Residents of Koro Island can now obtain birth, death, and marriage certificates locally, thanks to the newly opened registry at the Nasau Post Office. The Births, Deaths, and Marriages (BDM) registry was inaugurated by Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga, marking the first such facility in Fiji’s maritime region and enhancing the Ministry’s outreach to support those living in remote areas.
Minister Turaga emphasized that the new registry enables locals to print their own documents without needing to travel to Suva, which is often a significant burden. He expressed concern for the iTaukei community residing in isolated regions lacking access to essential documents.
Deputy Registrar General Viliame Kubunameca pointed out that remote areas, including maritime regions and highlands, have the highest rates of unregistered births, deaths, and marriages, primarily due to economic challenges and geographic barriers.
Lavenia Vue, the first individual to print her birth certificate at the new facility, described the experience as significant. She shared that traveling to Suva is infrequent and requires saving money, making the new local registry a vital resource for island residents, especially for those who have yet to register their children’s births.