After yesterday's big publicity launch of the Civil Registry and Vital Statistics System, the public was expecting smooth sailing at the VSU office today. But, instead they encountered a system that wasn't working, across the board price increases, and the usual paper processes which led to an angry public and fed up document agents. Jomarie Lanza spoke with them today outside the department. Her story begins with the promise of the new systems and then looks at the reality:
The launch of yesterday's civil registry and vital statistics system promised a high performance service oriented platform that would surely make life easier for all those both working and applying for documents at the department.
Anthony Sylvester, Attorney General
"This digital transformation calls for continued refinement, vigilant maintenance and ongoing enhancement as we ensure that the system remains secure, efficient and responsive to the needs of the public. The Vital statistic Unit plays a central role in safeguarding some of the most important records in a person's life. With this new platform the unit is now better positioned to uphold accuracy, promote data integrity and deliver services in a timely and reliable manner. The commitment of the unit staff who have embraced new processes, new technology and new standards have been essential to this progress and their dedication will continue to be vital in the months and years ahead."
But we were called early this morning to the CB Hyde Building, where the Vital Stats Unit is headquartered. We met disgruntled users, most of them document agents who make a living by assisting persons to get their personal documents. They say that the system isn't working for them, and it affects the way they now have to do business. Their concerns ranged from price increases in services to even added info that is needed in order to process a document
Tracy Garbutt, Document Agent
"I come apply for a client of mine from PG that can't make it out here and needs this express for tomorrow, express was raised to $50, it is not $30 no more. One day is $30 and two weeks is $10, when it used to be express for $30 and one day for $15 and 2 weeks for $4. You see the big change that has been made you understand? And these are the things we have to go through I don't want the people names to show but we have to give their full address, date of birth, entry number, where the person is born, if they were born in a hospital or midwife you have to give that also and we have to give the address of that person that is on the birth paper sometimes we don't have all that information but the system has all that information. We don't but then what do we have to do? We have to give our name, my address my phone number and my date of birth and where we will do the pick up. So these are the things we have to go through as an agent in Belize."
Jo- So they added more things
Tracy Garbutt, Document Agent
"Yes and the price was raised."
Esmeralda Morales, Document Agent
"The thing is, why it is not working is because of the lot of information that they need, they are asking the client, the person we apply for ID we don't come with that we don't bring it or ask them for that we just ask for their information, and now they are asking for the persons ID in which me for instance I came to apply for next day, for newborn. How can a new born baby have a social security card or an ID when they don't have a birth paper? So that leaves me, I can't apply because I can't apply for a birth paper for a baby which does not have an ID because they need an ID to go to social to get an ID. And then the next thing we have a late death, they are asking for the late death social security card or an ID to do the registration for a late death they want an ID but we need the birth paper to do the registration and the person don't have an ID the person doesn't have a birth paper so what is there for us to use? We are asking to see the boss Ms Burgos but we are here from, I am here from before 8, some are here from 6:00 and we are not getting anywhere, the system went down because when you give the information and you don't have enough information it kicks you out and you can't go forward to apply."
George Avilez, Document Agent
"My situation is that I went in there this morning to check and to see if certain documents are in the system. When I was checking, the young lady told me at the desk that you cannot check the system anymore. The system does not allow you to do so. You have to go and apply for it and pay the money at the cashier. So you will get back a response If it is in there you understand, but this is wrong because you already paid your money you won't get back your money if it is not in the system. So I find that unfair."
Jo- So have you tried to access it through your phone have you tried the online?
George Avilez, Document Agent
"No, the thing is it's not working, not even their system is working, they tried it this morning and it is not working so they had to shut down the system and try it back the old way."
And it is still not working?
George Avilez, Document Agent
"Still not working."
The Attorney General has promised to respond tomorrow.
We'll have that interview for you in tomorrow's news.
