TALKBACK
Why was my child disrespected?
My son, Brandon Phillips, is 9 years of age. He was delivered by a Caesarean section October 26, 1993 at the Nuttall Memorial Hospital. From the day I discovered that I was pregnant my baby was named, if it was a boy, I’d name him Brandon Charles and if it was a girl, Tiffany Marie. Being a first timer in this area I would not be privy to the birth registration procedures of the hospital and naturally would look to the hospital for guidance. The evening (9:30 p.m.) Brandon was born he was tagged Baby Codling (my surname); I inquired and was told that the child is identified by the mother’s surname so if I were married named Phillips the baby would be duly tagged as such.
Not a problem, after all they would not know what my son’s name was at that stage (delivery).
After being in the hospital for 3 days, the procedure was to give me a document completed by the hospital to take to Kew Road to have my son registered. At no time was I asked what was the baby’s name even though I had been using his name from the moment I set my eyes on him. I asked if this was the procedure, I was told that when I go to Kew Road I would give the following info:
. Baby’s name (all other information for the baby is included in the document form)
. Mothers name and occupation
. Address
. Marital status
. Mother’s date of birth
. Father’s name and occupation
. Address
. Father’s date of birth
. Marital status
As a result my son’s birth certificate referred me to line 26 at the bottom for his name. His name was not inserted in the line at the top that says
Child’s name: _________________
When I inquired I was told that the baby was not named at birth but at registration! and that’s how the system works!!! That’s a load of crap and it is unacceptable!!! and we need to unite as mothers to have this situation nipped in the bud and rectified.
It seems that as hardworking taxpayers we have no rights, only the right to pay taxes to the government. The government is obligated to us the people and should answer to us as stakeholders in this country. We voted, so that the country would be governed to benefit the people and not the other way around.
I’m saddened that other parents had to experience this disrespect of their newborn at such an early stage. A name is the first thing that defines our children and if this is demolished the infant stage in their lives then we are setting out to belittle them, ridding our new generation of confident individuals.
Yes, as parents let us unite and make our voices heard.
Lorraine Codling
Financial Analyst
‘I share your pain’
Dear All Woman,
I read your article in your paper and it brought back all the bad memories and pain that I had experienced.
My daughter, Monique, was born at the Nuttall Hospital, on 11th December 2001, and I was given instructions similar to yours relating to the ‘form D’ which have caused my Monique and your Tor having the same name ‘See Line 26’.
Since you have raised the concern, I have heard a lot of controversy, but I don’t believe that the RGD is in any haste to alleviate our pains, because frankly I don’t think they care.
I am willing to join your struggle to get a resolution to our plight.
What’s all
the fuss about?
This is in response to the article about the parent who is traumatised by the fact that her child’s name appears at the bottom of the birth certificate. My child’s name was added after we left the hospital and his name appears on line 27. I personally do not see what this big furore is all about. What was important to me is that my child was born in wedlock and both his parents’ names appear on his birth certificate. It has not stopped him from getting a Jamaican passport and a British passport or travelling anywhere in the world for that matter.
To each his own, but I still think it is ‘much ado about nothing.’ There are greater problems in this country than where a name appears on a birth certificate.
Janice Johnson
