PAM Not Alone on Fingerprinting 

Basseterre,St.Kitts (October 9th 2007):-The Christian Council, The Evangelical Association, The Teachers Union, The Trades and Labour Union, the Bar Association, the Nevis Evangelical Association among others are some of the Non Governmental Organisation (NGO’s) that have supported the recommendation that fingerprints be included on a Voter ID card. Each of the mentioned NGO’s were all represented on the NAERBC or Archibald Committee which presented it’s report to the National Parlimentary and Advisory Commiteee or the Sam Condor committee in an elaborate handing over ceremony  in July of this year. The Archibald committee made a number of recommendations based on the report from the consultative or Newton Committee. The Archibald committee made specific recommendations with regards to the Voter Id Card and it’s features. In the report presented to the Condor committee, which was signed by all the NGO’s mentioned above along with the CCM and NRP political parties in Nevis, the document made specific recommendations with regards to the Voter ID Card . It stated that the card should have the following features:
 
• First name, second name and last name including aliases
• Date of Birth
• Address (specific with street name and house number where possible)
• Photograph
• Constituency and Polling division of applicant
• Electronic encoder (magnetic strip)
• Fingerprints
• Signature of both applicants and electoral official
 
The signed report further stated that the card must be used for voting on the day and anyone who does not have a card must not be allowed to vote. This rules out the need to add names to the list on polling day.
The signators to the Archibald Report which recommended the use of fingerprints on a voter ID were:

• Theodore Hobson (CCM)
• Eugenie Condor(Labour Party)
• Herman Liburd (NRP)
• Clyde Christopher (Teachers Union)
• Dr. Oldain Charles (Evangelical Association)
• Archdeacon Valentine Hodge-(Christian Council)
• Pastor Eversely Pemberton (Nevis Evangelical Association)
• Patricia Dublin-Lewis (Bar Association)
• Stanley Franks Jr. (Labour Union)
• Geofferey Hanley (Director of Youth)
 
~~Adz:Left~~The Chamber of Industry and Commerce expressed concerns about aspects of the entire report and thus have yet to sign off on the report.

The signed report as presented to the Condor or parliamentary committee clearly indicates that some 9 of the 10 NGO’s represented on the Archibald Committee supported the inclusion of fingerprint on the Voter ID. Even the CCM and NRP organization ,who have now indicated support for the non use of fingerprints, supported the idea as they signed off on the report presented to the Condor Committee.This is contrary to the notion the Labour Party has been perpetuating , that PAM is alone on the fingerprint  issue.  The signing of the Archibald report by the Ngo’s clearly indicates that PAM is NOT alone on the fingerprint issue. It is an issue that 60% of consulted citizens indicated that they support as well as several major NGO’s .

Despite the overwhelming support for a Voter ID with a fingerprint, evidenced by the massive march for democracy, the 60% support of nationals consulted as well as many major NGO’s the Labour Party Government continues to ignore the cry and the call of the people.