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)
Eleuthera, 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.
