The Leader of the Opposition and the People’s National Congress (PNC) party have strongly opposed the government’s decision to sign a US$35.4 million contract with a German company for the production and introduction of an electronic identification (e-ID) system in Guyana.
The e-ID system, which was announced last week by the Ministry of Finance, is intended to provide work permits and resident IDs to Guyanese citizens and foreigners living in Guyana. The system will also centralize and consolidate all citizen data into a centrally accessible system.
However, the opposition has raised several concerns about the contract, which was awarded to Veridos, a company that specializes in integrated identity solutions. The opposition claims that the contract was single-sourced without any public tender or consultation, and that it violates Guyana’s procurement laws and constitution.
The opposition also wondered whether the allegations that the middleman to the deal is the same person who was involved in a controversial deal to supply Sputnik V vaccines to Guyana at an inflated price, are true. The opposition accuses the government of engaging in corruption and nepotism.
Furthermore, the opposition argues that the e-ID system is unnecessary and dangerous for Guyana’s democracy. The opposition says that instead of spending millions on an e-ID system, the government should focus on improving the electoral process by ensuring free, fair and credible elections with a clean voters list.
The opposition fears that the e-ID system will give the government too much power and control over citizens’ personal information and privacy. The opposition also questions what will happen to the existing national ID cards that are issued by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
The Leader of the Opposition stated today, “So, the People’s Progressive Party is clearly exercising purposes of domination, manipulation and absolute control, while totally ignoring the need for a simple addition to the electoral process that will guarantee us democratic elections that they have been calling for, that they have been suggesting does not exist, and free, fair and acceptable electoral results with the elimination of multiple voting, and above all things, presenting the nation with a clean, acceptable voters list for the holding of any elections in the future.”
