Cabinet approves US$554,000 of new secure National ID System

Roseau, Dominica (April 10, 2017) — A review of the electoral process in Dominica has been the subject of discussions for some time now. The Government of Dominica has repeatedly indicated its support for the improvement of the conduct of elections and is committed to ensuring that the necessary funding, as well as the legislative and technical infrastructure, are in place, to enable the Commission to carry out its constitutional mandate.

As all are aware, the Electoral Office had been working for some time on the implementation of a Multi-Purpose ID Card which would not only be used for voting in an election, but which could serve other uses as well. The Electoral Office subsequently informed that due to technical difficulties encountered they would be moving to a new system.

Upon request by the Commission through the President, the Cabinet promptly gave its approval in February, to the request of the Electoral Commission for EC$1,505,163.00, for the funding of a new National Identification System, which would allow for the enrolment of all eligible electors and the issuance to them of a National Identification Card. This was to ensure that a suitable identification card system is put in place in sufficient time for use in any future general elections.

Government also committed to making available whatever additional resources were needed by the Commission for the implementation process. A request for those resources has since been submitted and is being favourably considered.

In addition to approving the requisite funding for the ID card system, the Attorney General’s office has been working with the Electoral Office, to ensure the timely submission to Parliament of draft Bills to give effect to the implementation of the ID card system and other changes. This will be ready to be presented at the next sitting of Parliament.

After the last general election held in 2014, the Commonwealth offered its assistance to Dominica to improve our electoral process. A request was made to them for support and technical assistance to enhance the capacity of the Electoral Office and review and strengthen its policies. In light of this, the Commonwealth sent a two member Mission to Dominica in November 2016 to carry out an initial assessment. That team has returned here to carry out a further assessment and have stakeholder consultations. While we have moved ahead with implementing reforms we will take into consideration any suggestions made by the Commonwealth team.

Government is pleased that the confirmation and registration process that will be undertaken when the ID Card system is being effected will not disenfranchise legitimate voters but will ensure that the voters list will be revised and a more secure system put in place for the conduct of our elections

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16 Comments

  1. Powerful mind
    April 12, 2017

    We want voters I’d card KNOT national ID card your passport is a natinol ID ,what are we doing with natinol ID card the voters list has to b cleaned are we in wonderland?

  2. UDOHREADYET
    April 11, 2017

    Wow … based on these comments it’s good thing the government isn’t making decisions based on what haters think!

    even something that benefiting them and the country they talking nonsense against!

  3. King
    April 11, 2017

    That’s still not going to stop them from bringing down their people to vote.

  4. April 11, 2017

    How come all of a sudden money bowling over de place like widfire nah?hmmm

    • Mamosa
      April 11, 2017

      Laundry time?

  5. Fake News
    April 10, 2017

    This is further proof of Skerrit using the media to report his lies, propaganda and deception knowing very well that the media is not doing their job and will report his bois patat news. For example, here is DNO reporting Skerrit’s lies in August 2013 https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/business/set-multipurpose-id-cards/

    Then Dec. 2013: https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/govt-rolls-multipurpose-id-cards/
    Here they are again in June 2014: https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/close-4000-enrolled-national-id-cards/

    Then in March 2017: https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/govt-approves-1-6-million-for-national-id-cards/

    I thought Ian Douglas was the only one Skerrit was fooling but it appears that he treating the media the same way because he knows no one will question him and, they will be busy to report what he wants them to report. What a shame on journalism!

  6. indira Ghandi
    April 10, 2017

    But where was all that money hidden,nuh?
    It coming up now.
    well i hope we will get an increase in salary

  7. HOODY
    April 10, 2017

    Another trick by Mister? That PR firm in the US start to deliver

  8. %
    April 10, 2017

    This is just one step…The opposition has to be vigilant,vigilant,vigalent,because this corrupt DLP’s forte,has been leadership by trickery and deception..This is why Dominica is last in the OECS in every key economic indicator…WHAT ABOUT THE BLOATED VOTERS LIST??? Hope it has to be addresses also..Remember Dominica has not had a free and fair general election since 2000.
    SKERRIT MUST GO!
    SKERRIT MUST GO!!
    SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!!!

    • St joe massive
      April 12, 2017

      IN LINTON WE RUST
      LINTON OUT

      Like the pm tell guys like u skerrit must go on to build the international airport for us

  9. The mouth
    April 10, 2017

    Okay so you can’t use CBI funds for recurrent payments. You can however use the funds for one-off bonus payments the equivalent of 5% of the basic salary.

  10. Tj
    April 10, 2017

    It is about time. Let us implement this program ASAP

    • VOTERS ID CARDS
      April 11, 2017

      idiot is voters id cards we want….they will register all hatians and dead people still

  11. Jonathan St jean
    April 10, 2017

    What took so damn long.Skerritt seems to feel that now he is spending money like a drunken soldier that he has already bought the next election that’s why he is finally putting the ID Cards in place

  12. Joker skerrit
    April 10, 2017

    “The Electoral Office subsequently informed that due to technical difficulties encountered they would be moving to a new system.” LMAO, how about you guys tell the public the truth, the real reason the 3mil went to waste was due to the contracted company breached the contract and failed to provide the necessary support, now 3mil of our money down the drain.

  13. dee
    April 10, 2017

    i coming dong for my ID card ein
    I cannot afford diplomatic passport but i want my card

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