Citizenship

Jun 28, 2015 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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(Excerpts from speech delivered in the National Assembly on Wednesday 25th June 2015, by Hon Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix DSM, MP)
The word ‘Citizenship’ refers to the status of a person recognized by custom or law as being a member of a state. A person may have dual citizenship, which Guyana recognises under its constitution and ordinary legislation.

The Ministry of Citizenship has been created with the purpose of regularizing, streamlining and formalizing the structures and systems that regulate citizenship. These structures and systems have until now been functioning as disparate units unable to share information and therefore not being fully able to serve the purpose for which they were designed.
Under the new Ministry there will be a review of the existing system and structures and the formulation of a strategic plan to integrate these systems, and to achieve the following;
• the development of a comprehensive Citizenship Policy for presentation to the National Assembly;
• engagement of the requisite stakeholders;
• decentralization of National Registration, Immigration and Border Policy Reform and the;
• development of a National Development Model that includes civic education to transform the sector for the realization of the full potential of our citizenry.
It is proposed that the Ministry of Citizenship will comprise two divisions; one involved in the registration of births, deaths and marriages while the other would be engaged with the registration of citizens, Naturalization, Visas, extension of stays, passport application and other related matters. The effective coordination of activities flowing from both systems will require a clear and well defined structure which is still in the developmental stages.
The Ministry intends to register at birth or soon thereafter all persons born in Guyana, and a unique number given to the newborn which will remain with that person until death. A database must be developed of all registered persons that can be accessed by stakeholders, like the National Registration System.
When a citizen attains the age of fourteen and is eligible to acquire an Identification Card, information will be readily available and the number issued at birth transferred to the ID Card. Similarly agencies such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Immigration Services and the Ministry of Education, Health etc. all must have access to the central database, where reliable information on Guyanese citizens is available. This will ensure that citizens use the names with which they were registered at birth and that wherever a Guyanese goes their identities could be established by referring to the database.
A birth certificate is a basic document which must be based on reliable data when required to be used to verify identity. Every citizen must possess a birth certificate. In Guyana the culture seems to suggest that this document is not properly valued, necessitating several replacements by one individual, while others cannot acquire one because of lack of information like place of birth or some other source information. This is an unsatisfactory situation which a secure and reliable database will remedy.
At fourteen, when ID Cards are issued, biometrics can be taken, which is another feature that can aid in the identification of citizens. The use of such scientific methods, along with the relevant information technology to share data globally, would be a useful aid in the decentralization of services. There is no reason why a Citizen should have to travel from Corriverton to New Amsterdam and Georgetown to acquire a passport or a birth certificate. With decentralization, these services will be made available in every Municipality to ease the inconvenience to Citizens.
A foreign national, not from a Commonwealth country, having lived in Guyana between five and seven years can apply for Naturalization and succeed. This process happens without any test to demonstrate reasonable knowledge of the language, (where English is not spoken), our history, and our way of life. Examples from other countries suggest that apart from residency in the country for five years or more, there is need to write and pass a written examination and submit oneself for an interview and background check. A review of Chapter 14:01 to correct these shortcomings may be necessary.
Guyana is a developing country with a small population and a high rate of unemployment, therefore jobs for Guyanese must be protected. Foreign investors who enter Guyana to generate wealth must be cognizant of this fact, and consideration must be given to the employment of Guyanese labour. A Partnership for National Unity had cause to protest a foreign company that was allowed to exclusively employ foreign nationals; even for unskilled positions. Our laws permitted this situation, but we must ensure that the requisite laws are changed so that our citizens are protected. This must never happen again.
The aforementioned measures require amendments to our laws, to include new initiatives and to alter old legislation…. Guyana must look to the developed world for best practices to guide our way forward, so that we can move in the right direction.

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