In an effort to assist Jamaicans aged 60 years and older whose surname is not on their birth record, the Registrar General's Department (RGD) will tomorrow host a special Late Entry of Name (LEN) Day.

Tomorrow, all offices of the RGD will be giving special assistance to senior citizens who were advised to do a LEN, and still have not completed the process.

"The RGD is aware that a number of our senior citizens have found it difficult to satisfy the requirements for the LEN process," the department said in a release yesterday. "In light of this, arrangement has been made to assist them in completing the application form. Additionally, justices of the peace will be at all RGD locations islandwide to give assistance in certifying the forms and supporting documents."

Documents such as utility bills, land titles and photographic identification can be used as evidence of the use of surname and should be taken to the RGD tomorrow.

The RGD noted it does not produce certificates without a surname being present on the birth record.

"This mainly affects persons who were born before the 1950s, as children born outside of wedlock during that period were not registered with a surname," the RGD said. "A number of senior citizens without a birth certificate are unable to access social services."

The RGD said it was aware that although no surname was on the birth record, individuals would have been using a surname during their daily transactions. Thus, the LEN service which requires proof of the use of the name is in place to facilitate the process of adding the surname to the record.

The RGD said it would also use internal evidence such as copies of a child's birth certificate or the individual's marriage certificate to assist in effecting the process.

Application forms for a LEN can be obtained at any of the RGD offices located islandwide or the RGD's website at www.rgd.gov.jm.