UPDATE: Gov’t rolls out multipurpose ID cards

A sample of the multipurpose card
A sample of the multipurpose card

Government plans to issue multipurpose ID cards to Dominicans are expected to get underway today.

Acting chief elections officer, Anita Rodney, said enrollment will begin with public officers and the exercise will be more like a test.

“For now we are going to do a test with public officers,” she said.

She said based on the test, the electoral office will get an idea when to invite the general public for enrollment.

To be enrolled, individuals should bring in a pictorial ID such as a social security card, passport or driver’s license, and at least a birth certificate or marriage certificate, where applicable.

The electoral commission said on Monday that the electronic system is intended to produce the card which is expected to provide one common identification in Dominica and other for OECS countries to identify individuals among different systems.

“For example, one ID card could be used for voting, identifying an individual at hospitals, civil registries, social security, customs, banks, telephone companies and supermarkets to name a few,” the commission said in a release.

It said it is a regional identification system that is being developed by the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as part of the Electronic Government for Regional Integration Project.

All citizens of Dominica and permanent and temporary residents are entitled to a card but must be enrolled under the system. Permanent and temporary residents should provide a copy of the resident or work permit as applicable, on enrollment.

“The Commission has determined that eligible persons of eighteen years and older will be the first to be enrolled with younger persons to be included at a later date,” the release stated.

In August, it was announced that the machine for making the cards had arrived on the island and government’s share of purchasing the equipment was US$785,000 and that they had also provided US$96,000 for the first 100,000 cards, which will be free.

A total of US$3.14-million contract was awarded to 3M Innovative Properties to provide multipurpose ID cards to Dominicans.

The idea of multipurpose ID cards for voting has been heavily criticized by the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) which has argued for voter ID cards instead.

The UWP based its argument on the fact that voter ID cards were recommended by the chief election officer in a 2009 report and an OAS observer mission to Dominica.

 

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53 Comments

  1. cautious
    December 11, 2013

    here i was wondering what them Chinese want ..well here it is they saying is for the whole Caribbean they want to have a Chinese system going on in Dominica..look it its just the beginning

    • Too Hard Too Long
      December 11, 2013

      Chinese?

  2. DSC Student
    December 10, 2013

    You know this card issue is really an interesting one. I have read all sorts of comments for and against this and I have a few questions to Dominicans that I think we should genuinely ask ourselves:

    If the Electoral Commission held a position of having a dedicated “Voter’s ID Card” in 2009 and they have done their due diligence based on what was submitted to them by the OECS and are satisfied with the OECS Multipurpose Card, is there really a problem with having the same information (voter’s registration number) on this national ID card?

    Are we making comments because we do not understand what the MPID card can achieve for Dominica and by extension the OECS or are we simply following our different political party leaders?

    Have we understood that Dominica is saving $1.208 Million US or $3.282 Million EC by partnering with the rest of the OECS countries in implementing this ($2.089 Million based on the PM’s disclosure (https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/pm-and-opposition-leader-goes-head-to-head-over-voter-id-cards/) minus $0.881 million US for this system). Even in his disclosure the cost of implementing the Voter Card was not included in the $2.089 Million US.

    As a young person in this country going to State College I would think that I would not have to ask these questions to the older persons who are making decisions for my future. It is time we start having some organized debates on these kinds of topics being televised without this political nonsense.

  3. Rule
    December 9, 2013

    A national ID Card is not a substitute for a voter’s ID card. Every time election approaches, this guy comes up with something new. Last time was plane loads from all over, this time is national ID cards. It seems like an obsession to win at any cost.

    • MZUNGU
      December 9, 2013

      but why you need to issue voters’ cards…its extremely bad idea. All you need is to have normal registration process which allows to count a number of people voting and match their voting with their residence, so if you live in Mahaut you should vote in Mahaut and so on. Basically ID cards cover all those things. Again the more transparent registries and the regulation you have the less chances of frauds etc…remember more effective regulations – the smaller cost for the society

  4. curious
    December 9, 2013

    First 100000 cards? how many people are in Dominica?

    • forreal
      December 9, 2013

      i find you so inteligent,you should be on TV,serioully,how many dominicans living abroad? two or three. :lol:

      • RastarMarn
        December 10, 2013

        You fool-ish nuh???

        Who living abroad doh done have ID card wherever dey are den,,,

  5. What u see
    December 9, 2013

    Citizens themselves also need to ensure their personal info is updated, as there are many married ladies who are still registered by their maiden name, in a different constituency from their current residence….

  6. Patriot # 3
    December 9, 2013

    This is a clear indication that election is around the corner and my guess is, it will be called right after Carnival. I’m reading Skerrit and Hartley Henry like a book. From how these partners have operated in the past, there are a number of matters these two schemers are rushing to put in place before the election: ……………… (2) National ID cards must be in place, they have been foisted on us purely as a means to influence the election in favor of labour (3) Skerrit needs money to pay for the mortgages of his potential candidates, the Venezuelan economy is in freefall and Maduro is fighting hard to save his political skin- So China gives him US$8million to accomplish that (4) A plot must be put in place to get people from the diaspora to subvert the election – We see the sudden emergence of this farcical South Miami Airline (5) SEKO SECO will have his charges dismissed because Skerrit does not want that to be an issue going into the next election.

    • Justice and Truth
      December 9, 2013

      You must be a mind-reader. :twisted: :twisted:

  7. Bamboozled
    December 9, 2013

    Ok I just clicked on the 2011 article on the right side bar headed “PM and Opposition Leader go head to head on Voter IDs”: From that article, the Opposition Leader is quoted as saying:

    “The Chief Elections Officer, in a report after the election of 2009, and also the OAS observer mission, both recommended that we have voter ID cards, which will help to clean up the voters list. Voter ID cards will make the voters of this country independent; a national ID card, anyone can have. Social Security cards can be used as national ID, driver’s license and passport [as well]. A voter ID card, that is what the electoral commission is mandated to do,” John stated.

    So if this is true, then the National ID simply replaces the passport for OECS travel (which you don’t really need anyway if you have a Driver’s License or SS card). So it does not really address the voter-fraud issue…and is kind of unnecessary since I am guessing SS Cards, Passports, and Driver’s Licenses will still be issued. So… this is really only to comply with OECS standards and divert the problems with the electoral commission?

    Almost got me on this one Skerro…almost!

    • Justice and Truth
      December 9, 2013

      Those other cards you mentioned serve a purpose where applicable. It is my feeling the other cards should not be used in lieu of the multipurpose ID card and to replace them. This is an official card which should be used for voting, for obtaining passports, marriage license, social security benefits and the likes.
      To get a clearer understanding of the usage of the ID card, you should ask the government, your MP about this rather than criticize this ID card and denounce it.

  8. african queen
    December 9, 2013

    boy wat non sense that is happening in DA. that look likes trickery people will not have this in time to vote. mark my words an announcement will be made people with no ID cards cannot vote. only the Labourites will be issue cards. Confusuion in DA.

    • Anonymous
      December 9, 2013

      Please grow a brain!!!

    • BigMe
      December 9, 2013

      LOL did you really think before posting or you just want to be pure negative lol. You make no sense lol.

    • Peeping Tom
      December 9, 2013

      LOL!!

    • Justice and Truth
      December 9, 2013

      Are you sure it is not in your brains? :lol:

  9. Answer DNO
    December 9, 2013

    DNO– Is this card REQUIRED to vote, or just allowed as ONE OF the forms of IDs accepted for voting?

    In other words, if I already have a Driver’s License, Passport and SS Card, do I still have to get this to be able to vote?

    Also, how will the EC differentiate b/w someone who resided in the country for 6 months w/in the past 5 years (and therefore allowed to vote)and someone who has a current passport but has been out of the country for over 5 years? There are many Dominicans who do not reside on island but have current ID cards and could, in theory, could obtain one of these cards.

    • Papa Dom
      December 9, 2013

      Why don’t you get a copy of the constitution and the relevant laws and educate yourself? Allu Dominicans too like handouts.

    • Justice and Truth
      December 9, 2013

      Let us face it. Not everyone has a driver’s license and passport of all. This should indicate to you the reason for issuing the multipurpose ID card to every Dominican, resident and temporary ones, hopefully the latter are landed, legal ones.

  10. Francisco Telemaque
    December 9, 2013

    “can the opposition put an injunction on that illegal unconstitutional id card system?..”

    Here we go again; Dominicans, from officials to peasants are making fools of the themselves again for the world to see. Her we have someone suggesting that the opposition “put an injunction on that unconstitutional ID card system.

    How stupid is this person? In the first place there is nothing unconstitutional about an identification (ID) card, since a driver licenses, or a passport can be used to identify an individual; so if it is unconstitutional to have an official ID card, then it must be unconstitutional to have a driver license, or a Dominica passport!

    You see the government complicates thing so much in our country, that is why people think so foolishly, here I am reading that after some test, people will be invited to bring photographs (pictures) of themselves and apply for these ID card cards.

    That is stupid?

    If the government is about to issue ID cards one would imagine perhaps through the department of motor vehicles if there is such a place in the country, or within the system, the way that should be set up is for someone to go in and present a birth certificate, fill out an application, there should be cameras set up, and the applicant picture is taken, and placed on the ID with a number, which should continue is a sequence forever, as long as ID’s are issued.

    All this thing that public officers will be issued ID’s first as a test is baloney; no one should be surprised anyway since we are aware that when it pertains to Dominica anything we are involved into is usually done backwards, and up side down.

    When I came to the United States, in 1980, I went to the DMV to apply for an ID. The only thing I had to identify myself was a Dominica passport, which was accepted, an ID was issued sent to me via mail, it took me two years before I applied for a driver license, however, when I got my driver license, I discovered the same number that is on my ID card is one of the same on my driver licenses.

    As simple as that!

    What is the big deal in Dominica, and all this confusion?

    And by the way the opposition cannot “put an injunction” on anything, only a court can issue an injunction on an issue after the matter is heard in a court of law.

    Some of us a re too stupid!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • Fair play
      December 9, 2013

      Francisco is not island bound.The transport driver licence dept is set up like that and has been for years.Have your facts right and comments short

      • Francisco Telemaque
        December 10, 2013

        In the event you cannot understand what someone said or conveyed ,in what they wrote perhaps you should simply shut up!

        What facts do I need to get right. Have you seen an identification card issued in England, America, or Canada, Germany for that mater.

        I have seen them all, and I can tell you the crap that is going on in Dominica is nothing more than a pappy show! I vote every election in the United State, in local and in the Presidential Elections, all that I need to show that am a registered voter is my drivers license.

        I walk in present it; it is looked at my home address is confirmed to that on the voters registration list, I am handed a ballet , which I insert into a manual machine, I punch a hole next to the candidate I chose to vote for and that’s it.

        What facts I need from Dominica to know when I see, or read baloney; Dominica is a small place overwhelmed with confusion; they try to complicate the simplest of anything, only in an attempt to corrupt the system.

        An identification card is nothing more than something issued by an government agency with an expiration date on it, the date it was issued baring the holder name, and address; identifying the person as male. or female, the height of the person, the weight, and color of the persons eyes, and a number. Mine which is my driver license have a number on it which starts with C01055…

        In addition there is a place where the person affix their signature. When it is presented to someone that someone compares the photograph to the holder face, even if the holder aged somewhat there should still be some resemblance; in certain circumstances such as voting, or transacting business which requires a signature, they compare the signature on the ID Card or the drivers license thus ensuring the signature is the same; it is very difficult for one signature to change dramatically.

        Before 911, I traveled to Canada many times to Canada, and all I presented at the boarder to immigration was my driver license, upon returning to the U.S.was the same; that has changed since 911, prior to that too citizens of the United States traveled internationally with only a driver license.

        As a matter of fact I went into the French Bank in Dominica around 1987 to convert some American Express cheque’s to EC dollars, all they ask to see in order to identify me was my California drivers license, although Dr. Jonathan Prevost was with me, there was a man Austin Walsh working as a security guard who knows me since I was a little boy, he has a daughter with my sister. So if my driver license could have worked then what is the big deal, and confusion about in 2013?

        You need to know what you getting into before you talk nonsense about facts, facts what?

        Facts my foot!

        Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

        You think I doh know you from Wesley; only (dotish) Wesley people like to talk about get facts straight or right

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • Justice and Truth
      December 9, 2013

      Francisco, you should know not everyone in Dominica has a driver’s license and passport; no difference in the US and Canada. Here we have a medical health card, a social insurance card (SIN) with our name and number and those who travel have a passport.
      The S.I.N. card is a primary card which serves as an official card to identify people and to investigate them when they apply for a passport and license and for other certain matters. The medical health card also contains the SIN number -only shown on this record.
      Recently, the Ontario government has decided to have an ID card for those who do not drive and who do not have a passport. It is not mandatory. However, it will be used as an ID card.
      I do not know if this ID card applies throughout Canada; have not checked it out. It is paid for by the applicants. I think the cost is approximately $40.00 which may be renewable in five years due to the picture since people’s facial features could change within that period. Therefore a national, multipurpose ID card appears feasible to me. Give this a good thought.

    • Rastafari
      December 10, 2013

      Just because it’s not unconstitutional does not make it RIGHT! 8-O I’m not against the ID cards, I think the entire truth should be told about this debacle because it seems like most local citizens don’t like the idea. There are many unanswered questions by the ones implementing the decree.
      The people cry for the deficiency of justice!

      • Francisco Telemaque
        December 10, 2013

        Sir, these days identification cards are necessary!

        These are not the days when we lived in innocents okay! We have become thieves vagabonds and scamps, these are the days when there is plenty of forgery in our country. When my grandmother was alive, I would send money home to her in the form of U. S. Postal money orders.

        What do you know, you will not believe it, however there are certain individuals in my small village of Wesley who got hold of the one postal money order, and literally succeeded in erasing my grandmother’s name on the money order, replacing it with their own.

        I do not wish to tell you how that ended, in any event the identification card is a good thing, it allows people to know who they are dealing with, you must be who you say you are; especially these days with so many criminals in possession of Dominica passport. Because we are a small country, does not mean we shoud not do things correctly and in order.

        Just thought I would hang that in there.

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  11. 2Cute
    December 9, 2013

    That UWP wanted,Yet they still criticizing.

    What a waste of money.

  12. um
    December 9, 2013

    “For example, one ID card could be used for voting, identifying an individual at hospitals, civil registries, social security, customs, banks, telephone companies and supermarkets to name a few,” the commission said in a release.

    Making identity theft a little bit easier :-D. Where do most hacking come from? Lol but really in my opinion that’s a bad idea…

  13. MZUNGU
    December 9, 2013

    why don’t you connect new ID cards to system of electronic signature? This would give an opportunity in future to digitalize the public records and allow people with ID cards to access the records online through e-signature…which is basically some type of encyption and password. For example land titles, particulars of companies, court registries etc all can be accessed online. If you already invest into ID card system why not to create electronic authentication…Dominica is so small that you can achieve that goal easily…

  14. Ben Haynes PsyD
    December 9, 2013

    There are many questions here but l want to ask, the biggest question, who do we believe especially, when such an activity involves foreign participation? Am l right by saying, we have to question who, or what is going on? Is OECS really counting on this form of ID as an election safeguard, or truly a strategic way of citizen watch by a foreign entity? Some might ask is the arrival of a multipurpose card necessary? Does that means that all other forms of IDs are obsolete? Help me please. What is the real purpose behind another ID that calls on a big foreign company to print IDs, that is making citizens question the government? Something is missing here, while the authorities is doing a poor job in explaining. Imagine $13.14 million contract to Innovative Industries to provide ID cards to a nation that is making a big vary when it comes to begging the China man for dollars to build schools, hospitals, and other projects that could safe guard citizens. Is this company foreign? The fact is, this is troubling to many D/cans especially when other forms of IDs are a pocket away. Will some body please explain.

  15. RastarMarn
    December 9, 2013

    Dominicans already have passport books wi that is an extremely though process to go through, instead of ID cards why not have Passport Cards,,,

    Cards will be utilized to make regional travel to other OECS States, and the Passport books would be utilized for international Travel,,,

    Think nuh Anita Allyou cannot do a little thinking,,,

    • Bamboozled
      December 9, 2013

      Ras, we don’t need passport cards. You can currently travel on your driver’s license and SSCard to OECS countries. So this national card is pretty much redundant.
      Another $3M down the hole while ppl looking for jobs in Dominica. We could have given out like 300 $10K grants to businesses instead of this crap.

      • RastarMarn
        December 10, 2013

        Ok den, well Marn didn’t know dat nuh,,,
        Well Marn agree wiff you den,,,

  16. LANGPATAT
    December 9, 2013

    can the opposition put an injunction on that illegal unconstitutional id card system?..

    • FAST N FURIOUS
      December 9, 2013

      I’m pretty sure you are one forming the opposition,why don’t you go ahead and put your injunction?You all quys want nothing good for the country but just sit and critisize.

    • Peeping Tom
      December 9, 2013

      Nah man! Waste of effort. Skerrit has already bought the courts. Remember?

  17. observer
    December 9, 2013

    While I support a multiPurpose card something does not sound right. If you are subcontracting the job to a company, you have to purchase the equipment? Or did you create a company? Did it go out to public bidding or given to a friend? How long is the contract? $96000+$785000 (USD)=$881000 USD for 100000 IDs + $2.259 million. What is the extra 2.259 million for? So are we paying $8.81 USD per card or $31.4 USD per card ? Don’t matter how you look at it, that’s expensive for ID. And by the way why government think that the $96000 is free money? Isn’t that on tax payers? ……just a few questions?

  18. Ti Garçon
    December 9, 2013

    At first I was skeptical but from what I have seen and the program that was being aired on GIS from the Portsmouth town hall meeting held by the Electoral Commission and the OECS earlier this year, I think this is a worthwhile initiative. We talk a lot of talk in this land but I’m seeing some positive action by the Electoral Commission.

    From all the press coverage that this thing got, I think that there is no politics involved as the other OECS countries are indeed involved. It is good to see Dominica taking the lead in something especially when it seems to be saving us money (1 card instead of all these useless cards). I will definitely get my card as early as possible.

    If I were political, I would claim victory on this one whether it be red or blue because I think both sides are getting what they want from this card. Good move Electoral Commission.

  19. rescue 911
    December 9, 2013

    ok so that mean all dominican here and abroad can get one.our porpulation is about 70.000.(first 100.000 is free so how many do we intend to make.)over porpulation of card in an under porpulated island…interested.

  20. DAtotheBONE
    December 9, 2013

    I would like to know if Dominicans living in other country can get their card. We invest in our country, we promote our country so we need to be part of this proccess. I know some of you are going to say no but think again before you talk.

  21. Ashamed
    December 9, 2013

    I thought the card was supposed to have the voter registration number.

    • Anonymous
      December 9, 2013

      It does.

  22. Jennifer
    December 9, 2013

    What sense does it make to have a voter’s ID card and a multipurpose ID card, the ID carries your identification which can be used for voting, or any other purpose.
    The UWP need to start being a little bit more pro-active and stop with the bull already. These are the issues that cause a candidate to loose an election. Start thinking of ways to contribute instead of criticizing every topic raised.

  23. December 9, 2013

    ca serais bien si sa se fais

    • Tee
      December 9, 2013

      Je suis d’accord mais… correction: Ca serait bien si ca se fait.

      • concerned
        December 9, 2013

        Correction: Cela sera bien si ceci se faisait.

  24. QUESTION!
    December 9, 2013

    US$3.14-million contract awarded to 3M Innovative Properties to provide multipurpose ID cards to Dominicans. They have also provided US$96,000 for the first 100,000 cards, which will be free. DOMINICA HAS AROUND 70,000 persons since when like 1960 and roughly 90% of whom are either of school age and babies, what about those in the prison, mentally challenged homes urmm. UUURM 30,000 extra….is that for the mistakes that will be made? Or is it for…(anyone can answer here please?) Just questioning the figures here.

    • Anonymous
      December 9, 2013

      #Question! You all guys never ceases to amaze. Dominica at the last census had 70, 000, but can you say where and how would the Electoral accommodate, say, another 30,000 Dominicans living in the diaspora who decides to return to Dominica. Would you decide not to issue them with ID cards because they were unfortunate, not being in Dominica during the census for one reason or the other? I suppose you won’t consider them Dominicans?

  25. mrborball
    December 9, 2013

    we papa 8-O , elections close

    • Lady ABC
      December 9, 2013

      That is to make the opposition stock up on toilet paper and headache tablets!!!!

      I have come to realize that Skerrit loves the thrill of the campaign and the fact that he is center of attention during an election campaign.

      That young man is most calm when all his critics from newspaper workers , water bottle workers, lazy workers , and all the rest fight over themselves, sue each other and fight each other on Facebook.

      Election will not be called until the following things occur in this order: (1) UWP names all their candidates (2) Independent Candidates begin to come forward and declare their interest (3) Ronnie Isidore switches to the DLP and spills all the secretes (4) The election budget with all the goodies is passed (5) the Geothermal Power Plant has started (6) the Construction of the New hospital is well advanced (7) Other political parties begin forming and pose a strong threat to the UWP in Key constituencies and make Skerrit increase his number of seats from 18 to 20 !!!

      The highlight of the election campaign will be when audio recordings of UWP will go public – Stay Tuned for the Bomb Shell

  26. December 9, 2013

    this is all good but right now i need to see the pictures of the pre Queen show

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