FULLY automated and paperless processes will be implemented at Guyana’s airports by the end of this year, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said.

Dr. Jagdeo, at his weekly news conference on Thursday, highlighted that the government is moving closer to implementing its digitization strategy, which will see the streamlining of its airport processes to be more efficient and enhance security.
“We have a project that will make our airport paperless. We are hoping that by the end of the year this will happen; that we have an automated border management system that will pre-screen people that would allow us to know long before they have arrived in the country, who they are and their background. And this would allow us to have these automated gates,” he said.

The new upgrade, Dr. Jagdeo said, will allow for pre-screening of passengers, and the use of automated gates, where travellers can simply swipe their identification documents for expedited entry.
He, however, noted that this system would also easily flag discrepancies.

The General Secretary pointed out that upon entry and screening, all necessary information will be recorded by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
“When you enter into the country, immediately that record goes to a government central database that will be able to track you if you come in on a short-term visa. So, if you overstay, you get flagged; if you come in on a particular visa, you can’t get a work permit,” Dr. Jagdeo said.
“We can know who is coming into our country; we can keep our people secure, and that we can flag undesirables before they come home,” he added.
These initiatives, Dr. Jagdeo underscored, would allow citizens to have a greater level of comfort and security.

Simultaneously, the government is working to roll out its electronic- Identification Cards (E-ID); however, these documents, he noted, will not entirely replace the ID cards that have been historically issued by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
“We decided not to touch the GECOM ID, because you would hear APNU say we want to control the issuance of that ID; GECOM can continue the issuance of its ID, but this [E-] ID will have some of the strongest security features in the world; it will have modern chip,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

He further explained: “Guyanese will have a different colour ID than foreigners, but everyone would be required to have one of these IDs, because, without the ID, you would not be able to open a bank account or access some government services.”
According to Dr. Jagdeo, this new system will be crucial as the country continues to grow; it will allow for the authorities to track illegal immigrants.

This level of biometrics, he pointed out, will also unlock massive opportunities, and a wider access to essential banking services.
“With strong biometrics, this would allow a strong range of financial products offered by the banking system… now that would require high level security and, therefore, greater access around the country through things like online banking, and electronic transfer of money,” Dr. Jagdeo said.
Once this comes on stream, Guyanese living in the hinterland and riverine regions of the country will also be able to access banking functions without having to leave their homes.

“This will make a huge difference, because it’s not just the ID, but what happens with that level of biometrics,” Dr. Jagdeo said.