New ID cards to help police identify lawbreakers

The eventual rollout of the digital National Trident Identification card will benefit both Barbadians and law enforcement officials.

That is according to Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources Dr Rommel Springer, who says the new and updated cards will be more convenient and easier for motorists to use while also allowing police to speedily identify lawbreakers.

He made the comments during debate on the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2022, in the Lower House today.

“Persons can use the IDs that were issued under the Barbados Identity Management Act, 2021 . . . as a proxy or in place of their drivers’ licence and this does two things that I can think about right now – other than being a convenience for those in the driving public I think it also allows for authorities, whether it be police or officials from the MTW [Ministry of Transport and Works] and traffic inspectors, to do their jobs more easily because they can more easily verify information.

I would not be surprised if they can verify that information on the spot when asking persons to produce their drivers’ licence,” Springer said.

“So, it doesn’t just make the work of the authorities easier but it also forms an important part of that transformative agenda that we have talked about as a Government during this particular administration and the previous administration, where we are looking to make governance in this country smarter, where we are looking to make conducting business in this country, both in the private and public sector, easier . . . . I think this is a step in the right direction and it says that Barbados is adapting to the 21st century and we are evolving as a modern nation,” he said.

Springer said the new digital cards would also end the “embarrassment” Barbadians faced when trying to use the old ID cards in international countries. (RB)