Passport problem solved

With reference to the letter "Applying for a Maltese Passport" (The Sunday Times, October 23), I wish to point out the following:

1. All Acts of Birth registered at the Public Registry since 1863 are recorded in the Public Registry Certificates Issuance System. It resulted however, that the Act of Birth of Mr Vella's father was inadvertently omitted during the initial inputting stage of the said records. This has now been rectified.

2. The Department is not in a position to explain why Mr Vella was unable to access the Department's Website www.certifikati.gov.mt . Normally, when we have a breakdown in the system, this is sorted out immediately or in the shortest time possible so that the service to our clients is not unduly disrupted. The Website, which is an e-Government initiative, is accessible worldwide and its objective is to make it possible for an individual to order and pay online for civil status certificates and not to download the actual certificates. Any orders received will eventually be processed and the certificate mailed in two days' time.

3. It is pertinent to point out that Mr Vella's problem has now been solved and the Public Registry sent the required certificates by post to his home address.

4. For the issuance of a passport, if and when the Passport Office requires an applicant to produce a number of certificates, only original certificates or certified true copies of the original by a member of the legal profession are accepted.

5. The Passport Office in Malta may be contacted by e-mail at civil.registration@gov.mt.