Gov’t seals US$34m e-ID card deal
Arising out of its request for assistance from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2021, the Government of Guyana yesterday inked a US$34 million contract with German-headquartered company, Veridos, for the production and rollout of an electronic citizenship card that consolidates the data of the holder, providing for easier access to public and private sector services.
But while Guyana hopes to boost easier access across platforms with the swipe of the card and privacy aspects being “second to none”, technology experts have expressed concern about this country neither having ample or robust legislation to guard against cyber threats nor a comprehensive Data Privacy Policy. Questions are also being raised as to whether this contract should have been subject to public procurement as opposed to direct discussions with the UAE.
“Given the Government of Guyana’s commitment to promote e-governance in order to improve the productivity of businesses and delivery of government
A screenshot from the signing
services through ehealth, e-education, esecurity, e-agriculture, electronic permits, and licence processing, et cetera, there is an immediate need to implement a robust national identity management system, one that focusses on the integration of identification services across government agencies, security ease of use and acquisition of IDs,” President Irfaan Ali yesterday remarked at the virtual signing.
“By so doing, This ID system will improve access to all citizen-centric government services and benefits the citizens, private sector, and government alike. This will bring us in line with solutions used by the most developed economies and position Guyana to be a competitive sphere, in a world that is moving [and] advancing drastically along a technological landscape,” he added.
Representing Guyana at the virtual signing ceremony were the President, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar. The other signing party included UAE’s Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Juma al Maktoum, a representative of Veridos, and other foreign representatives. Whether the UAE and al Maktoum are benefiting from this deal has not been clarified. Al Maktoum had also been connected to the sale of Sputnik COVID vaccines to Guyana in 2021.
The electronic identity card (e-ID) is distinct from Guyana’s National Identification Card which is catered for under this country’s National Registration Act and which is constituted to be implemented by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). There has been no public discussion of this new card and its