Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, right, watches as a vital document is produced in the Administrator's Office in Harbour Island. The exercise was also carried out in North, Central and South Eleuthera. Also pictured: Archie Nairn, Permanent Secretary, second from left; Damian Gomez, State Minister for Legal Affairs; and Clay Sweeting, a candidate in the 2012 general election. (BIS Photo/Gena Gibbs)
|
Eleuth
era, The Bahamas -- Mobilising the Registrar General's
services to the E-government portals will provide Family Island Local
Government Administrators to facilitate basic Justice of the Peace (JP)
powers to confirm births, deaths, and marriages.
Attorney General, Senator the Hon.
Allyson Maynard Gibson, State Minister for Legal Affairs, the Hon. Damian
Gomez, and Permanent Secretary Archie Nairn, along with IT specialists
from the Registrar General's Office in New Providence visited the Local
Government Administrator Offices in Harbour Island, North Eleuthera,
Central And South Eleuthera May 9 to install and briefly train staff
to access the database and print out certificates for the Administrator
to authenticate on site. The cost of documents are about $10 each, which
is the same as if paying for it in Nassau.
"This entire project is really
the mandate of our prime minister, who is adamant that we will be seen
truly as one nation. We are an island-nation and people who live in
the far flung islands should feel that their government cares about
them, and that they are entitled to the same kinds of services that
exist in Nassau," said AG Maynard Gibson.
The Attorney General referred to
an incident involving a Bahamian woman who needed to have copies of
vital documents such as birth certificates and passports. She said the
Eleuthera resident explained that the only way to get the services was
to plan a $500 trip to New Providence and pay for accommodations, transportation,
meals, just to get a birth certificate or passport in Nassau.
Senator Gibson is also concerned
about easing the cost and convenience of doing business in the Family
Islands. She wants the nation to raise its current international profile
of being rated the 77th most convenient country to operate international
business.
"I texted the Minister for Foreign
Affairs and I told him that 'Look, certified copies of birth certificates
are needed and we can get them right here in our own community. Let's
bring the mobile unit for E-Passports to North Eleuthera and to South
Eleuthera as well, that way people can get their birth certificates,
and also their passports right at home'. So, rather than spending $500
for you getting a service you can get in your own community, let's provide
our people, as the Prime Minister has dictated, services in their own
community. Well that's convenience for our people," said the Attorney
General.
"The Minister also spoke about
the ease of doing business. You'll know that The Bahamas is rated number
77 in terms of 'ease of doing business' and people see us doing this
kind of thing. They recognise that the Government is very serious, whether
you are a Bahamian or a non-Bahamian investor, about making it easy
to do business in our country. These are all things that, one by one,
two by two, add up and our Prime Minister is working hard and is insidious;
he works tirelessly to make sure that our people feel the impact of
Government, a supportive Government and that the world sees The Bahamas
is a world class place in which to do business."
Attorney General Gibson stated that
all of the Registrar General's services can and will be provided by
Family Island Administrators. She said they want to be sure that the
step by step process is followed, that it is working effectively, and
that proper training and technical support for the Internet services
are provided for the Local Government Administrators as well. Eventually,
she said the Registrar General's project is expected to evolve into
offering documentation services for conveyances and mortgages, so more
lawyers and attorneys can provide services in the Family Islands.
"All I do want to say that the
Minister responsible has been made aware. He does recognise that it
is important and that the possibility of it, so I'm quite confident
that right now as we speak, he's investigating what would it take to
bring it down; how long would we have to keep it here in Eleuthera to
provide for those children who want to travel with their parents and
that kind of thing," said AG Gibson.
"I'm quite sure that he recognises
as well that once you bring it to Eleuthera now, the other Family Islanders
are going to say 'we want you to bring it here, too'. So, I'm sure he
is embarking on that whole investigative exercise and I feel fairly
confident that it will in short order happen in place where you can
get your certified copies of birth certificates because that's a key
part of getting a passport."
Permanent Secretary Archie Nairn
added that this is the time of year when there is a great demand for
passports and for people travelling, as it relates to vacation time.
"How convenient is this? Isn't
it wonderful that people right here in Governor's Harbour would be able
to come in to the Administrator's Office, who now has the authority
to certify these documents in law and receive that document, which is
a requisite for the package that you submit to the passport office.
It's a wonderful thing and we are on a good path," said PS Nairn.