THE Registrar General’s Department (RGD) said it had apologised, on June 14, 2018, to Suffragan Bishop of Kingston Robert Thompson for the inconvenience caused by the retention of his marriage register.

According to a release yesterday commenting on the issue concerning the bishop, the RGD said it, however, reminded him of the importance of completing the update form and of the need for him to receive a marriage officer’s stamp and identification.

The bishop, according to the RGD, on July 18, 2018, four days after the apology, indicated in writing his intention to immediately withdraw his services as a marriage officer.

“We are saddened by the decision that he has taken and are willing to accommodate him should he decide to reconsider, as this would be in the interest of Jamaica on the whole and his congregants in particular,” the RGD said in its release.

The release said Bishop Thompson had visited the RGD’s head office on May 28, 2018 in Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, to submit the marriage register for a wedding that he officiated on Saturday, May 26, 2018. It said that on submission of the registers, the database for marriage officers was routinely checked and it was discovered that the bishop’s profile had not been updated as his last wedding was conducted approximately a year ago.

Said the release: “The RGD maintains a database with the marriage officers which consists of information such as their names, addresses, gender, cell numbers, e-mail addresses, signatures, the marriage officer’s church and denomination. The database is updated by the manual completion of a form titled ‘Registrar General’s Department Marriage Officer/Civil Registrar Information Update Form, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Update Form’. Marriage Officers/Civil Registrar are allowed to take the form and complete same at their own convenience.”

It said completion of this form is mandatory for two reasons — updating of the profile of each marriage officer and compliance with legislation.

The Marriage Act at Section 10, said the RGD, stipulates that all ministers of religion who apply to become marriage officers must provide details of the church or churches over which they have superintendence. “This information also forms an integral part of the record which RGD possesses for each marriage officer. Sections 11, 14 and 15 also stipulate that any changes or cessation in church superintendence must be reported to the RGD failure of which, the RGD shall recommend de-gazetting of any officer in breach.

“It is noteworthy that not all ministers of religion are marriage officers. The RGD is, therefore, seeking to ensure that all current marriage officers are in receipt of a marriage officer’s stamp and identification card. A stamped record assists the agency in clearly identifying the marriage officer who registered the marriage. The marriage officer’s identification aids in the proper identification of these officers at our locations and by members of the public. The cost of the ID is currently $1,500 and the stamp is $3,500.