THE EDITOR, Madam:
I HAVE just finished reading a letter to you written by 'a very frustrated applicant' in the July 3 edition of The Gleaner. I must add my bit of disappointment and frustration, to say the least, concerning the Registrar General's Department.
Like the 'frustrated applicant', I too have been given the run-around concerning an 'express application'.
On the July 20, 1999, I applied, express route, for a death certificate. After waiting for nearly half-a-day, having reached there at 6:30 a.m., I enquired as to the long wait and was told that the certificate was at the old office and I would be contacted as soon as it was found. I paid another visit in October, 1999, and still no luck. Card No. 6376, dated 20/7/99 - Customer Service Rep. #A6.
I paid another visit to the office on the June 7, 2000, and applied a second time for the same death certificate, Card No. 80740, Customer Service Rep. #A5. I was told the same thing as before. I did have words with the Customer Service Supervisor who promised to deal with same and contact me.
I have heard nothing to this day. I have made several calls pertaining to same and like the 'frustrated applicant', I was put on hold for more than half an hour, only to be told in the end that there was a staff meeting in progress and I would have to call back. I have called back and requested to speak with Representative A5. I was again put on hold. No one came to speak to me so after another long wait, I hung up.
I am still back at the stage I started, that is, waiting for a death certificate which is 'urgently needed' to settle a matter with the lawyers. The days are ticking away and there seems to be no progress in sight.
Questions: Was not the Registrar General's Office 'removed' to its new location? How then, are applicants being told that documents are still at the old site? If the above hold true, why then are not workers placed there to carry out the search?
It would be wise to inform the general public of the date of records being dealt with at the 'new' office as against those still at the 'old' office.
Come, Mrs. Holness, please wheel and come again!
I am, etc.,
EULITT LAMPART
St. Peter's Court
2 Caledonia Avenue,
Kingston 5
