In response to mounting concerns over who can be issued a Guyanese birth certificate, the Registrar General Raymon Cummings has confirmed that persons who are of Guyanese parentage can apply for a certificate of birth.
Cummings explained that within the last several months, there has been a significant increase in overseas applications for Guyanese birth certificates. He acknowledged however that this has raised concern among the Guyanese population.
In 2022, GRO processed 2,132 overseas registrations, indicating a significant increase when compared to 2020 and 2021. The majority of applications are coming from the United States of America, the United Kingdom and countries from around the Caribbean.
“These are children who are born to parents who were born in Guyana. So, if one of your parents is born in Guyana, our constitution allows you to be registered as an overseas-born Guyanese. So, you can literally apply and get a Guyanese birth certificate, a Guyanese by descent you call it,” he explained.
Just recently, a Facebook post about a Trinidadian national being in possession of a Guyanese birth certificate caused a massive public discussion on social media. Cummings however made it clear that information provided by persons applying for the certificate is carefully examined.
“We vet information that persons present to make sure they are presenting authentic information… It is obvious that the successes that are being achieved in Guyana are resonating around the world …People are recognising that there is a benefit to being a Guyanese,” Cummings underscored.
The GRO, an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) is responsible for issuing births, deaths and marriage certificates to all Guyanese, including those who migrate.
