District Registrars get ex-gratia awards

The Ministry’s permanent secretary Christine Sookram, told the gathering the remuneration given before to the District Registrars was inadequate and not at all reflective of their hard work and dedication to the country.

The Ministry subsequently held talks with the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and made several recommendations to Cabinet to significantly enhance the existing package resulting in the approval of:

* Ex-gratia payments to be made to District Registrars for their service up to January 31, including those who retired or resigned on or after January 1, 1998 and to the estate of district registrars who died after that date.

* District Registrars to receive increases to their basic quarterly allowance of $675. and to the allowance for the use of their premises to $137.50. These retroactive increases in allowances are to cover the period January 1, 1998 to January 31, 2006. Monies owing to deceased Registrars will be paid to their estates or legal heirs.

* District registrars have been offered 3-year contract positions and effective February 1, 2006 they have been employed on contract with the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

* Contract positions of deputy district registrars and registration clerks have also been created.

Sookram said all this has been done to enable a more efficient service process provided by district registrars to citizens at the nation’s hospitals. Also, with the introduction of technological upgrades in the form of a fully automated system, the registration process will be much easier and less time consuming.

Among the recipients of ex-gratia awards was Francilia Nurse, the longest serving Registrar based in Mt Hope. Nurse, who turned 85 last Sunday, has given 50 years of service to the country.

Other awardees were Aloma Ramdeen of the Central POS district, Lou Ann Reynolds of Southern/Northern San Fernando, Marjorie Bidaisee at the Town of Sangre Grande, Nancy Sinkia at North-East POS, Faye Thompson at North West POS, Jean Tokhai at Cunupia West/Caroni, Yvonne Leladharsingh at St James, POS, Carole Smythe at Chaguanas North/South, Dave Williams at 2nd District, Diego Martin, Gail Rodulfo at Princes Town and Edna Andrews of Upper Couva in the Couva Ward.