Emma Martins says that before politicians are allowed to bring in a system ‘that leaves a footprint wherever we go’, questions need to be raised.
Chief Minister Frank Walker has announced that a population register which stores personal information about all Islanders could be in place by 2008.
But Mrs Martins says that there must be large-scale public consultation before such a database is created.
She fears that the proposed system will include details of people’s health, salary, employer and address, among other things.
And saying ‘if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear’ is not good enough for her.
Before the issue is even considered she wants these ‘fundamental’ questions answered: *Why is it needed? *Who will it benefit? *What are the costs, both financial and in terms of people’s rights? Then she wants to know who will have access to the information and how secure it will be.
