OECS Secretariat Launches Multi-Purpose Identification (MPID) System in Grenada

Grenada’s PM Hon. Tillman Thomas

(Monday February 04, 2013) Grenada’s Prime Minister and Minister responsible for ICT in Grenada Hon. Tillman Thomas has welcomed the launch of the Multi-Purpose Identification (MPID) System which he says will facilitate the easy recognition of citizens from participating countries through the use of a unique identifier which begins with the country code.

Through the Multi-Purpose Identification (MPID) System which was officially launched in Grenada on the 28th January 2013, countries will also be able to establish agreements to utilize each other’s databases to verify the authenticity of the identification of travelers. Given that Grenada is the lead country in CARICOM for science and technology development, Prime Minister Thomas expressed satisfaction that the Multi-Purpose Identification (MPID) System fulfills both CARICOM’S and the OECS’ Agenda for the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He further highlighted that the application of regional ICT and E-Government solutions is essential to the Economic Union’s competitiveness and socio-ecological sustainability: “As we deepen the integration process across our island states, the system will enable the seamless and accurate free movement of persons to work and live across the Economic Union; and provide a fee-for-service for non-government entities to access a Web Portal to use the Vetting and Verification Services.”

In light of the second anniversary of the operationalization of OECS Economic Union on January 21st 2013, Prime Minister Thomas also noted that the MPID System will facilitate the easy recognition of citizens from participating countries through the use of a unique identifier which begins with the country code.

Karlene Francis

The Official Launch Ceremony marked the commencement of the MPID System Inception Workshop from 28th to 30 January 2013 and the MPID System Senior Steering Committee meeting from 31st January to 1st February 2013. The participants included Senior Government Officials from the Civil Registry, Legal Affairs Department, Electoral Office, Immigration and Passport Division and the Information Technology Divisions of the four participating countries.

The OECS EGRIP Project Manager, Ms. Karlene Francis, said the objective of the Inception Workshop was to discuss the MPID Solution and gain feedback from the participants, while the objectives of the Senior Steering Committee meeting were to discuss the requirements and framework for implementation of the MPID System in each country. Ms. Francis emphasized the importance of the MPID System in facilitatating the protection of citizens’ identity and the reduction in identity fraud. She further highlighted the following benefits of the MPID System:

• Provide a cost-effective, incremental approach to integrating existing identity systems;

• Provide a unique, interoperable, best practice means of identifying each OECS stakeholder;

• Yield savings through the implementation of a common framework for vetting and verification of citizens within each country and the region; and

• Enable a seamless and accurate free movement of persons to work and live across the OECS Economic Union.

Participants at OECS MPID Workshop

3M Innovative Properties Limited was awarded a turnkey contract in December 2012 to supply, install, integrate, train, support and maintain of all technologies, hardware, software and related components for the Multi-Purpose Identification (MPID) system at a single site in the four participating countries: Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Ms. Karen Marcotte, 3M Project Manager, noted that 3M has provided secure Identity Management solutions since the mid 1980s.

The Governments of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines have each received soft loan financing in an amount equivalent to US$2.4 Million, from the World Bank, for implementation of the OECS Electronic Government for Regional Integration Project (EGRIP). The loans are provided under a special facility of the concessional lending arm of the World Bank, the International Development Association (IDA).