New opportunities for wedding tourism have opened up following an amendment to the Marriage Act that passed through Montserrat Legislative Assembly this week.
Weddings can now take place at locations throughout the island – not just churches or the registrar’s office – any time between 6am and 8pm.
The Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2024 went through the second reading, committee stage with two amendments and third reading during a meeting of the assembly on 30 April.
It was then passed into law, with all members voting unanimously for the bill.
Attorney General Sheree Jemmotte-Rodney explained that the Marriage Act makes provision for the conduct of marriages by marriage officers or the registrar general.
And the Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2024 makes a number of amendments to that law, including the requirements to apply to the governor for a marriage licence.
Time and location
Minor amendments introduced by the bill reflect that the registrar general may celebrate marriages outside of his office hours during newly extended hours, Jemmotte-Rodney said.
“And the governor retains the power to approve in writing the solemnisation or celebration of a marriage at another reasonable time,” she added.
One of the clauses of the bill empowers the registrar to perform functions of a marriage not only in his office, but also at a “suitable place” to be determined by the registrar.
Another clause requires those intending to get married to fill in a form and submit several forms of identification and supporting documents.
A further amendment changed the 10am to 3pm hours that the registrar general may perform a wedding to 6am to 8pm on any day.
The bill also made it clear that the registrar cannot perform a religious service. These can only be conducted by marriage officers appointed under the Marriage Act.
Streamlined process
During the debate, Crenston Buffonge, Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment, said the amendments will provide people with more wedding options.
The bill “streamlines the process ensuring that they can navigate the legalities of marriage with clarity and ease, eliminating some of the unnecessary barriers”, he added.
“It’s a step in the right direction, giving some persons the ability to choose which way they decide to get married.”
Opposition member Donaldson Romeo, who rose to support the bill, said it seems to him that the main purpose of the amendment is to encourage wedding party tourism.
“That will surely be a means by which we could publicise Montserrat, and every couple who gets married here will tell others of their beautiful experience on Montserrat,” he said.
He spoke of a clause which says that at least one of the two parties in the marriage has to be resident in Montserrat for at least three days before the wedding application.
“That is very clear, so that people don’t just arrive and get married and leave. So there’s some opportunity to do any checks and balances on wedding,” he said.
Romeo said weddings can now take place on a beach, a garden, at a hotel or a scenic site.
It “will encourage couples who are not planning to have a big wedding, to invite the whole world, and can only afford something simple, to make it special and unique,” he added.
Opposition member David Osborne, also speaking in support of the bill, said he was happy with the amendments which he thinks will help to increase tourism to Montserrat.
The new Marriage (Amendment) Act 2024 is available online here.
