People and Social Development Minister Christine Newallo-Hosein has sought to dispel fears, particularly among the elderly, that her ministry’s biometric card is not associated with the devil.
Speaking at the fourth ICT for Seniors programme at Skinner Park, San Fernando, yesterday, Newallo-Hosein spoke about problems they were having in enrolling the elderly in the biometric card programme because of their belief that it had something to do with the mark of the beast.
“Soon we will be launching our biometric card and you would not believe how many problems people are encountering because they are associating it with this 666 and that has nothing to do with anything.
“There is this fear, you have to understand you have to overcome your fear of technology because it is only going to improve your lives and through this programme we will reinforce the great value of our senior citizens and arm them with the technology to continue contributing T&T beyond age 60,” she added.
Interviewed afterwards, Newallo-Hosein said the enrolment started last year. She added: “We called people in to be registered. I mean there was this fear among some people that this was the mark of the beast 666. You know the biometric card you have to put your thumbprint, which of course is furthest from the truth.
“It has no chip being implanted or anything like that. It is a completely safe form of carrying cash, every grant that you are accustomed to accessing will be available on the card.” She said several groceries, pharmacies and even Pennywise have come aboard so it allows people to shop freely and comfortably.
Asked if the fears have caused any delay in the enrolment, she said: “It is coming along but you find, particularly among the elderly, and that is why I raised it here. I want to dispel those fears and rumours that it is the mark of the beast, it is not.” Thus far, she said 40,000 people have already enrolled and registered for the card.
Also urging the elderly to grasp the opportunity to become tech savvy, Science and Technology Minister Dr Rupert Griffith said in the coming months eight Star.tt Centres will be launched in traditionally underserved communities.
“There, you will have access to training, the internet and computers all for free and at your disposal so I encourage you, if you live in the vicinity of the present centres or those to be opened, to take advantage of them and put them to good use.” Assuring ICT for Seniors programme is here to stay, he said 1,800-plus seniors attended the previous programmes and another 500 to 600 were registered for yesterday’s event.