Mar 16 - "Tell Us Once" Initiative to Ease Death Registry Process
In an effort to simplify the unpleasant procedure of registering the death of a family member the Government today launched, with the help of the Senior Citizens Association, the ‘Tell Us Once’ Scheme, which will require individuals to be able to register a death and a birth in one visit, to one Government Department.
The Chief Minister described the new office as ‘an environment which is not just a counter at which people stand. It’s an environment of small offices where people can have privacy and they can have personal attention.’ The staff hails from the Civil Service and Registration Office, with the new office found just across the Garden of Sir Joshua Hassan House.
Mr. Picardo insisted that this was a huge step forward in the way the Government deals with the registration of death, which currently involves notifying a host of Government Departments including Social Security, the Treasury, Housing, AquaGib, Gibtelecom & GibElec. Under the new system, all relevant departments will be informed automatically.
As from today, those having to register a death must collect a form and fill it in, call for an appointment with the office and then bring in a valid photo ID, the relevant form, and the deceased person’s passport.
Death registration must be made within eight days of the day of death. Those wishing to register a birth and collect their child’s passport will need to supply the office with one of the parent’s British passports, the child’s birth certificate and two photos of the child.
The Chairman of the Senior Citizens Association, Manolo Ruiz, thanked the Government and the departmental staff on the launch of the Office, this morning.
