PLEASE publish this article for the benefit of all Guyanese in Guyana and abroad.There are three important documents every Guyanese must possess; A Birth Certificate at the time of birth, an ID card when you reach that age and a passport which can be used for travelling outside of Guyana or which can be used as a secondary form of Identification.
I am hearing that ID cards and registration for ID cards will only be issued at a convenient time prior to a general election.
I am told that if you do not have an ID card you have to wait for three to four years when registration will be convened.
I am told that if you do not hold an ID card, people like pensioners and others who need to do business transactions will have major setbacks and inconveniences.
I am told that the three political parties must be present at the time of registration to acquire an ID card.
I am told by a staff at the Guyana General Consulate in Canada that the country cannot afford to maintain offices and staffing of these offices throughout the country to continuously issue ID cards.
This information was gathered from the general Consulate’s office while enquiring for an ID card personally.
This is a great concern to all Guyanese and I do believe this card is a legitimate piece of ID which should be issued to all who are entitled and require one under all circumstances.
An ID card in any country is a legal piece of information or document which serves its purpose for Identification. To achieve one you must present a Valid Birth Certificate. To be the holder of a Passport you must possess a birth certificate and an ID card.
It is the Government’s responsibility to its citizens to provide this service and not that of other political parties.
Whichever political party is in power, it is their responsibility to provide to the citizens by continuing this essential service.
If other political parties want to query an ID card, they need to use other avenues without disruption of this service. It must be a year -round service.
There should be no excuses by the Government that it is too costly for this service and staffing of offices around the country is too much of a cost.
The GPO where you can acquire a birth certificate or a replacement of a birth certificate and the Passport Offices where passports are issued and replaced should be the place to provide these services.
So there is no need to set up new offices all across the country specially to provide ID cards to the citizens of Guyana just for the purpose on an election. However, offices can be set up permanently at strategic locations to satisfy the population.
It is important to note that this should be a timely service as well similar to that of a birth certificate or a passport.
Think about the inconvenience of those people who are now reaching the age to acquire one, or those people especially the older folks who need one for their pension and so forth.
We cannot ignore that fact that ID cards that are misplaced, destroyed or lost for some reason. Why do people have to be in such inconvenience to get a replacement.
The system must be organised, monitored and be legal and provide a service that is authentic. Records, files, documents etc. pertaining to issuing of ID cards must be secure and be available for tracking and for replacing of this document as it is a very legal piece of personal information.
I understand that political parties are concerned about ID for voters but that should not disturb the ongoing issuance of this document. Setting up offices to validate ID cards for voters at the time of an election should be separate and can be done at the local regional offices for that period.
I do hope that this letter can be published and the Government can make amendments to this process for the benefit to all in need in Guyana and abroad.

BALBIR BAHADURSINGH