That every human being is a unique individual with a unique identity is an obvious statement for most people, but not for us. It is, in fact, our duty to protect the identity of the individual. This is a principle you can execute philosophically, but here we are talking about putting things into practice: about the document that represents the individual and offers a summary, black on white, of who he or she is.

It is because we attach maximum importance to the individuality of each citizen that we are strengthening the Maltese identity card. In the near future, Identity Malta will start issuing new ID cards with a number of elements incorporated within them to protect the identity of the holders.

I recently visited the plant where it is being manufactured to see production reach its final stage. The new card is distinct from the previous one because it contains properties that make it even more difficult to tamper with or counterfeit. It is made of polycarbonate substrate, which is a very safe material, with the holder’s details laser engraved.

The ID cards that are currently in circulation are already secure but as technology develops over time we believe that we should embrace that. There will be no mass roll-out; it will be issued for new applicants or for those who apply for a replacement ID card. Hence for most people, the present ID card will remain valid, until eventually replaced. This creates less inconvenience to the citizen.

It is worth mentioning that we have just launched a new residence card for third country nationals, after Identity Malta completed the development and IT optimisation phases. In addition to aesthetic changes, the new residence permit is safer and more difficult to falsify. Just like the new ID cards, the holder’s personal information is laser engraved on polycarbonate, a process that makes it extremely difficult for it to be tampered with.

Identity Malta has also recently embarked on a gradual change to the new passport by using the latest technology. As a result, Maltese citizens have one of the most advanced ID documents in terms of security. In fact, I recently welcomed the news that Malta won the prestigious ‘best regional identity document of the year’ award for its new passport. This pays tribute to the advances we have made in technology and security when it comes to protecting the identity of the individual.

The award recognises our high level of achievement in the world of passports and Government identity cards. It was given to Identity Malta at the latest EMEA High Security Printing Conference, organised by Reconnaissance International in Portugal. More than 270 delegates from 136 organisations and 43 different countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, attended the conference,

This augurs well for Identity Malta’s prospects, as it works on every front to protect Maltese and Gozitan citizens. When we consider our identity, apart from recognising the individuality of every citizen, we must factor the security of the whole country. When we talk about dangers in this world and refer to actions such as fraud or theft, we do not only mean the loss of what is material, but possibly the loss of the most precious thing to us: our identity.

I am proud that Identity Malta is pioneering the use of the best technology and affirming its commitment to continue working to protect our identity and our security, and, above all, ensuring that Malta remains on the map as one of the most developed countries in the use of technology for the protection of the individual.

Alex Muscat is Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship & Communities