MORE SECURE

Barbadians will be holders of a chip-based National Identification Card sooner than expected.

Yesterday, the Barbados Identity Management Bill, 2021, was passed in the Lower House as Government pushes ahead with this new smart card technology, phasing out the outdated laminated printed ID.

“That technology will see an individual having a single ID card, which will also have your Driver’s License on it; and Medical Information if you desire; and it will have your fingerprints also if you desire,” Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Dale Marshall revealed, assuring members of the public that the fingerprinting feature is not mandatory.

“This ID card will have as part of its features a chip. A device that is embedded in the physical ID card itself which has data on it, which would include such things as your fingerprint, if you wish. And therefore, your National ID when now issued, will have a chip which will have data on it, and that data is protected and is available to the individuals with whom you are dealing, if you so desire.”

He also recalled that the last Administration in its quest to introduce a new ID Card was insisting on fingerprints.

“You would have had to give all 10 of your fingerprints, and in Opposition we took the position that this is not a police state – and we cannot agree as a responsible political party representing Barbadians that they needed to give this kind of data. And now that we are in government and have the opportunity to put these things in place – our position is that you can give your fingerprint if you wish, but cannot be compelled to do so.”

The Attorney General also made it clear that this new ID will have no effect on the electoral process. He maintained that the electoral process, governed by the representation of The People Act, is unchanged.

“…They are connected only because one method of establishing who I am when I go to vote, is by producing a National ID. This Bill has nothing to do with the elections; this Bill has to do with being able to have a certain and clear regime for the issuing of the Barbados ID.”

AG Marshall said that part of the rollout will be a solid campaign, explaining to the public why this ID card is even more secure.

He further expressed, “As a government we see an opportunity to better serve Barbadians through the use of a National ID card that is secure, relevant and accessible… I think that the time has come when we do away with that laminated plastic; I think the time has come when we should imbue our ID cards with security measures that are cutting-edge and world class.”