The multi-national system is active in Caricom countries, a collection of nations that began sharing border control responsibilities in 1972.
Since then, the collective has gathered resources to create a government-sponsored national identity card for all of the group's nations. The plastic ID cards feature biometric information, such as photographs and digital fingerprints, in an electronic chip.
The plastic cards can be used upon entry and exit in any of the 10 countries participating in the program. McGeachy said the Caricom's program features a diverse range of optical tools, making it secure and difficult to tamper with. Efforts are being made to include the five Caricom nations not currently in the biometric ID program.
Earlier this month, Ghana created biometric plastic ID cards for individuals participating in the Hajj. The federal government intervened when officials organizing the Hajj expressed concerns that passports were not being processed fast enough to facilitate the annual pilgrimage.
---
Quelle/Source: ID Superstore, 22.10.2010