And while the vital stats officer is the repository of the people's identity - it's also a business hub for the many agents who make their money by going through the hassle regular folks try to avoid. They make their money by obtaining documents - and are key stakeholders in the management of that officer.
Sylvestre says they will have to be certified in the future:
Anthony Sylvester, Attorney General
"As a government and a state, we appreciate that there are persons who's employment, they provide the service of assisting Belizeans, who may not have the time to actually come into the office physically as was the case and now obviously not everyone is text savvy. So being appreciative of that, what we have done is we still have provisions for agents. Those persons would have to be certified and they would have to receive certification. We have not reached the process yet where we will meet with them and engage with respect to that aspect, it has to be done. I did note that some agents had an issue yesterday with respect to some of the additional information they say is not necessary. The answer to that is very plain and simple. So as you may know these certificates, these are data These are personal data."
"They come to the office they make a representation that they are making this application on somebody's behalf. We have to ensure and be satisfied that when they come and ask for Marisol's Amaya's birth certificate that in fact such authorization and consent was given."
"So that is the reason for that additional information it is to safeguard and protect those persons whose data and information we store."
