Riversdale community group brings RGD to residents
Published:Saturday | March 30, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer
RIVERSDALE , St Catherine:
ONE OF the most sought-after agencies at the recent Riversdale Community Development Committee's (CDC) outreach fair was the Registrar General's Department (RGD).
The event, held at the Riversdale community centre, was one of the activities hosted by the CDC to celebrate Riversdale Week, March 17 to 23.
"It's very important to take an agency like the RGD into Riversdale, because persons from time to time find it difficult, especially persons who are not working, to find the fare to go to Spanish Town to do what they have to do," explained Reverend Doreen Merchant, president, Riversdale CDC.
In fact, persons who attended the fair were able to access all the in-house services that the agency offers.
"We are here offering our various services - ordinary service, which is six to eight weeks - is for $850; seven working days for $1,350; and the express service, in two days," said Beulah Lee Thomas, RGD parish officer, St Catherine division.
Provisions were also made for persons who were unable to provide birth entry numbers.
"We do an electronic search and it only costs $100. As long as we capture the entry number, we go ahead and make the application for the birth certificate," she said.
Likewise, late entry of names and correction of errors and status were facilitated.
"Late entry of name is adding the child's name to a record. Maybe the child was not named at the time of registration and one year has passed. The name can be added by the process of late entry of name," explained Lee Thomas.
THANKFUL
Havarine Edwards was grateful that she didn't have to journey to the Old Capital to access the service.
"I wanted to get two new copies of my son's birth certificate and was really glad when I heard that the service would have been offered here today and I did not have to go to Spanish Town, because it saves time," she said.
The money Jacqueline Bailey earns from being a part-time vendor is never enough to take care of her family. She was happy that representatives from the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) were on hand to conduct registration.
"I came here to register my son, who is 15 years old, and my granddaughter, who is four years old, on the PATH programme. I need help with them because is only now and then I work," she said.
The presence of representatives from the Tax Administration of Jamaica was also welcomed, especially by those who did not have their tax registration numbers.
Meanwhile, several residents discovered that self-employed persons can contribute to the National Insurance Scheme.
Eye screening was also conducted by the Foundation for International Self Help Development medical clinic.
According to Merchant, one of the primary objectives of the outreach fair was to share information with members of the rural farming community.
Over the past 10 years, the CDC has been at the forefront of several community development projects.
It was through its collaboration with Gregory Mair, member of parliament for North East St Catherine, that the old market house was transformed into a community centre with a grant of $4 million from the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education Fund.