By: Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
The Government of Guyana’s planned rollout of Electronic Identification (E-ID) cards is being positioned as a key step toward enhancing border management, immigration control, and national security.
According to Captain Gerry Gouveia, National Security Advisor to the President, the new system will allow authorities to more effectively monitor and regulate the movement of citizens and non-citizens, including those residing in Guyana with valid work permits.
“It will take time to register people and sift them out. If we find any person who is here illegally, they will be deported,”
Gouveia stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws.
He explained that while Guyana remains humanitarian in its approach, the government is determined to ensure that national sovereignty and security are protected through proper registration and verification systems.
“We are not in the business of encouraging illegal immigration. The E-ID card will give our systems a better handle on border security and help us maintain order,”
the Security Advisor added.
Addressing public concerns about possible infiltration by sleeper agents or foreign operatives, Gouveia assured that Guyana’s intelligence agencies remain vigilant.
“We have a National Intelligence and Security Agency that was set up specifically to monitor and manage these risks. We have a relatively good handle on the situation,” he affirmed.
An official release from the government outlined that the E-ID Resident Card will also ensure compliance with key national institutions such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), while allowing holders secure access to both governmental and private sector services.
The initiative is expected to modernize the country’s identity management framework, strengthen national databases, and support the government’s broader digital governance and security transformation agenda.
