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by pltm
(PLTM) - The Government is matching words with actions, by moving to the House of Assembly to amend the law which will enable couples to receive a marriage lenience the same day, as opposed to what applies now, where a marriage license takes a working day to process.
It will also allow for visitors to get married aboard cruise ships docked in the Territorial waters of the BVI.
Earlier this month, Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith, Premier and Minister with responsibility for Tourism, tabled the “Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2017". The proposed Bill was gazetted on August 10, where the objectives were outlined.
Accordingly, the bill seeks to amend section 36 of the principal Act, by reducing the residence requirement for marriages from one day to same day, in respect of special marriage license.
This proposed change comes five years after Government amended the law to allow persons to get married 24 hours after arriving in the BVI, as opposed to waiting three days.
The Bill also makes provision for the opening hours of the office of the Registrar General.
In 2014, the Government had promised that the Marriage Act will be updated with modern laws to improve the overall efficiency in the registration and celebration of marriages in the Territory. In particular, the amendment is geared to provide the right to the Registrar or any marriage officer to conduct marriages onboard a ship within the territorial waters of the Virgin Islands.
Government indicated that this change will facilitate new and additional services to the cruise tourism sector, and facilitate greater diversification of the tourist product, by further making the Territory more competitive, and promoting it as a prime wedding destination.
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