RGD Goes to Canada Dec. 13-17

Jamaica’s Consul-General in Toronto, Anne-Marie Bonner is welcoming the initiative by the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) to take their services to Jamaicans living in Canada from December 13 to 17. Jamaicans there will have the opportunity to submit applications for birth, death and marriage certificates as members of the RGD mobile outreach team take the services closer to its customers.
Speaking with JIS News, Miss Bonner said: “I applaud the RGD’s efforts to reach its customers and I hope the community will come out and access their services which have been made available to them.”
Chief Executive Officer of the RGD, Dr. Patricia Holness told JIS News that the overseas mobile outreach initiative is an annual event that forms part of the agency’s continued efforts to ensure that its services are accessible to all Jamaicans.
“It is really intended to bring our services closer to Jamaicans living overseas. Very often we find that when there are challenging situations, we are better able to help the customers if we see them in person,” she explained.
Citing an example, Dr. Holness noted that many older Jamaicans who are living overseas may have a birth certificate with only their Christian name and they are unable to use this certificate to access their pension because a surname is required.
“We will have to guide them as to how they can have this corrected and also ensure that all the documents that they have are in agreement,” she noted.
While in Canada, the RGD will be accepting applications and payments for birth, death and marriage certificates as well as general record updating activities, such as the adding of father’s particulars; correction of error; late entry of name and late registration. Additionally, customers who wish to apply for birth or death certificates but are unable to provide an entry number will be able to conduct online searches.
“Persons need to carry along a valid identification card, for example a passport or driver’s licence, especially if they will be carrying out record updating activities,” Dr. Holness advised.
On December 13, the team will be at the Jamaican Consulate at 303 Eglinton Avenue, East Toronto, Ontario from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Later that day, the team will move to the Revivaltime Tabernacle, 4340 Dufferin Street, Downsview, North York, Toronto where they will see customers from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The team will return to the Jamaican Consulate on Friday, December 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Persons who wish to submit applications or make queries may also visit the Grace Apostolic Church, 801 Progress Avenue, Scarborough from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
On December 15, the team will be at the Grace Mount Zion Apostolic Church, 5865 Coopers Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Similarly, on Monday, December 17, the team will be at the Mount Zion Apostolic Church, 108 Holland Park Avenue, Toronto, Ontario from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
According to Dr. Holness, “once the RGD has full information we are able to produce the certified copy within two to seven days. If there is a weekend, one needs to take account of that, but we try our best and in some instances in the past individuals had their case processed and returned during the same day via courier.”
Persons who do not apply using express service will have their copies sent via registered mail.