Press Release No 25 –
Financial Institutions may use Voter Identification Cards to verify customers
Press Release No. : 25/2012
Date : 22 August 2012
As of 15 November 2012, Voter Identification Cards issued through Fiji’s Electronic Voter Registration (EVR) can be used to verify identification at financial institutions. The Financial Intelligence Unit has issued a formal Policy Advisory to financial institutions in Fiji to allow them to rely on the Voter Identification Card to verify their customers’ identity when they come in to engage in any financial transactions or services. The Ministry of Justice, through the Elections Office, has issued identity cards to Fiji citizens who have registered to vote for the general elections, scheduled for 2014. The Voter Identification Card is issued as part of the new EVR system after proper identification of the voter has been established.
The Voter Identification Card has a unique voter registration number and contains personal details of the person such as the full name, date of birth, and the residential address. In making this announcement, the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Mr Razim Buksh said that the Voter Identification Card is a reliable identification document as it is issued after verification of the voter’s identity by election registration officials using supporting identification documents such as a birth certificate or passport. Mr Buksh said that all financial institutions that are covered under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act are advised that they may rely on the Republic of Fiji Voter Identification Card for the purpose of verifying the identity of a customer or client.
Mr Buksh further said that the Policy Advisory supports Government’s initiative to encourage and facilitate access to financial services amongst all Fijians. Now, an individual can acquire financial products and services in Fiji using the Voter Identification Card. The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said that many people who previously did not have a formal identity card, now have the Voter Identification Card. He said that the Ministry of Justice and the Elections Office have implemented an effective voter identification and registration system that ensures the integrity of the Voter Identification Card and hopes that financial institutions will use this new document to offer banking and other financial services to people, particularly in rural areas and the outer islands.