The Organization of American states is assisting the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica in modernizing its civil registry.

This initiative is part of an OAS project entitled Universal Civil Identity Program in the Americas (PUICA) which is funded by the Government of Canada.

The project is expected to improve the functioning of civil registries in the OECS sub-region.

Collaboration between the OAS and Government of Dominica started more than two years ago under the OECS Civil Registry and Identity Project funded by the Chilean Government.

The current modernization process is expected to have four components: digitization and preservation of records; modernization of the legal framework; computerization of the processes; and creation of an identity system.

In effect OAS assistance will ensure the digitalization of births and deaths records, improved safety and management, and facilitate electronic printing of birth certificates and create the possibility for a national identification card.

Last year the OAS facilitated the site visit of three high level civil registry officials from Dominica to observe the Haitian model.

This week, newly appointed OAS Caribbean coordinator, Mr. Paul Hughes, visited Dominica to discuss strategies to execute the project.

Mr. Hughes and the local OAS Representative Dr. Joseph Campbell met with the Registrar Mr. Reginald Winston and the Deputy Registrar Mr. Ossie Walsh as well as personnel of the ICT unit.

In addition, the OAS team met with Deputy Director of the Dominica Social Security, Mr. Augustus Ettienne to apprise him of the OAS initiative that can be beneficial to his institution.

OAS assistance will be primarily in the form of advisory services, provision of equipment and training of local personnel.