Dear Editor,
I have just returned from the GRO at the GPOC building feeling very frustrated and disgusted with the slothful behaviour of staff in processing requests for Birth Certificates. I applied for Birth Certificates for my wife and I and a Marriage Certificate six weeks ago and saw nothing come in the mail, so I decided to pay them a visit last week Thursday 31st March, 2016. I was told that the certificates are not ready yet. I was then directed by a staffer to see a Mr. Crawford, who asked me to give them a week more. Today the week is up and nothing yet. I need these certificates to conduct urgent business!
When I presented the slips to the staff there they told me that they had mailed out the Marriage Certificate yesterday morning but the two birth certificates were not ready yet, so I inquired when they would be ready. The answer was ‘they don’t know’.
Why do Guyanese have to endure this insult to intelligence on a daily basis? This GRO office is fully staffed and yet there exists these circumstances. What is there to be proud of in Guyana after fifty years? I noticed that the record keeping system is still manual and not computerized. Will this government leave that system in place or seek to improve the quality of service offered by the GRO without forcing the public to bribe them?
I am ashamed to call myself a Guyanese and only hope that I do not have to endure the nonsense that goes on here on a daily basis for too long. I am kindly asking that the relevant minister get involved and get that situation under control.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
