RGD Advises Persons to Collect Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates

The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) is inviting persons with uncollected birth, marriage and death certificates to attend its Twickenham Park and Portmore offices in St. Catherine on Friday, November 17, to pick up their documents. The event, dubbed ‘Mega Outreach’, is being hosted by the RGD in an effort to remind persons to collect their certificates.

Speaking with JIS News, the RGD’s Marketing and Planning Manager, Nicole Whyte, explained that the outreach is necessary, as many persons have not returned for their certificates.

“Over the years, people have been applying for birth, marriage and death certificates that they have not collected. Sometimes, they don’t find the time to pick them up or they forget to collect them, so we are on a drive to get these certificates out,” she said.

She is advising that persons who had applied and specified that they would pick up at the Portmore office should collect at that location.

Miss Whyte informed that persons who are entitled to a free first birth certificate for their babies as a result of bedside registration are also being invited to pick up their certificates. “As of 2007, we started bedside registration where persons were entitled to a free first birth certificate; however, many of these remain uncollected to date,” she noted.

Several stakeholders have been invited to participate in the day to promote their products and services. These include the National Housing Trust, Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Jamaica Public Service, Kirk Distributors, GraceKennedy, National Family Planning Board and Tax Administration Jamaica.

Miss Whyte added that it is important to note that the certificates will still be available after the Mega Outreach Day and there is no penalty for collecting thereafter. The Mega Outreach is the first in a series of similar activities that have been planned in celebration of the 138th anniversary of the RGD.