The Ministry of Finance has has taken aim at the Guyana Human Rights Association, following the association’s questioning of the recent contract signed between the Government of Guyana and a German company through a United Arab Emirates businessman for the production and supply of a new e-identification card.

The GHRA in addition to raising procurement concerns, has also questioned the introduction of the e-identification card without data protection legislation. The signed contract is valued at more than US$35 million.

In a two-page statement that broadsided the GHRA as a “one-man” organisation, the Finance Ministry dismissed the organisation’s concerns while assuring that all procurement laws were followed in the issuance of the contract.

“Contrary to the false assertion made by the GHRA, the contract in question was awarded in full conformity with the Laws of Guyana including the Procurement Laws,” the Finance Ministry said.

According to President Irfaan Ali, Veridos was among two companies recommended by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum after the Government requested the assistance of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2021.

He said their identification system solutions were evaluated by a technical team comprising members of the National Data Management Authority, and the Office of the National ICT Advisor, and Veridos came out successful.

But the Finance Ministry, has nonetheless maintained, that there was nothing abnormal about the procurement process employed.

It said that Veridos is a highly regarded supplier of integrated identity solutions, and its shareholding comprises two major entities operating in the secure printing industry worldwide, Giesecke & Devrient and Bundesdruckerei GmbH, both of whom have unchallengeable longstanding reputations globally.

Railing into the Human Rights Association, the Finance Ministry said it is apt to note that the GHRA has “suddenly found its voice”, claiming that the association was quiet in the aftermath of the 2020 elections and also on the closure of the sugar estates under the last government which saw thousands of workers being laid off.

In a clear attack on the organization, the Finance Ministry said the GHRA is a sham organization ran by a single individual who is highly partisan.

It nonetheless maintained that the contract with Veridos was lawfully executed, with an internationally reputable group.

It said the project will transform citizen experience in Guyana with the introduction of the integrated electronic national identification card.

According to the Ministry of Finance, once introduced, the card will enable citizens to interact with all government agencies and many private sector entities using this single unique and secure identifier, and will vastly improve the efficiency of service delivery to citizens.

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