One of Anguilla’s proud accomplishments, in the long journey of judicial reform, is the launch of the first phase of the modernisation of the Civil Registry. It is an initiative to computerise births, deaths, marriages and adoption records – an undertaking that touches the lives of every inhabitant and brings into sharp focus the marvels of the computer.
The move has been more than a decade in the making and is now being brought to a successful conclusion under the able direction of Ms. Ivenia Benjamin, Head of the Judicial Department, Registrar General and Senior Magistrate, assisted by a small hard-working team. The Anguilla Social Security Board has been of much assistance in terms of providing funding to hire three young persons to assist with the work.
The computerisation of the island’s vital statistics systems was formally launched on Friday, June 8, 2018 in the Magistrate’s Court. The opening ceremony was chaired by Magistrate Keithly Benjamin.
“Today, we are in the process of modernising our civil registry and vital statistics to catch up with some of our Caribbean islands and the rest of the developed world,” Senior Magistrate, Ms. Ivenia Benjamin, told the large and appreciative number of invited guests who filled the small courtroom to capacity.
“The main aim behind our computerisation effort is to modernise the creation and maintenance of the Civil Registry. The Registry is therefore seeking to expand the means of creating and maintaining data to include the production of registers in the form of computer database in addition to the documentary form.
“This means that the information is entered into the computer and maintained electronically – and upon request a birth, death, marriage or adoption certificate will be issued electronically. Where we are today was by no means a fly-by-night achievement. This has been more than ten years in the making. If we can speak about this process with any measure of clarity or depth [it] is because we have had the time to understand what it means, what it represents and changes and advantages that it will bring to Anguilla.”
The Senior Magistrate stated that the process required legislative reform. She was grateful to Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks, for personally pushing through the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Act through the House of Assembly when there were other pressing matters on the legislative agenda. She was also grateful to Governor Tim Foy, OBE, for fully supporting the amended draft legislation and taking it to Executive Council for approval.
Speaker after speaker extolled the work of the Judicial Department in transforming the civil records from hand-written register brooks, which had to be rewritten over the years, to the new automated system.
Governor Foy, who declared the formal launch of the computerised Civil Registry and its Website, said three things in particular. The first was to genuinely commend the Senior Magistrate for recognising the importance of the modernisation process; the integrity of the system; and determining the right thing to do – computerising the Civil Registry. The second matter was to advise other persons what can be achieved in the public service and the need to emulate the example of the Senior Magistrate. And, thirdly, to thank all those who attended and supported the launch of the new Civil Registry system.
Acting Chief Minister, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, delivered an address prepared by Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks, who was in London on official business. “The fact that today will serve as the official cut-off date for the issuing of hand-written certificates marks the advancement of the Registry into the digital age,” he was quoted as saying. “Most importantly, it affords all citizens access to their vital statistics in an efficient and professional manner.”
His address continued: “This project has been a long time in coming because of the need to put enabling legislation in place and to secure the necessary funding and implementation. I must therefore commend the Senior Magistrate, Ms. Ivenia Benjamin, for her tenacity in guiding the process over such an extended period of time. This launch could not be achieved without the strong resolve to make it happen.”
Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Palmavon Webster, described the launch of the digitalised Civil Registry as “a phenomenal moment in our history” and “ten years of hard work.” She highly commended the Senior Magistrate for “her love, pushing, rolling and tumbling to get it done for our people.”
Attorney General, Mr. John McKendrick, commented: “Today is another day of success in Anguilla. One of the things I have enjoyed during my time in Anguilla is that when you have a successful moment, everybody gets together. Look at this packed courtroom. It is good to see so many friends and colleagues I haven’t seen for some time.”
He went on: “Senior Magistrate, and all members of the Judicial Department: You have my heartfelt congratulations on what is an outstanding success – the computerisation of records in Anguilla. The Senior Magistrate spoke to me some months ago and explained how important it was, and she told me: ‘I’ll be coming up those stairs, Attorney General, to make sure this happens’ and I said: ‘Don’t worry. We are going to get this done’. I salute the strength and endurance of the Senior Magistrate. It is one thing to have a vision of what might happen, but another to get your vision into reality and to ensure that actual change is made. This is important because we need to embrace technology – computerisation. I salute the Senior Magistrate and all the team at the Judicial Department. I also salute DITES (the Department of Information Technology e-Government Services).”
The President of the Anguilla Bar Association, Ms. Jean Dyer, also joined the commendations. She advised that despite the computerisation of the Civil Registry, errors could still occur but it would hopefully reduce the scope for such errors. She noted that computerisation was another way of ‘going green’, reducing the heavy reliance on paper, and added that speed and efficiency was another area by which the new system would impact the work of the Civil Registry.
The feature speaker was retired Judge, Mr. Don Mitchell, CBE, QC, who delivered a three-part history of the development of the Court and Judicial Department in Anguilla over the years.
Other participants in the programme were Magistrate Keithly Benjamin, who chaired the proceedings; Pastor Philip Gumbs, who delivered the opening prayer; Michael ‘Dumpa” Martin musical performance; the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School Choir; and Dr. O. M. Linda Banks and Mr. Marcel Fahie who recited poems.
Following the opening ceremony, Governor Foy presented Anguilla’s oldest centenarian, Mrs. Ursula Connor, with her digital birth certificate. She will be 105 years in August. Similar presentations were made to Ms. Esline Richardson and Mrs. Nadia Linton, two workers associated with the computerised Civil Registry.
