Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein says the recent increase in birth and death registration fees is due to the rising costs of producing secure certificates.
According to a Newsday report, he added that despite the price hike, the Government is still subsidizing the certificates to balance costs and ease “the burden to the population”.
A legal Notice was published on Christmas Day, amending the Births and Deaths Registration Act, where late registration for a child born more than three months but less than a year will cost $40.
For children over one year old, registration will require written approval from the Registrar General and will cost $100 at the Registrar’s office, or $150 at the Superintendent Registrar’s office.
A birth declaration made in a different district will cost $20, and correcting an error in the register will cost $30.
Meanwhile, speaking on the new Bedside Registration Program, Minister Hosein said it simplifies birth registration by using smart tablets, allowing parents to get a birth certificate within half an hour.
He explained that this digital process eliminates the need for cot cards and lets parents apply online, with the first certificate issued for free and delivered by TT-Post.
