PICA Acquiring New Border Security Management System

The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) is in the process of procuring a new border security management system, to better enable the entity to collect, process, and analyse information on persons entering the country.

Speaking with JIS News, the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Wynter, said that the new system, which is expected to come on stream in two years, will ensure more secure border operations, particularly as persons take advantage of technology for ease of travel.

“We currently have a border management system, which has been around for a while. One of the things we have recognised, because we’re adding things like kiosks and eGates, is that there is a lot of other technology that is now being brought on board to improve persons crossing borders. It’s important that we upgrade and implement a system that will support the new and emerging technologies,” Mr. Wynter noted.

“Maybe in the next 20 years you’ll carry your passport on your smartphone, and as such, we have to have a border management system that can treat with these new emerging technologies and devices,” he added.

Mr. Wynter noted that a modernised border management system will provide a higher level and better quality of security to identify persons entering the country.

“A better screening mechanism will let us know that these persons are fit and proper,” he noted.

Mr. Wynter said that PICA is committed to improving its efficiency in securing the borders against persons involved in human trafficking, who are a part of criminal organisations, or are engaged in other nefarious activities.

“The criminals are also using technology, and it’s important that we have the appropriate [systems] that can match and assist us,” he pointed out.

He noted that the agency is equipped with a suite of security products such as a document forensic lab, to assist in identifying fraudulent documents and facial recognition systems.