We learned that Daniel Supplice, the Minister for the Presidency in charge of Haitians living abroad, had met Tuesday, November 8, 2011, Ronald Covil, the Director General of the National Office of Identification (ONI) to discuss of the possibility to provide to the Haitians of the diaspora a permanent identification card.

The concern of the Government to list all Haitians living abroad and to build a database that can inform on their skills, and the desire to assign a permanent number to each son of the country, as the "Social security" in the United States, have undoubtedly motivated this meeting.

Ronald Covil, stated that he worked on the issue for some time. The previous meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) and the MHAVE confirms the beginning of the works.

However, the problem that arises is who identify ? One issue that was debated throughout the discussions. The amended Constitution, including articles on the multiple nationality, is not yet published. Haitians who have acquired foreign citizenship would therefore not eligible under the 1987 Constitution currently in force.

It is true that the cultural affinities remain. Creole continues to cement the Haitian communities abroad. Our compatriots celebrate the national holidays of high symbolic value, throughout the world. Still, it is necessary to establish legal procedures, implement them to allow Haitians of the Diaspora, naturalized or not, to fully enjoy their civil and political rights.

At the end of the meeting, the two senior government officials agreed on the possibility of providing the members of the diaspora, of the National Identification Card (CIN), in the hope of an effective revision of the Haitian legislation.

The Minister suggested to reduce the number of characters to 13 digits. The current 17 is heavy and difficult to remember. A concern shared by Ronald Covil.

HL/ HaitiLibre