A 67-year-old man has received his birth certificate for the first time after travelling from Lakeba to Suva, highlighting the importance of strengthening Fiji’s civil registration system.
Assistant Minister for Justice Ratu Josaia Niudamu revealed the case in Parliament while outlining improvements to the Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) Registry.
He said Mr Isiki Temo, who had lived his entire life without a birth certificate, recently visited the BDM office to complete his registration.
According to Niudamu, the milestone now allows Temo to access important government services that previously remained out of reach.
“With his new birth certificate, he is now able to access essential services, including registering for social welfare assistance,” Niudamu told Parliament.
The Assistant Minister said the case reflects the ongoing efforts by the BDM Registry to strengthen Fiji’s civil registration and vital statistics system.
He noted that the registry has been working closely with partner agencies to ensure that every Fijian is properly registered and recognised from birth.
