born to unmarried parents, and whose father did not sign the birth record at the time of registration.

Fathers seeking to add their information must do so by a declaration provided by the RGD. This declaration must be signed by both parents and witnessed by either:

A headmaster of a public educational institution

A registered medical doctor

A Justice of the Peace

A registered midwife

An attorney-at-law

A clerk of the courts

A notary public (for parents who live overseas)

Adding the father's name

To add the father's name, a status application must be made. These forms are available at the offices of the RGD and on their website at www.rgd.gov.jm. The status form consists of two sections, section (1) mother's declaration.