FOR the first time, marriage and birth registrations are being conducted in the highlands of Navosa.
This service by the district officers was previously only available in Sigatoka Town.
As of last week, district officer Navosa Atunaisa Keve conducted and registered two marriages at Draubuta Village.
"Gone are the days when villagers must come to the towns or cities for this kind of services," said Mr Keve after the marriages.
"In the past this kind of service required the couple to personally present themselves at the Registrar of Marriage offices in Suva or Lautoka or any nearest DOs' office to be legally registered.
"We are trying to come up with an integrated approach set by the government for all services to be provided in remote and rural areas.
"Nowadays there are many couples that have been residing together in villages for years who are yet to be legally married because of the transportation difficulties and issues with meeting the requirements for marriage registration.
"We are now bringing this service to their door- steps to make things easy for them."
Mr Keve said he had conducted 12 marriages and registrations so far this year in the interior of Navosa.
"I have also registered new births, something that hasn't been practised in the villages but only in urban areas or government authorised offices."
"This service is also being made available to assist the villages by saving them money as they don't have to travel to town anymore," he said.
Mr Keve said the registration of births and marriages would enable people to have some sort of identification especially for important events like electronic voter registration.