OBTAINING a birth certificate is supposed to be a hassle-free process but at the Georgetown Post Office Corporation (GPOC), it seems as if it is the opposite.
More than often I have visited the GPOC and to my surprise there are always a long line of people waiting for their birth certificates. One would understand that you have to apply but why does it take weeks and why is this discrimination happening? At times, many people have to pay about $5,000 to an officer to get birth, marriage and even death certificates. The GPOC and government should look in to this matter and make this process a simple one. Make the forms available at village offices, health centres and even the newspaper in order for people to get it.
Measures should also be put in place so that the average Guyanese will understand how to fill a birth certificate application form and the time frame to which they should wait for one and the cost. Please stop the corrupt practices and discrimination.
The GPOC should also train their ‘get rich don’t sweat’ officers to be more helpful and service friendly.