This are greatest Singapore's success stories! How Sweet?
Now we have sour cross border and international DIVORCES going on. Wow! That's something!
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100327-0000085/More-cross-border-unions-fail
More cross-border unions fail
by Ng Jing Yng [email protected]
05:55 AM Mar 27, 2010
SINGAPORE - They got married because the Singaporean groom could not or would not find a wife here, while his foreign bride had looked forward to a new life of matrimonial bliss in an affluent city-state.
But anecdotal evidence from lawyers and marriage counsellors show that such inter-nationality marriages are increasingly breaking down, with couples splitting because they had not known each other long enough, or because the foreign bride was unable to adapt to life here.
To help such couples, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports have unveiled measures to help them build their marriage a strong foundation.
According to Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for MCYS, four in 10 marriages registered in 2008 were between Singapore Citizens and non-Singapore Citizens.
A decade ago, this ratio was three in 10.
Her ministry has been working with community help groups like Fei Yue Community Services, Care Corner Counselling and Hougang Family Service Centre to provide marriage preparation courses in Mandarin, she told participants of the Marriage Convention 2010 on Friday.
The one-year pilot will be available from next month and will be publicised through bodies like the Registry of Marriages and Marriage Central.
The course could also be held in other languages, Mrs Yu-Foo said.
While official figures on troubled inter-nationality marriages were not available, counsellors and family lawyers told MediaCorp that they have noticed the number of divorces between Singaporeans and foreigners rising with the corresponding spike in unions.
Lawyer K Prasad said that he has seen an average of four to five of such divorce cases every year in the past two years.
Before then, it was just one or two cases a year.
"More Singaporean men are seeking foreign wives and there is an increasing tendency to see a relationship break down after about five years," said Mr Prasad.
In 2008, 11 per cent of all divorces were between Singaporean citizen grooms and their foreign brides.
Mrs Sara Tan, director of Hougang Sheng Hong Family Service Centre, was confident that marriage preparation courses will help inter-nationality couples.
One of the cases she has handled was that of a China bride who married a Singaporean husband who is physically handicapped. Though she was aware of his condition before the marriage, her husband's short temper and her in-laws' constant interference in their lives led her to contemplate a divorce.
But after counselling, and considering the needs of her young child, the idea of a split was shelved.
"Many foreign spouses are disillusioned when they realise the many challenges they face living with a husband in a foreign country," said Mrs Tan.
Other issues that could cause a marriage breakdown also include day-to-day issues like finances and loneliness faced by the foreign spouse - some of these women are not able to assimilate into the fast-paced life of Singapore.
Senior social worker Iris Lin, from Fei Yue Community Services, said that "many foreign spouses feel neglected by their Singaporean spouse who has to spend long hours working, while they stay at home alone".
At the convention, Mrs Yu-Foo also highlighted the trend of more divorces between couples who had been married for more than 20 years after their grown-up children leave home. The couple usually have unresolved differences and when their obligations to raise a family are over, they no longer see the need to remain married.
She also announced programmes implemented for couples in the "sandwiched" group - those who have to cope with caring for elderly parents and young children. Couples, who have to endure the trials of a long-distance relationship, will also be helped, she said.
Now we have sour cross border and international DIVORCES going on. Wow! That's something!
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100327-0000085/More-cross-border-unions-fail
More cross-border unions fail
by Ng Jing Yng [email protected]
05:55 AM Mar 27, 2010
SINGAPORE - They got married because the Singaporean groom could not or would not find a wife here, while his foreign bride had looked forward to a new life of matrimonial bliss in an affluent city-state.
But anecdotal evidence from lawyers and marriage counsellors show that such inter-nationality marriages are increasingly breaking down, with couples splitting because they had not known each other long enough, or because the foreign bride was unable to adapt to life here.
To help such couples, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports have unveiled measures to help them build their marriage a strong foundation.
According to Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for MCYS, four in 10 marriages registered in 2008 were between Singapore Citizens and non-Singapore Citizens.
A decade ago, this ratio was three in 10.
Her ministry has been working with community help groups like Fei Yue Community Services, Care Corner Counselling and Hougang Family Service Centre to provide marriage preparation courses in Mandarin, she told participants of the Marriage Convention 2010 on Friday.
The one-year pilot will be available from next month and will be publicised through bodies like the Registry of Marriages and Marriage Central.
The course could also be held in other languages, Mrs Yu-Foo said.
While official figures on troubled inter-nationality marriages were not available, counsellors and family lawyers told MediaCorp that they have noticed the number of divorces between Singaporeans and foreigners rising with the corresponding spike in unions.
Lawyer K Prasad said that he has seen an average of four to five of such divorce cases every year in the past two years.
Before then, it was just one or two cases a year.
"More Singaporean men are seeking foreign wives and there is an increasing tendency to see a relationship break down after about five years," said Mr Prasad.
In 2008, 11 per cent of all divorces were between Singaporean citizen grooms and their foreign brides.
Mrs Sara Tan, director of Hougang Sheng Hong Family Service Centre, was confident that marriage preparation courses will help inter-nationality couples.
One of the cases she has handled was that of a China bride who married a Singaporean husband who is physically handicapped. Though she was aware of his condition before the marriage, her husband's short temper and her in-laws' constant interference in their lives led her to contemplate a divorce.
But after counselling, and considering the needs of her young child, the idea of a split was shelved.
"Many foreign spouses are disillusioned when they realise the many challenges they face living with a husband in a foreign country," said Mrs Tan.
Other issues that could cause a marriage breakdown also include day-to-day issues like finances and loneliness faced by the foreign spouse - some of these women are not able to assimilate into the fast-paced life of Singapore.
Senior social worker Iris Lin, from Fei Yue Community Services, said that "many foreign spouses feel neglected by their Singaporean spouse who has to spend long hours working, while they stay at home alone".
At the convention, Mrs Yu-Foo also highlighted the trend of more divorces between couples who had been married for more than 20 years after their grown-up children leave home. The couple usually have unresolved differences and when their obligations to raise a family are over, they no longer see the need to remain married.
She also announced programmes implemented for couples in the "sandwiched" group - those who have to cope with caring for elderly parents and young children. Couples, who have to endure the trials of a long-distance relationship, will also be helped, she said.
