– Minister Rohee warns at Marriage Officers’ Seminar
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, yesterday reminded at a Marriage Officers’ Seminar at the Regional Boardroom in New Amsterdam, Berbice, that the age of consent is 16; as such, officers must verify the age of petitioners before a marriage is solemnised.

To marry any one below16 is an offence which carries a jail term of two years.

The minister said, “Banns are published without verifying the age of the petitioners, marriage officers do not even ask them to present their birth certificates, and as such children under the age of 16 have their marriages solemnised; this is contrary to the Marriage Act.”

The minister added that should marriage officers fail to execute his/her duties in accordance with the Marriage Act, as minister, he could cancel their appointment.

He also reminded them of the requirements they must be guided by in relation to Christian, Hindu and Muslim marriages.

Rohee said the marriage seminar was called to help marriage officers become familiar with the laws and rules governing marriages.

He said, “As marriage officers, you are expected to comply with the legal aspects of marriages by the General Registrar Officer (GRO) and the regulatory body under the Marriage Act.”

The minister also outlined the laws which govern the Marriage Act, both legal and religious aspects, and reminded them of their roles and all the legal ramifications.

Also making brief remarks was GRO Registrar General, Greta McDonald, who said she found it necessary to address marriage officers on matters that have an adverse effect on their operations.
She told the gathering that there were times when officers received bribes to perform illegal marriages, when they rented out their marriage registers, and when couples were married by just signing a paper and making a payment.

She revealed that for 2009, some 4,700 marriages were registered by close to 800 marriage officers.

The one-day Marriage Officers’ seminar also addressed the importance of marriage counseling, upholding the religious aspect of marriage, and the legal requirements for marriages as it seeks to restore and uphold the institution of marriage.