Dear Editor,
A few days ago I visited the General Registrar Office in Georgetown at 08:00h. I told the security guard downstairs who checked my bag that I am a marriage officer and I am going to register a marriage. She asked if I had an ID card from the government stating that I am a marriage officer, I told her no but myself and many other Marriage Officers requested that card fifteen years ago from the Ministry of Home Affairs since the previous administration, but never received one until today in this current administration.
I showed her my Reverend Ordination Card from my church which she appreciated and examined carefully but still went on to say that she believes the Ministry of Citizenship should give all current Marriage Officers an ID Card bearing the government stamp for us to walk with whenever we go to GRO. I fully agree with her but still wonder how, where and when will marriage officers be given that card. I then proceeded upstairs to the office. No one was there but a lady came out a room and told me to go outside and wait.
I went outside and sat down on the bench. More people were now sitting next to me grumbling why the office was not opening. I started to talk to a gentleman who came from very far he told me he applied two months for his birth certificate but never got it. I showed him the second door where he needed to go for his birth certificate. He went and spent about 25 minutes and came out very sad; he said he was told they will post it. What is so difficult for the staff to take his receipts find his name in the records and give him his birth certificates after two months of tedious waiting and now wasted travel expenses?
I sat on the bench talking to other folks who told me that they have been waiting over 6 months now for birth, marriage and death certificates. The Marriage Section office took 75 minutes to open. As a legal marriage officer I am concern about the long tedious process the General Registrar Office is taking to process marriage certificates after I register a marriage and apply for certificates or when those whom I marry apply for it.
I believe as Marriage Officers, we should be given the privilege to register a marriage and apply for the certificates, and at the same time be given a slip to uplift the certificates in a few days for those whom we marry. Most marriage officers are religious leaders and they are disrespected by this office.
These people have no respect for Ministers of Religion. Just a few years ago that service was offered to us as marriage officers but now we have to wait months for marriage certificates. I believe the GRO needs a very efficient system. I also believe they need to computerise births, marriages, and deaths and decentralise this office to the various regions.
I am calling on our present administration to upgrade the GRO system of administration, as too many people suffer daily to get these basic certificates. I also believe marriage officers should be given an ID card from the Ministry of Citizenship and privileged to obtain marriage certificates when they register a marriage for those whom they marry. I am calling on Minister Winston Felix to look into these issues.
Yours faithfully,
Rev Gideon Cecil
