Minister for National Security Rayburn Blackmoore says Dominicans living outside Roseau should not have to travel to the capital simply to obtain basic official documents such as birth certificates.
Blackmoore said the Government is assessing the possibility of decentralizing additional public services and taking them closer to residents in communities around the island. He argued that the cost and inconvenience of travelling to Roseau can place an unnecessary burden on people who need routine documents.
“I do not believe in 2026 people should have to come to the city just to pick up a birth certificate,” he said.
The minister pointed to residents of communities such as La Plaine, Castle Bruce and surrounding districts, noting that transportation expenses can sometimes exceed the actual charge for the document being collected.
Blackmoore said the issuance of driver’s licences in Portsmouth has shown how decentralization can improve access and reduce the need for long journeys. According to him, more than 800 people received their licence cards in Portsmouth during the first two months of the service.
Those residents would previously have travelled from communities across the north and west, passing several villages before reaching Roseau. He said bringing the service closer to them also makes people more likely to renew their licences and less likely to continue driving without valid documentation.
The minister suggested that the Portsmouth arrangement could serve as a template for the delivery of other certificates and government documents outside the capital.
His comments came as the Civil Registry confirmed that the issuance of birth certificates has been fully restored following difficulties experienced earlier this year. Acting Registrar of the High Court and Civil Registry Nuraiyah Sebastian said the introduction of free birth certificates in April led to a sharp increase in applications and contributed to a shortage of certificates for printing.
Sebastian said the supply issue has since been corrected, although registry staff are still processing a backlog while also handling new applications.
The proposed decentralization would allow more residents to access essential services closer to home while reducing travel costs, congestion and delays associated with obtaining documents in Roseau.
This article is copyright © 2026 DOM767