St. Vincent and the Grenadines has welcomed the launch of the Multi-Purpose Identification (MPID) System, which is a joint initiative across the four Windward Islands.
The MPID System will facilitate the easy recognition of citizens from participating countries through the use of a unique identifier which begins with the country code.
The cards will contain basic biographical and health information, leaving room for more information and applications to be added as needs arise.
Through the Multi-Purpose Identification System countries will also be able to establish agreements to utilize each other’s databases to verify the authenticity of the identification of travellers.
Rochelle Guy, System Administrator at the Civil Registry Department said this will allow for the easy integration of citizens as part of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) integration process, enabling the seamless and accurate free movement of persons to work and live across the Economic Union.
Ms. Guy said that at present, students of the various Secondary schools here are being used as part of a pilot, for the introduction of the Multi-Purpose Identification System.
The Governments of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have each received soft loan financing in an amount equivalent to US$2.4 Million from the World Bank for implementation of the OECS Electronic Government for Regional Integration Project (EGRIP).
3M Innovative Properties Limited was awarded a turnkey contract in December 2012 to supply, install, integrate, train, support and maintain all technologies, hardware, software and related components for the Multi-Purpose Identification (MPID) System.
The first stage of the implementation of the MPID System will be the registration of citizens at one of four established sites island wide, including a station within the Ministry of Works at the Ministerial Complex.
The government is looking to identify certain electoral offices for registration and the subsequent issuance of the cards.
