Over 1000 birth certificates handed over to Toshaos for villagers

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn handed over in excess of 1000 birth certificates to several village leaders at the National Toshaos Council Conference on Friday for residents within their zones.
A number of marriage and death certificates were also released to the Toshaos, who hailed from various Amerindian communities across the ten administrative regions.

The General Register Office (GRO), which is under the auspices of the Home Affairs Ministry, has, over the last three days, accepted and processed over 1000 applications for certificates, including birth, marriage and death certificates at the NTCC. Additionally, applications for over 2000 late registrations were accepted.
According to the Deputy Registrar General, Visham Budhoo, for every birth certificate application received, a search is conducted on the spot, which determines if the applicant was previously registered.
Once an entry is found, the application is processed, and the certificate is issued to the applicant or in the care of the Toshaos at the NTCC. Further, for those applicants who were not previously registered, immediately the late registration process is started.
The GRO has been conducting outreaches in different communities across Guyana and will soon commence specialised outreaches in Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
Last year, concerns had surfaced over the GRO’s slothful pace in issuing birth, death, and marriage certificates. Registrar General Raymon Cummings had indicated that the deficiency was due to the pandemic circumstances, as well as the need to have the certificates authenticated. Persons were also filling out the wrong information on the forms. At that time, all records had been digitalised as he promised a faster delivery of these services.
For over one year, the General Register Office has distributed computer-generated certified copies of births, deaths and marriages registered in Guyana. The computer-generated certificates sports enhanced security features which include a QR code to the top left-hand corner of the certificate and invisible markings, readable only under a black light.
The NTCC was organised this past week after a two-year hiatus due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. It brings together Amerindian leaders from over 212 hinterland communities across the country, enabling a platform for Amerindian leaders to engage the Government and other stakeholders on issues about the development of their communities.
The NTC, which spanned five days, focused on improving access to Government services such as health, education, land titling, demarcation, security, and infrastructure, among others. (G12)