Issue: State incompetence
Published:Saturday | November 20, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
It is not possible to solve crime in Jamaica if the Government of Jamaica doesn't know the names and the whereabouts of its citizens. According to a recent report, "The police are asking Wharf Dog, Gun Hawk, Dog Face, Bull Frog and Pepper Spray to report to the nearest police station for questioning for the latest shooting in Kingston 6." Which mother on earth would give her children such names? Anybody can have nicknames, but the Government must have, or be able to get, the names given at birth of these individuals.
Reading the article titled 'Stolen - passport agency grapples with identity theft in Jamaica', carried by The Gleaner on November 18, made me scratch my head in disbelief. Jamaica is not alone when it concerns identity theft, but seems to be alone in not trying to control this crime.
We need a system in Jamaica so that the authorities can check and double-check an individual whenever he or she wants to open a bank account, get a passport, get a driving licence, register a car, buy a house, rent a car or apply for a visa. If the Government of Jamaica introduces a national ID system, which compels every Jamaican from 10 years old to carry an ID card at all times, we might see much improvement. The ID card would have all the details of the person with a special number assigned to it. That special number is the social security number, which consists of the date of birth and four more digits (141214-2445). The address of the cardholder should not be on the card but instead placed in the central database.
With a central database, the Government would know who the criminals are from the honest person. If someone should call a government agency for some documents and can't tell his or her address when asked, then you know something fishy is going on.
Will the introduction of ID cards stop the flow of crime completely? No, it won't. But it will help police and government agencies to start from somewhere, and people will be more fearful of getting caught.
I am, etc.,
HERO CARLITO
Brussels, Belgium