EBC: ID cards with a difference coming

IDENTIFICATION Cards (ID) with a difference will soon be provided in Trinidad and Tobago. The Elections and Boundaries Commission, in making the announcement said the new-look cards will have a much cleaner look with a sharper picture and signature or thumb-print and the Trinidad and Tobago Coat of Arms in full colour. Towards this end, the EBC has embarked on a major upgrade to its systems for producing the ID Cards. It said when the upgrade is completed, the public can look forward to faster delivery of the Cards, as the new system will significantly speed up the preparation process which now takes approximately two months. The upgrade involves replacement of the existing computer equipment as well as the expansion of the image capture and quality control functions.

Ten persons are currently being trained in the system. According to the EBC, the end result will be improved reliability and more secured data, and the versatility of the software will allow for back-up use, if necessary. The solutions are being provided by De La Rue Global Services of Hampshire, England, with hardware supplied by IBM. The EBC said while the new system is expected to be ready for user-testing in early August, the public will not see any immediate change in delivery time for ID Cards, because the upgrading activity has resulted in a backlog which has to be cleared. Also, the EBC would need time to transfer data onto the new system. It is reckoned that the exercise will be completed in December, with the new ID Card system being fully operational in January 2004.