• The year 1998/1999 was a significant one, because it signified the eve of two important milestones for the Registrar General's Department-
• April 1, 1999 the Department assumed Executive Agency status
• The Department celebrated 120 years of service

The year 1998/1999 was dubbed the year of transition. All efforts were focused exclusively on the goals and objectives which facilitated the achievement of Executive Agency status. The Executive Agency Status was introduced to ensure optimal improvement in customer service. As an Executive Agency, the RGD has the opportunity, through increased autonomy, to further improve the quality and increase levels of service, adjust fees and prices so that they accurately reflect the Department's costs in so doing ensure that revenues are adequate.   

Customer Care and Service Improvement

• In recognition of the need to make the Department more efficient and effective, a toll-free number 1-888-RGD CARE and a Voice Messaging/Automated Attendant telephone system were introduced during the year
• 85% of customer complaints were satisfied
• 80,000 Express Service applications were processed, of this amount some 72,000 representing 90% were satisfied

Genealogical and Historical Searches

Regional Offices

• During the year the Department rented two buildings from which to operate regional offices in St. James and Manchester
• On July 1, 1998, the Western Regional Office opened its doors at 20 Market Streetin Montego Bay, St. James
• On December 15, 1998 the second regional office-Southern Regional Office opened in Mandeville at the Post Office Building, South Race Course Road
• Three computers were given to the RGD by the Department for International Development (DFID), Britain, for operations of RGD's Western Regional Office, DFID is the agency responsible for the first cluster of the four Government departments in the transition stage towards becoming an Executive Agency

Human Resource

• In June 1998, the Department organised a one-day, off-site staff retreat aimed at sensitising the staff to the myriad of changes which would have fundamental effect on each individual. The staff used this forum to exchange thoughts with management
• The Department with the assistance of KPMG produced a Human Resource Policies and Procedures manual. The final document was published on December 1, 1998
• In 1998/1999, the staff compliment increased by 9 persons to 204, two less than the required total staff compliment needed to man the Department
• Marriage Officers appointed during the year participated in a seminar where they were trained in the operation of their duties as marriage officers
• Training
• The Department provided a forum for on-site training for students of the HEART programme. Two of the five students were employed temporarily as of March 1, 1999
• Fifty students from other institutions in the Corporate Area, Portmore and Spanish Town took the opportunity to gain invaluable practical work experience at the RGD

Long Service Awards

• Five members of staff received Long Service awards for over twenty-five years of unbroken service to their country

  Communications/Community Outreach

• In 1998/1999 over 100 community meetings were conducted across the Island with lay magistrates, teachers, medical students and nurses, church organisations and varied professionals some of whom were members of various social clubs.
• RGD And You
•  The Flagship Public Education tool, a three minute dramatised radio programme, RGD and You was aired weekly on three national radio stations. The programmes are written, presented and produced by permanent staff memebers of the Department. The content of the programmes features the solutions to common issues or problems as experienced by customers
• Open Day for Fathers:A week of activities aimed at informing fathers about the processes involved in adding their particulars to their children's birth record was conducted. While 35% of the unmarried fathers are present on birth registration, during 1998/1999 the Department sought to increase that level to 70%.
• Overseas Outreach
• In its efforts to raise the standards of service meted out to Jamaican residents overseas, a delegation led by the CEO, MRS. Holness visited Florida to address concerns and queries as they relate to obtaining birth, death and marriage certificates and to provide information on services offered by the RGD.
• The public eductaion programme was facilitated by interview segments on many radio stations. major support was received from WAVS 1170 AM radio programme, "On Line"