New ID system to better border security and tackle migrant threats – VP
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has assured that the Government is actively addressing national security concerns linked to the influx of Venezuelan migrants, while also committing to a balanced approach and constitutional obligations.
Speaking during his weekly press conference, Jagdeo welcomed recent remarks by Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan, who stated that migrants entering the country are carefully vetted. Jagdeo noted that the government has long been engaged in covert national security operations, despite public discourse questioning the level of state oversight.
“I was extremely pleased that the Chief of Staff clarified one issue […] the issue of Venezuelan migrants in Guyana,” Jagdeo said. “It has been peddled for a long time that we are not aware of the magnitude of their presence, or that we are ignoring the national security threat this may pose. But Brigadier Khan made it clear they are being vetted. Intelligence operations are ongoing in migrant communities. We take this threat seriously.”
Further, the Vice President emphasised that while some security efforts remain confidential, the state is not idle. He reaffirmed that both vigilance and humanity are central to the government’s approach.
“We must be mindful of the threat, but we also have to be compassionate,” Jagdeo added. “At various points in our own history, Guyanese sought refuge in Venezuela, Suriname, and other parts of the world. We expected dignity for our people, and we must now do the same.”
Moreover, on improving monitoring, Jagdeo outlined government plans to roll out a Single Electronic Identification System within a year. The system, developed through a US$35.4 million contract with German firm Veridos Identity Solutions, will provide every Guyanese citizen with a high-security biometric ID card. Foreigners residing in Guyana will receive a separate residency card with the same advanced features.
The biometric cards will be essential for accessing services such as banking and employment.
“Without that card, foreign residents will not be able to open a bank account or gain lawful employment,” the Vice President explained. “Employers will be obligated to verify that workers possess valid documentation.”
The system, he added, will allow the state to track the presence of all non-Guyanese in the country and strengthen surveillance.
“Once these cards are issued, and as we install 3,000 to 4,000 new security cameras across Guyana, we’ll be able to know exactly where people are.”
Jagdeo also addressed the confusion surrounding who qualifies for Guyanese citizenship, explaining that the Constitution mandates recognition of persons with Guyanese parentage or grandparentage, even if they appear to be foreign. “That’s not a PPP or APNU decision that is in our supreme law,” he stated.
The electronic ID project, he said, represents a “clear and methodical” solution to managing internal security and migration.
Meanwhile, speaking to the issue early this week, Brigadier Khan had echoed the government’s balanced stance, saying that while Venezuela’s internal crisis has driven people across Guyana’s borders, national security remains a top priority. “
Moreover, Brigadier Khan also detailed that all migrants are vetted and processed by a multi-agency team, including the GDF, Guyana Police Force, Ministry of Health, and regional authorities. The Defence Force, he added, is also involved in humanitarian outreach locally and across the Caribbean.
He reaffirmed the GDF’s commitment to protecting Guyana’s sovereignty while supporting lawful and peaceful migration.
Meanwhile, Jagdeo further explained that while some people will be singled out for looking Venezuelan, they may have Guyanese heritage. According to the Constitution of Guyana, these persons can be given citizenship based on their parents or grandparents being Guyanese.
