Dear Editor,

Protecting the integrity and credibility of our documents has been and remains a core focus of the Registrar General’s Department (RGD). As a result, the RGD continues to implement strategies to mitigate the demand for and need to obtain civil documents through falsified channels.

One of the main threats linked to this network is the issue of identity theft, whereby an individual and/or individuals obtain and assume the identity of another in order to secure some form of benefit or resource.

Identity theft is a criminal offence and the RGD wants the public to understand that there are major implications for any person who falsifies, destroys, presents, or creates a false certificate.

The RGD understands and takes into consideration the fact that there are instances in which individuals do not know that the documents they possess are not authentic. As a result, the agency has developed peripheral services to assist these people. To tackle the challenge of identity theft the RGD created an Authentication, Verification and Identity Department (AVID), which conducts record updating activities and provides the service of verification of supporting documents and vital records.

The personal responsibilities of individuals are to ensure they go through the proper channels to obtain documents. Individuals who are uncertain as to whether their birth has been legitimately registered are being encouraged to contact the RGD for guidance. Evidence indicates that there are some people who have never been registered and have retreated from going through the process to secure a birth certificate but instead acquire a fraudulent copy.

Businesses are encouraged to use the RGD online certificate verification services. This provides real time verification of certificates.

The RGD has mitigated instances of fraudulently amended vital documents through public education and stakeholders’ seminars to create greater awareness. The agency continues to do a number of community outreach activities islandwide as well as engage in periodic briefing sessions with other agencies such as Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) and embassies on how to identify civil documents that has been falsified.

Customers who have had their documents confiscated due to fraudulent amendments are subsequently guided to completing the late registration process.

Registrar General’s Department

www.rgd.gov.jm