The Marriage Act Ammendment 2002 will come into effect on Friday, January 10, the Labour and Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister has reminded the public.

Mr. Lister said under the Amendment Act as of January 17, 2003 everyone who is intending to marry must apply for a Registrar's Certificate for Marriage through the Office of the Registrar General. This document is issued after the publication of a notice of intended marriage in the local newspapers.

"The publication of all notices will allow for greater public exposure," said the Minister in a press release. "We want all of Bermuda to have the opportunity to view all the names so as to reduce the opportunities for marriages of convenience, which is a problem for us at this time.

"We want all ministers (of religion) to be aware of this so that their procedures and actions will be in accordance with the law.

The Act, he said, would facilitate the process for concerned persons to register their objections with the Registry General or the Department of Immigration in cases where marriages of convenience are suspected.