Critics welcome ID card deadline removal

By Emmanuel Joseph

Two of the more strident voices opposed to the Trident ID card have welcomed the government’s removal of the January 31 deadline to sign up for the card, but issued a caveat.

Democratic Labour Party (DLP) President Dr Ronnie Yearwood, a longstanding critic of the ID card project, expressed approval for the removal of the deadline announced by Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology Marsha Caddle in the House of Assembly on Tuesday.

However, he emphasised that significant questions still remain unanswered by the government.

“While we welcome the U-turn from Minister Caddle, the third minister responsible for the mess that is the ID card project, people have a right to ask many more questions,” he said in a prepared statement when Barbados TODAY asked for comment.

The DLP leader highlighted concerns dating back almost three years ago and criticised the government’s handling of expert advice and its defence of the ID card law.

“Let’s start with the fact that in 2021, before I took up the leadership of the DLP, I advised publicly the serious concerns, reported in Barbados TODAY, with the ID card, noting that it was discriminatory and could possibly affect a person’s freedom and liberty. Cyber expert Niel Harper and I co-authored a free analysis of the then ID Management Bill for the benefit of the people of Barbados,” he said.

“[Minister Caddle] went on by edict to state that the old ID card was still valid because they recognised the discriminatory nature of the new ID card where people could get cut off from services. This is after three years and tons of advice from myself, other experts, Bajans everywhere. The old ID and the new ID are now both valid. This is after the government sent up the blood pressure of old people and many Barbadians about getting the new ID or else,” Yearwood underscored.

While acknowledging the removal of the deadline, Dr Yearwood stressed that the ID law remains unamended.

“Basically, what the minister said today was just warm words. Her words can’t direct anyone to accept the old ID because the law still remains that the new ID is the only form of ID to access public and private services,” he noted.

Minister Caddle, during her presentation to Parliament, said the Barbados Identity Management Act is to undergo a comprehensive review.

Marcia Weekes, a social advocate leading protests against the Trident ID card, also welcomed the removal of the deadline but said her group, Citizens of Barbados, will continue to seek clarity on the legality of the Trident ID card and its implications for data security and individual rights.

In a prepared statement to Barbados TODAY, she said: “We are, however, still awaiting answers from the government regarding the safety of data for those Barbadians who have pinned the Trident ID and further clarity as it relates to the card, along with receiving services and voting. We also seek further knowledge as it relates to the private sector mandating employees to have such a Trident ID card as [a] means to gain or retain employment.”

Weekes urged the Mia Mottley administration to address concerns regarding the rejection of old laminated IDs by border enforcement in countries such as Canada.

“Barbadians at Canadian borders are being told that only Trident ID cards are the accepted form of National identification of Barbadian citizens,” she contended.

The group emphasised its commitment to transparency and accountability regarding the Trident ID and the Barbados Identity Management Act of 2021 which governs the digital ID card. 

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb