Jamaica will host the Inaugural Caribbean Civil Registration and Identity Management Conference under the theme “Civil Registration and Identity Management – A Post Development Imperative” from July 6-8, 2016 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, in St. James.
Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton congratulated the Registrar General’s Department for taking the lead to host this significant conference during the official media launch held on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.
“Let me commend the Registrar General’s Department for taking this bold step to further integrate the work of Caribbean nations in the area of civil registration and identity management. This is important as it will encourage the sharing of best practices for civil registration and national identification across the Caribbean sub-region; both in terms of high-level strategic policies as well as operational practices.” Dr. Tufton said.
Minister Tufton also reiterated that information from the civil registration and identity management systems provide governments with information needed to devise relevant legislation and policies for the improvement of the quality of life for all citizens and therefore must be treated as a priority.
This high-level conference brings together participants from over 30 countries with key objectives to draft a resolution for the establishment of the Caribbean Network of Civil Registrars with Secretariat in CARICOM and to develop recommendations for national and regional Civil Registration and Identity Management policies.
Participants will include heads of all Caribbean Registrars, Government stakeholders from the Ministries of Health, Education, National Security and Justice, the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Vital Statistics Commission, Embassies and Consulates located in Jamaica. There will also be participation from private stakeholders from the financial sector.
Civil registration, certification, and identification such as birth registration, death certification, and marriage certification grant citizens access to critical social, health, financial and other related benefits and contribute significantly to overall well-being. In addition to government-related facilities, most private sector entities, such as banks, private medical facilities, and others require certification of vital events for a range of transactions.
For more information on the Caribbean Civil Registration and Identity Management Conference kindly contact the Registrar General’s Department at 619-1260 or 749-0550 or web site at www.rgd.gov.jm.