Former BLP minister condemns new building ID system

A former Barbados Labour Party (BLP) minister Glyne Murray has launched a scathing attack on a planned national building identification system, branding it “nonsense” and warning of potential privacy breaches. 

Speaking on the Marcia Weekes Show recently, he branded the Barbados Building Identifier (BBID) an “underhand move”, questioning the rationale behind its introduction amid what he said was the success of the existing postal code system.

The BBID is a location-based application designed to assign each building in Barbados a unique six-character code, beginning with the first letter of the parish, akin to the vehicle number plate system. The system aims to precisely pinpoint any building or structure, thereby simplifying the process of locating addresses across the country.

According to the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), the BBID is part of a broader digital innovation strategy aimed at enhancing location-based services in Barbados. 

But expressing scepticism about its necessity, Murray, who served as press secretary to Prime Minister Tom Adams and later as minister of state in the Owen Arthur administration, declared: “This is the same postal service that brought out, some years ago, a postal code which so far has worked well.”

“I never heard anybody complain nor couriers complain. So now, according to them, we’re going to international addresses . . . . What kind of foolishness are we talking about? This is nonsense.”

He further raised concerns about potential privacy implications, referencing a 2021 incident where the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) published the personal information of registered voters online in preparations for general elections. The document contained names, ID numbers, dates of birth, and other residential information of each eligible voter.

“Now what more [information] do they want to give persons so they can find me more easily?” Murray told the programme.

“I see no reason [for the BBID], having already had a postal code.”

He also suggested that the BBID could be a means for the government to gather more information on citizens “to track them”.

Citing the EBC’s mandate which, as stated on the BGIS website, is “to maintain accurate registers for the national and electoral registration systems and to ensure the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections”, Murray contended that the BBID falls outside this remit.

“It is out of character and I don’t trust it,” he declared.

“I think we have to push back on it. If they come to my house, I will tell them I am not cooperating because there is no need to do it.” (SM)