Gov’t continues dialogue over electronic ED cards

The search continues to find a firm that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will partner with for the Electronic Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) Cards.

Cabinet met with two other firms this week, evaluating their proposals for the transition.

This follows another meeting last week with a different firm.

All three firms, in presenting to Cabinet, addressed the capability of better marketing, improved research capability, and identification of persons of interest from any police database.

The Customs and Excise Division, The Immigration Department, the Inland Revenue Department and Officials from the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Finance were all present to evaluate the proposals and to help Cabinet determine which is the better-suited firm.

“One of the firms explained yesterday that there would be minimal change to the infrastructure at the airport,” Chief of staff Lionel Hurst said.

A decision has not been made but with the December 31st deadline fast approaching that Prime Minister Gaston Browne had mentioned for the transitioning to electronic cards, a decision will have to be made very soon.

Several Caribbean countries have implemented this new form in recent times.

The Virgin Islands and Dominica were the most recent islands to step into the digital age. Both countries systems went live last month.

They join other islands like Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Curacao, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Jamaica, The Bahamas, St. Maarten and the Dominican Republic.

Turks and Caicos and Trinidad and Tobago are presently working on their portals.