GHRA stands firm on its position on E-identification card introduction; Fires back at Finance Ministry

In addition to raising procurement concerns, the human rights body has also questioned the introduction of the e-identification card without data protection legislation.

GHRA stands firm on its position on E-identification card introduction; Fires back at Finance Ministry

The Guyana Human Rights Association is not letting up on its earlier position for the government to put a pause on that E-identification card contract which was recently signed with a German company.

In addition to raising procurement concerns, the human rights body 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.

But the Finance Ministry late last week, dodged the questions raised by the GHRA Association and instead launched a scathing attack on the organization’s head, Mike Mcormack and the work of the organisation.

In a response today, the GHRA said the Finance Ministry chose to completely ignore the substance of its concerns and instead focused on slandering the organisation.

“All of the allegations made about the GHRA: its Executive Board, finances, its political impartiality, and the legitimacy of its elections, are false and baseless. The continuous hostility and vindictiveness of the current Government towards any criticism emanating from civil society is sufficient for the GHRA and others to ensure we have all our ducks in a row as far as routine legal and financial matters are concerned,” the GHRA said.

The Finance Ministry last week said the GHRA was woefully quiet in the aftermath of the 2020 elections and questioned the body’s political stance.

“While the Minister recounted all of the misconduct the GHRA supposedly never addressed during the APNU/AFC Government, he himself knows nothing of it first-hand, having scuttled away immediately after the 2015 elections only to re-surface after the PPP 2020 victory. This no doubt accounts for his parroting the untruth that the GHRA issued no press releases on the electoral shambles. The GHRA issued four – all sent to the Guyana Chronicle – focusing primarily on the failure of the GECOM Chair to make a declaration of the election results and then use her casting vote to ensure approval by GECOM in order to bring the fiasco to an end,” the Human Rights body statement notes.

The body said the PPP has achieved little economically to lift people out of poverty and continue to hide form inclusive politics.

The political opposition has also raised questions about the multi-million dollar contract for the E-identification card and there being no consultations before the contract was signed and the move introduced.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login