The Registrar General's Department (RGD) opened its ninth regional office recently in May Pen, Clarendon. The office is located at 12 Glenmuir Road and will be open from Mondays to Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer of the RGD, Dr. Patricia Holness, explained that May Pen was considered to be a viable location based on its demographics and accessibility.

Demand for service

"During the last outreach that we had in Clarendon, we collected over 400 applications, so there is a demand for our services and it is something that we have been watching over the years," she added.

Making the services more accessible to its customers, the RGD embarked on a decentralisation thrust since it became an executive agency in 1999 and has established regional offices in Kingston, Portland, St. Ann's Bay, Mandeville, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, Portmore, and Clarendon.

Dr. Holness noted that in general the establishment of regional offices in specific location proved beneficial, especially to older customers who would normally have challenges travelling long distances to access the services.

She assured that applicants using the new office would be able to access the same services offered at the head office in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine.

"They will be able to make birth, death and marriage applications, deed polls as well as genealogical research. We will also offer interviews for record updating activities such as Late Entry of Name, Correction of Error and Late Registration," the CEO noted.

The May Pen office will also facilitate the submission of documents for recording, such as bills of sale from the various financial institutions in the parish, as well as powers of attorney.

Dr. Holness further noted that persons who wished to get married would also be able to do so using the agency's popular registry wedding service.