Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Angela Johnson, addresses the officers at the seminar.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the General Register Office, Wednesday hosted a Marriage Officers’ seminar at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, to revise their roles in society.

The seminar was held under the theme “Restoring and Upholding the Institution of Marriage”.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Angela Johnson, said that hosting of the seminar is an expression of the Ministry’s concern about the unethical practices in conducting the legal aspect of marriages. One of the main concerns is age.

In Guyana, the legal age that permits a person to enter the institution is 18. Johnson said the reason why age is important is because one of the expectations of marriage is consummation, and sexual activities with a person below the age of 16 is punishable by law, as stipulated in the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act.

However, depending on situations, there are cases where persons below 18 are allowed to marry with parental consent.

Another concern that has been brought to the Ministry’s attention is the heavy fees that are imposed by some officers. Johnson said that the approved sum is $2,080. However, there are instances where officers have charged as much as $20,000.

Marriage Officers at the seminar.

There are also cases where officers have recorded false information on the application forms, which was consequently transferred to the marriage certificate.

Johnson added that if during the course of their operations, officers think that aspects of the law should be amended, the Ministry of Home Affairs is willing to consider this.

She also highlighted that solemnising of a marriage can only be done between 9 am and 6 pm, and with due notice (Publication of Banns) of the marriage. Failing to comply with this could result in a penalty of two years’ imprisonment.

Johnson urged the officers to exert the highest degree of honesty in their deliberations, as they have been chosen on the basis of high moral standards. (GINA)