MINISTER of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, on Friday, handed over several births, marriage, and death certificates to the Toshaos of various Amerindian communities across the ten administrative regions at the National Toshaos Council Conference (NTCC).

The General Register Office (GRO), under the auspices of the Ministry of Home Affairs, 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 2,000 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, determining if the applicant was previously registered.
He said that 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, the late registration process started for applicants not previously registered.
The GRO has been conducting outreaches in different communities across Guyana and will soon commence specialised outreaches in regions one, seven, eight, and nine.

In an interview with this publication, the Deputy Registrar General noted that, in the past, the service was not accessed because hinterland communities were hard to reach and access while many of the inhabitants did not find the assistance necessary.

“Currently, we are strengthening the regional level where applicants can present themselves, and their records will be searched on the spot; that is currently happening in two regions. The applicant will then be given the requirements and affidavit to proceed,” he explained.

Previously, he noted that a court order was needed for late registration or to insert a name at a later date, but with the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act 2021 the process can be completed without the applicant being reluctant.

“We continue to receive a huge amount of registration in our system. We will proceed with the late registration along with the relevant investigations before documents are dispatched,” he explained. “Our booth was well accepted, and the turnout was excellent; the Toshaos brought lists to proceed with the late registration of births, and we are working on that. Death and marriage certificates were available to be issued on the spot.”