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Monday, January 15, 2007 – Saint Lucians have been warned about the
misuse of government issued passports ahead of the start-up of a new machine
readable issuing system.
The admonition was issued on Friday January 12th, by Police Commissioner Ausbert
Regis, at the official launch of the new system designed to make fraud and
alteration of the Saint Lucian Passport extremely difficult.
Mr. Regis said the passport is the property of government and is entrusted in
the care of holders. He said very stiff penalties will be instituted for the
improper care and misuse of the national document.
“I am hoping that holders of Saint Lucian passports take time to exercise more
security conscious activities or behaviours. One of the most damaging crimes
worldwide is identity fraud, and we need to understand that our passports are
very sacred documents and important. In terms of national security, we need to
take all of the necessary security precautions to preserve that document,” said
the Police Commissioner.
The new Saint Lucia Machine Readable Passport contains many national features
that differentiates it from that of other CARICOM members, and will provide the
opportunity for sharing digital information with other related government
enforcement agencies locally, regionally and internationally.
The new system is provided by the Canadian Bank Note (CBN), which is said to
have over 100 hundred years of experience in document and counterfeit security.
“Our approach is to always ensure that we maintain a long term relationship with
all our customers and work in partnership with them, and provide a fully
functioning system that will survive for many years to come. The project should
live the international community in absolutely no doubt whatsoever, of Saint
Lucia's commitment to fight crime, assist security and to work with the wider
law enforcement community to stem the flow of illegal trafficking and
international criminality,” said Vice President of the Canadian Bank Note (CBN)
Simon Walls.
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Three different types of passports will be issued under the new system:
Burgundy Red Diplomatic passports, Dark Blue Regular Passports and the newly
introduced Green Official Passports for government officials who usually travel
on government business.
Caribbean Bank Note is presently providing training for immigration personnel on
the use of the new system. Officials have advised that launching the new system
does not indicate that new passports will immediately be issued. That process
will start after the Immigration Department is fully prepared to implement the
new system, which Honourable Dr. Keith Mondesir, Minister for Home Affairs and
National Security hailed as Saint Lucia's input towards the fight against
terrorism and white collar transnational crime.
The minister said the new system also conforms to OECS and CARICOM resolutions
towards ease of travel for all regional citizens.
“The new system will also ensure that undesirables and persons with dubious
travel documents are deterred from entering the country by illegal means, and
hence our reputation in the international travel and tourism markets will be
enhanced. This project will result in increased confidence from the
International Community given the new passport issuing and verification,” said
the minister.
The launching of the new machine readable passport system also marked the
start-up of operations of the immigration department at a new location - the
third floor of the Lamar Building on Bridge Street.
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