ID card machine here, ordinance
first before new cards printed
PHILIPSBURG--The long-awaited identification (ID) card machine that will facilitate the printing of credit card-size ID cards locally arrived on the island one day later than originally expected on Saturday, October 9.
The machine, which was secured by the Island Government for approximately NAf. 14,000, will be installed by two experts from Curaçao who are expected to arrive on the island on Sunday, October 17. The two experts are also expected to train local personnel on how to use the machine, Commissioner Louie Laveist told the media Wednesday.
The printing of the new credit card-size IDs will commence once the necessary ordinance is passed. Personnel to operate the machine will officially take up their duties from Thursday, October 14. Laveist thanks Constitutional Affairs Minister Richard Gibson, State Secretary Erno Labega and the Office of the Cabinet of the Lt. Governor for their efforts in accelerating the arrival of the machine.
The Island Government decided to foot the bill for the machine after there had been some disagreement as to who would pay for it. Laveist had earlier called for an amendment to the necessary laws to enable St. Maarten to produce its own credit card-size IDs because uncooperative civil servants in Curaçao were “moving the goal posts,” preventing St. Maarten from obtaining the machine to produce the cards locally.
