Gov’t looking to introduce single ID card for all transactions

The Government is examining options for the introduction of a single national identification card which will also be used to pay taxes, insurance and other transactions at public agencies.

Speaking at an event at the Department of Citizenship on Thursday, President David Granger said the cards will be equipped “with biometric and security features, which can be used for all government transactions – including receipt of NIS pensions, payment of taxes, social security, immigration and admission to schools.”

“This single national identification card will replace the multiple forms of identification which are used presently by citizens,” the President said.

Currently, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) issues a TIN or Taxpayer Identification Number Certificate while the National Insurance Scheme and the Guyana Election Commission issue cards which are used for insurance and Identification purposes, respectively.

The Coalition Government established the Department of Citizenship after it was elected to office in May 2015. The President said this shows the importance his administration placed to ensure e Guyanese citizens enjoy constitutional protections and entitlements.

“Citizenship obligates the state to protect its citizens, both at home and abroad. The protections offered by citizenship are not limited to the country’s territory. Nationals are entitled to protections outside of our borders,” he noted.

As such, he pointed to the need for persons to be able to access the services the department offers which also include registration at birth.

There are some hinterland locations where it is difficult for mothers to register their babies, thereby depriving them of a birth certificate which is needed to enroll in school.

“Children, nowhere in this country, should be prevented from attending school because they had no birth certificates. Many births could remain unregistered because of the long-distance, time and high cost of transport associated with registration,” the Head of State said.

The President said his government is looking to establish branches of the department in all of the towns. There are currently ten townships with the addition of Mahdia, Lethem, Bartica and Mabaruma by the coalition.

He added that passport offices have now been established at the capital towns of New Amsterdam, East Berbice-Corentyne and Linden, Upper Demerara-Berbice, and another will soon be established in the Pomeroon-Supenaam, at Anna Regina.

The Head of State pointed to the migrant challenges being faced which put a strain on social services.