Free birth certificates for inner-city residents

THE MINISTRY of Labour and Social Security has collaborated with the Regis-trar General's Department (RGD) in a community initiative to deliver birth certificates to residents of west Kingston.

In a release on Tuesday, the ministry indicated that 100 residents have already received the important document.

Some 466 residents of Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town, Hannah Town and Fletcher's Land are to receive birth certificates under the initiative.

These four inner-city communities were primarily affected by the police/military incursion in May last year.

Minister of State in the ministry, Andrew Gallimore, disclosed that the ministry had paid more than $359,000 for the birth certificates, as the residents were unable to pay for the service.

Incursion anniversary

One hundred and sixty-nine applications were received from Denham Town; 137 from Fletcher's Land; 113 from Tivoli Gardens and 47 from Hannah Town.

The ministry said the community outreach comes as the anniversary of the security forces' incursion approaches, and as the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) continues to partner with key governmental agencies to deliver social services and other assistance to residents.

"The ministry had initiated 'PATH Days' in the four communities, to bring residents into direct, one-on-one contact with service providers, including the Tax Registration Number Office, National Insurance Scheme, Steps-To-Work, National Council for Senior Citizens, National Youth Service, Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities and the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning," the release said.