The implementation of a digital ID system has been long talked about in many Caribbean countries but has not been realised. However, digital IDs are becoming increasingly essential as countries continue their digital transformation efforts to become digital societies and digital economies.

 

Across the Caribbean region and to varying degrees, countries have spoken about the need for national digital identification (ID) system. Some countries already have a national ID card, and at least conceptually, transitioning to a digital ID system should be easier than for countries that do not have one.

In our article published in 2019, 4 reasons why an effective digital ID system may still be years away in the Caribbean, we outlined key arguments that may be delaying countries from getting to the point of implementing digital IDs. However, nearly four years later, having experienced a global pandemic and an uptick in the urgency for countries to realise their digital transformation, it does not appear that we in the region have moved any closer to implementing a digital ID system. Having said this, there has been a growing focus by countries on developing their digital economy, along with several national and regional initiatives that are leveraging ICT and technology to realise a more digital and seamless government.

For example, recently in Jamaica, there were reports on the need for electronic voting, and on a project to implement an electronic health records system in the public health sector. With regard to electronic voting, a number of benefits were identified including greater accuracy and reducing the manipulation of elections and the accusations of rigged voting. However, integral to a successful electronic voting system is knowing and being able to keep track of who is voting and who is eligible to vote. Further, and cognisant of the technology available, a fully digitalised process that facilitates remote voting should also be among the system’s capabilities, the identification of eligible voters is critical.

Similarly, and with regard to the proposed health record system, it should facilitate unified and cohesive health management and reporting. It should be able to follow citizens across the various healthcare facilities they access, such as hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices and pharmacies – essentially following them from the cradle to the grave. Once again, a unique ID is critical, and a digital ID that can connect all of these dots is a beneficial application of that system.

Although we highlight just two examples, almost every Caribbean country is at the stage where it is embarking on digital projects and initiatives that could benefit from being underpinned by a digital ID system to meaningful advance its digital transformation effort and impact. We thus highlight some factors that suggest that can no longer drag their feet on adopting digital IDs.

 

Countries are moving past digitisation and digitalisation

For at least the last 10 to 15 years, Caribbean countries have been implementing a broad range of electronic (e-)government initiatives to better engage and more efficiently and effectively provide services to their various publics online. In order to do so, and in the first instance, the focus was on digitisation, to convert print and non-digital records and information into a digital format. The next stage was digitalisation during which processes were digitised. Examples include filing taxes, submitting to clear goods held at Customs, government procurement, and driver’s licence renewal, to name just a few.

Progressing from digitisation and digitalisation is digital transformation, which is the disruption of existing processes, and in the case of government should include the elimination of silos and more seamless transactions within and across government, with a view to continuing to improve efficiency and effectiveness. To that end, having a single digital ID system that can be used across all public sector systems and networks to authenticate and validate users is essential in realising a whole-of-government approach, which increasingly is becoming imperative.

 

Essential for financial and social inclusion

Across the Caribbean region, often, there is no piece of identification that all citizens are required to have. Hence, although passports and driver’s licences tend to be acceptable forms of identification, it is entirely possible that large segments of the population do not have any of them, as they do not travel or know how to drive a car, and so their identification cannot be easily confirmed. However, to access a variety of public and private sector services, individuals must be able to provide at least one piece of ID, and if they cannot, they are not eligible to access those services.

Financial and social exclusion are issues that countries (and the region as a whole) are trying to address. However, to do so, the ability of individuals to prove who they are must be resolved, which is essential to facilitate their financial and social inclusion. A national ID card could be a solution, but in our increasingly digital paradigm, this is another essential application of a digital ID system, especially within the Caribbean context.

 

From mobile ID to digital ID solutions

Thanks to the proliferation of mobile/cellular phones and smartphones in particular, a user’s device and phone number became a means of identification and validation, which for example, facilitated the development of mobile wallets and mobile money services, which fostered access for people and in circumstances that had not previously been addressed. This widespread availability is being leveraged by Caribbean governments as they launch digital currencies and digital wallets, in addition to the commercial banking and money services that users need to access.

There is thus a growing appreciation that through portable digital devices, an authentication system already exists that can support digital ID credentials, to allow users to access a broad range of government and commercial services. Being able to leverage mobile phones and mobile ID credentials can allow countries to not only capitalise on that existing framework, but also to fast-track deployment and use of the digital ID system they wish to implement, thanks to the high mobile phone ownership that exists in virtually all countries.

 

In summary, Caribbean governments need to move more assiduously from words – talking about implementing a digital ID system – to action. They have been embarking on important e-initiatives that often and arguably, are not having the anticipated impact. A contributing factor could be the fact that many of these projects are being done in isolation from each other; so the benefits across sectors, government ministries, departments and agencies – and the much-multiplied impact – cannot be realised.

A digital ID system is an essential thread to connect individuals or citizens to services across government, which can then be applied across the private sector thus moving us closer to digital societies and digital economies.

 

 

Image credit:  REINER SCT (Pexels)