Guyana is taking significant steps to enhance its national ID system, a new biometric electronic ID initiative that seeks to introduce electronic identity cards for both citizens and foreign residents, seamlessly merging identity verification with the nation's growing digital infrastructure and surveillance systems.
The new system by the Guyanese government [1] mandates that all electronic ID cards incorporate biometric elements such as facial recognition and fingerprint information. This requirement extends beyond Guyanese citizens, as non-citizens will also need to possess residency cards equipped with the same advanced security features. Bharrat Jagdeo [2] who is the Vice President of Guyana said, “Everyone else who is not Guyanese will have to have a residency card with the same security features with their biometrics too.” Vice President Jagdeo added that the ID cards will be integrated into Guyana’s surveillance system Smart Country, [3] allowing authorities to track foreigners, “At any given moment, we will know about all the people who are in our country, who are not Guyanese, wherever they are from and we will have their biometrics,” said Jagdeo. Guyana is geographically located in South America however it is it's culturally connected to the Caribbean region.
Veridos, [4] a German company specializing in identity solutions, has landed a contract estimated at $35 million, [5] which was finalized in March, 2023. Irfaan Ali [6] who is the President of Guyana said, “This ID system would improve access to all citizen-centric Government services and benefit 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 advancing drastically along a technological landscape.” The agreement involves the development of a biometric ID infrastructure that will integrate with Guyana’s Safe Country network, also known as the Smart Country project. This extensive surveillance initiative aims to install between 3,000 and 4,000 security cameras throughout the nation, facilitating real-time monitoring and the identification of individuals, including foreign residents.
Foreign nationals in Guyana will be required to obtain new electronic ID cards to access vital services such as opening bank accounts and securing legitimate employment. Employers are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that their foreign employees possess valid identification, a move intended to streamline work permit compliance and curb illegal employment practices. Once fully established, the system will assist the government in issuing work permits and other essential documentation for resident identification. This [7] initiative aims to enhance the tracking of foreign nationals, particularly in light of growing concerns related to rising migration, especially from Venezuela. “At any given moment, we will know of all of the people who are in our country who are not Guyanese and wherever they’re from. We will have their biometrics too so when we put in the 3,000-4,000 security cameras around the country, we will be able to tell you exactly where they are,” said Vice President Jagdeo.
A significant initiative is [8] the launch of Citizens Portal, a government services platform designed to streamline access for citizens. This innovative portal will enable individuals to apply for essential documents like passports, driver’s licenses, and identification cards, as well as access health and education records, register businesses, and file taxes. By integrating with financial institutions, the Citizens Portal aims to enhance service delivery, particularly for underserved communities. In addition to this ambitious project, several digital initiatives in Guyana are already in progress. These include [9] the rollout of e-ID and the Ministry of Housing and Water's Single Window Planning System, as reported by Guyana Times. “The People’s Progressive Party/Civic is proud to lead Guyana into this new digital era rooted in innovation, inclusion and efficiency. Digital Guyana is our commitment to building a modern state where technology makes public service faster, more accessible and more responsive, powered by innovation and anchored by our national e-identification system,” said President Ali.
Advocating for digital rights means ensuring safe online environments and an open internet where individuals can flourish, irrespective of their backgrounds. When digital rights are overlooked, it creates significant opportunities for governments and corporations to exert control over these critical spaces as [10] stated by authors of a column titled Digital Rights in the Caribbean: Not to be Lost in the Eternal Darkness, "Within the LAC region, the Caribbean has particular digital rights challenges due to geographical and socio-political characteristics. It is hard to talk about digital IDs when there are connectivity issues, for example. The first barrier is to make these topics visible and resonant with local and global audiences, moving them from technical and opaque language and processes to day-to-day knowledge that everyone in the region can use,” said the authors.