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Smart ID card coming
Published on: 11/6/2009.
by TREVOR YEARWOOD
A SINGLE, MULTI-PURPOSE, "high-security" ID card is to replace the three major ones issued by Government.
It will simplify transactions for people who have had to show their National Identification Card, driver's licence and National Insurance & Social Security card to access goods and services.
Prime Minister David Thompson, who yesterday announced plans for the new card, said it would end duplication of efforts and "an inefficient use of resources" by different agencies.
The National ID Card, in use since 1979, "is now considered unattractive", Thompson admitted.
More importantly, because of the ease with which it is produced, "there have been cases of photograph substitution and other attempts to fraudulently produce and reproduce the card", he pointed out.
"This near-obsolete ID card, which needs to be replaced regularly, is not machine-readable. Since there is no online verification of the biographical data, it must be taken at face value.
"The mind boggles at the extent of not only fraud, but also time-wasting and frustration that this state of affairs is causing Barbadians."
Thompson said people working in Barbados and licensed to drive had to carry at least three different ID cards "containing similar biographical information which is entered, stored and accessed using different methods of database management."
The proposal for addressing the problem was "a single, multi-purpose, high-security card containing a microchip. This smart card would carry biographical and biometric information which could easily be verified online," he said.
"It would combine the three existing cards and have the financial capacity to function as a debit card to facilitate payment of National Insurance pensions and benefits.
"It could also function as an electronic purse for users of the services of the Transport Board."
Thompson gave no time frame for the launch of the new card.
However, he admitted that putting it in place posed a number of challenges, including acquiring several pieces of hardware and software, and changes in the information technology and network infrastructure.
The Prime Minister spoke about the new card while addressing the opening session of the fourth general meeting of the Association of Caribbean Electoral Organisations at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
He told electoral officials from several nations that Barbados looked forward to collaborating with people who had embarked on a similar project and to receiving any comments on the proposal.
16 comment found!
Smart ID card coming : 11/7/2009
The smart card is coming, the smart card is coming. don't hold your breath.
666 : 11/6/2009
is on its way... Barbados wake up! this world is coming to an end.
we dont have to reinvent the wheel, jsut go to any state or govt dept website in USA and see cost saving effiency : 11/6/2009
Total life cycle and cost assessment dictate micrsoft is cheap simple option that works elsewhere..all egov needs is (1)outlook, (2)a few websites, (3)a few web communications and business development officer to constantly design update page content according to what department officials want, and two or 3 servers locations that are physically off limits with location on military's compound and backed up/duplicated servers off the island with private intl server company..it works in local county coucils in UK which are 3 times the size as barbados and small us state bureaus..Barbados is not an overall federal authority or "large" national goverment it is only microstate society of 270K people..IT doesnt have valuable military resources that can effect the security of the region, we depend on being an informal protectorate of the US or else Cuba and venezuala would have long take over here. We dont need need cotly secure system..we just beed outlook for govt departmetn that most medium sized business in barbados already have! damnit these politician are illiterate.its about time we move fwd..
I wouldn't recommend Microsoft for the B'dos gov't. : 11/6/2009
It is the prime target that hackers/crackers go after. I'd suggest Novell's software package instead. It is more robust, scalable, and follows standards better than Microsoft's suites. Supposedly the Barbados government's computers in the Foreign Ministry were hacked in early 2009. It doesn't surprise me. They'd be better off switching to Unix.
Re: Here Comes the Mark of the Beast : 11/6/2009
Well. Isn't that what they said about Credit Card numbers? And any form of serial number on a form of ID. Same idea again recycled. People have already started placing chips that can track their pets by satellite. Have you seen those yet? Google "pet tracking chip"
I would recommend RSA Security : 11/6/2009
They could probably come up with a very attractive technology set for Barbados. And they generally get it right so long as you tell them how Barbados plans to use the technology in the future and exactly what it is they are looking for.They work with governments all around the world. I would hope the government makes them at least one- of the companies they consider speaking with. http://www.rsa.com/
PRIORITIES : 11/6/2009
While this may be a good idea and long overdue, the government needs to spend some money to get some passports on the island. How crazy is it that the last passport issued was Sept 23rd 2009. Now people have to wait until December 1st before any books are available.
No Response from the Church : 11/6/2009
I am amaze that the Leadership of the Church has not jump on this iniatitive and comdemn it. Are they now serving man rather than God? Let me hear you Lucille Braid and David Durant etc.
: 11/6/2009
Optimist Prime: We remain backward because of this rot about BLP or DLP idea and the stupid thoughts coming from bright people like you. Does it matter as long as we get ahead? We are all one Barbadian people. Cut the crap. This is long overdue. I can attest to people who were able to sunstitute photographs. Retired
: 11/6/2009
mark of the beast in bim slowly but surely, this is the change barbados been calling for. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. Ezekiel 33: 7 The prophets have spoken its up to you to decide.
Yet Another BLP Idea : 11/6/2009
THIS SMART ID CARD IS YET ANOTHR BLP INITIATIVE. DOESN'T THE DLP HAVE ANY IDEAS OF THEIR OWN?
online : 11/6/2009
Accessing such personal information online poses great security issues. Are we ready for this as a country?
Here Comes the Mark of the Beast : 11/6/2009
I would love to hear Rev. Lucille Baird, rev Massiah, Peter Millington etc on this new development in light of the revelations in the Bible
joke and cheap talk..govt depts dont even have centralized servers nor email outlook : 11/6/2009
cart before the wheel.. regional govt need centralized Information Technology and communications support dept..e govt in barbados gets 1 out of 10 points..bloddy awful..every govt desk worker should have a john.doe@barbados.gov.bb adress//not caribsufr and the next all disorganised in uncoordinated fashion. please mr thompson..expand and reorganize structure Transform of GIS dept to 21 century and appoint an IT Director to get the govt's act together.
: 11/6/2009
get help from usa.
Over promiss, under deliver : 11/6/2009
yes, Mr prime Minister over promiss and under deliver. we bajan are sick of all you.if you had said that starting today there would be a new i.d card available to all bajan,it would have sound better.STOP OVER PROMISSING US!
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