ASJA wants Muslim death registrar

ASJA public relations officer Haji Kamal Hosein said this was a grave problem within the Muslim community and should be addressed quickly to repair the apparent imbalance that presently exists.

Hosein said it was distressing to Muslims whose religious practices involve same day burial of their dead, pending receipt of a death certificate. He said if a death certificate is prepared by a doctor or medical practitioner from the Mt Hope or Port-of-Spain hospitals, this would make it difficult to keep with burial traditions, since the registration would not be permitted until the next Monday of the following week.

ASJA is demanding that the Registrar General consider appointing two Muslim Registrar of Deaths in the East/West corridor and in San Fernando. Hosein said these areas are mostly affected by this problem and having these appointments would aid in having a Muslim registrar available seven days a week without any restrictions.

Hosein indicated the registrar general is not aware of their plight and ASJA intends to send an official written petition to Francois.

Efforts by Newsday to get a comment from the Registrar General yesterday proved futile.