The Government is close to islandwide rollout of the National Identification System (NIDS). Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the announcement as he officially launched the NIDS Technical Pilot at Jamaica Post Central Sorting Office in Kingston, on Tuesday (December 13). The Card Personalisation Centre, situated at that location, was also opened. NIDS, an electronic form of identification, will provide a comprehensive and secure database for capturing and storing the personal information of citizens and non-nationals ordinarily residing in Jamaica. Mr. Holness said the NIDS will be rolled out in various phases, with the technical pilot implementation being the first, “after which we will commence a national rollout all across Jamaica”. Gov’t Close to NIDS National Rollou

The Government on Friday (June 3) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with deposit-taking institutions to participate in the pilot of the National Identification System (NIDS). Representatives of the Jamaica Bankers Association signed on behalf of the banks during a ceremony held at the Office of the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in his remarks at the signing, said that NIDS will improve the ease of doing business while further advancing Jamaica’s quest of becoming a digital society. The Prime Minister said that the partnership with the banks will ensure that there is a simplified process when opening bank accounts using the national identity verification and authentication system. “Once someone comes to your bank with the NIDS card… that’s all you need for the verification of the identity,” he pointed out. The Prime Minister said that the absence of proper identification (ID) remains a significant barrier for thousands of Jamaicans, noting that $300 million in assistance provided by the Government through the COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) programme remains uncollected due to the inability to verify the identity of persons. He encouraged members of the banking fraternity to engage their customers about the benefits

More than 11,000 undocumented Jamaicans will be provided with their birth certificates free of cost by the Government during this year. This will be facilitated under the $50 million ‘Project BirthRight’ initiative, which will supply the important document to eligible Jamaicans who fall below a certain income threshold. This was announced by Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, during his 2022/23 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on May 24. Mr. Green said the project is being embarked on, as the Government recognises the challenges persons without birth certificates encounter, especially when trying to conduct business or access government services. “Normally, they turn to the Member of Parliament (MP) or Councillor with an appeal for help, because the reality is they normally are unable to afford accessing the birth certificate,” he said. The Minister noted that in recognition of Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence, the project will be kick-started by MPs who will each supply the names of 60 persons in their constituencies who need birth certificates and fit the established criteria. Eligible persons must be earning less than $37,000 in household income monthly. “In this our 60th year, we are

Citizens are again being assured that their personal information will be safe under the National Identification System (NIDS). This assurance comes from Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, who said that the Government is taking every step to comply with international standards and best practices for data security and privacy. “The Government has engaged the Estonians to work with the Project Executing Unit to develop all the security policies and standards for the NIDS. These standards will be adopted and implemented by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) during the pilot of NIDS,” he said. The Minister was giving an update on the NIDS project during his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 24). He noted that a Jamaican cybersecurity firm has also been engaged to participate in the “hardening” of the National Identification System, which will work concurrently with international security experts. Minister Green said that the NIDS databases are encrypted by transparent data encryption in fulfilling the requirements outlined in the National Identification and Registration Act (2021). He explained that transparent data encryption secures the information within the database’s physical files, so

The Government has unveiled the design of Jamaica’s first National Identification (ID) card, which is engraved with national symbols and has 26 security features. The uniquely designed card, which is a key deliverable of the National Identification System (NIDS) project intended to provide a safe, convenient, and reliable means of proving an individual’s identity, was revealed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, and Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Floyd Green. This was done as Minister Green made his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 24), He informed that the ID card design and proof print were approved in February 2022, and the first batch of test cards were received by the Government of Jamaica on May 16, 2022. “Understanding the gravity of the task before us, the Office of the Prime Minister established a committee consisting of professionals from the Government of Jamaica, the private sector and international e-ID security experts to design Jamaica’s first National ID card,” he said. Mr. Green informed that national symbols – Coat of Arms, the Doctor Bird, National Flag and the Ackee – are featured on the card,

Approximately two million records at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) relating to birth, marriage, death, and adoption, created from 1930, are to be digitised under the National Identification System (NIDS). A contract was signed with Fujitsu Limited at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Friday (May 6) to facilitate the process. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in his address at the signing ceremony, noted the importance of digitisation in safeguarding the vital records at the RGD. He said that even though measures have been taken to secure them, some may still be “at risk of national disasters or are internally deteriorating.” As such, he said that the digitisation process, will preserve the records, and ensure correct documentation and verification of status, which is important for public accountability. The Prime Minister said that “as the society becomes more sophisticated and complex, in order to reduce the complications of accountability [and] security, you have to introduce technology.” “So, when we say we are digitising our economy by introducing technology, it is about increasing our capacity to serve and take on complex functions in a simple way,” he pointed out. Minister Without Portfolio in the OPM, the Hon. Floyd

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Issuing of identification cards (IDs) under the National Identification System (NIDS) will begin through a pilot programme to be undertaken in Kingston and St Andrew. According to Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Floyd Green, the exercise is expected to kick off in the second half of this year. He was speaking during Tuesday's meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives. During the meeting, Green explained that enrolment sites will be established at post offices in collaboration with the Post and Telecommunications Department, to maximise existing resources. He said once the pilot phase is completed, an islandwide rollout will follow. Green added that the Office of the Prime Minister, under which NIDS falls, will also be partnering with the Registrar General's Department and the Electoral Office of Jamaica to assist with the full rollout of ID cards across the island. Jamaica's national identification system will provide a comprehensive and secure structure to enable the collection and storage of identity information. Issuing of NIDS ID cards to be piloted in Corporate Area soo

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the National Identification System (NIDS) will be fully operational this year. “I’m hoping that by the end of the year, we will have a significant portion, if not the majority of the population properly identified in the National Identification System,” Mr. Holness said. He was speaking during a tour of the NIDS card production centre at the Post and Telecommunication Department on South Camp Road in Kingston, on January 4. The facility will be responsible for producing the identification (ID) cards issued under NIDS. It includes the production centre, vault area and enrolment site. Prime Minister Holness, in outlining the importance of NIDS, noted that when a service is provided, the Government must be able to identify the beneficiaries and “be able to account to you the citizens, as to how your funds are spent.” “So there is, even now, a greater need to be able to identify who benefits when public resources are spent. But, more than that, we need to be able to identify our citizens so we can properly plan. One of the big problems we have always faced, as a government, is that some get, and others don’t,”

House Passes NIDS Bill Jamaica is one step closer to implementing a new identification system, following the passage of the National Identification and Registration Act, 2021 in the House of Representatives on October 13. The National Identification System (NIDS) will provide a comprehensive and secure structure to enable the collection and storage of identity information. This secure voluntary tool can also verify an individual’s identity, facilitate the electronic signing of documents and securely access a range of government services online. In April 2019, the Constitutional Court highlighted deficiencies in the previous 2017 Act. However, these have been fully addressed in the new legislation. The Bill, which has undergone several adjustments, consultations and a Joint Select Committee since, was passed with 14 amendments with the support of the Opposition. Making his contribution to the Debate on the Bill, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said introduction of the new legislation and its accompanying policies will redound to the benefit of all Jamaicans, particularly those who have been denied access to government services in the past because of a lack of legal identification documents. He pointed out that the new law, which will be voluntary, will not infringe on the rights

Keith Duncan | NIDS as a vehicle for building trust On the eve of the parliamentary vote on the National Identification and Registration Act, 2021, it is an excellent time to pause and reflect on our journey to this point, as well as on what we have all learned along the way. As it has matured, Jamaican society has come to value the process of debating the merits and demerits of policies, laws, and procedures. With the growing penetration of the internet and social media, the voice of the ordinary Jamaican has been amplified. This is a great thing for any democracy, as it allows citizens to more fully participate in the decision-making, legislation and direction of their country. The National Identification System (NIDS) is a notable example of this phenomenon. The debate around NIDS, which included issues such as biometrics, data security and privacy, was fundamentally about one of the most persistent deficits in Jamaica’s national life: the deficit in trust. Since the NIDS proposal could affect how Jamaicans interact with the State from the cradle to the grave, since it would touch on matters as sensitive as marriage, employment and universal financial inclusion, it was not surprising that

NIDS Bill a living representation of the views of J’can people - Chuck “A living representation of the views of the Jamaican people,” was how Justice Minister, Delroy Chuck, described the new National Identification and Registration Act 2021 (NIRA) as he opened the debate on the Bill in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Chuck also described the legislation as historic, citing that it embodies the recommendations of a Joint Select Committee of Parliament in relation to the previous iteration of the legislation that was shot down as having been unconstitutional, in the Constitutional Court. “These recommendations were made as a result of an intensive round of contributions from concerned citizens of Jamaica, members of the Diaspora and various stakeholder interest groups. This Bill is one of the most responsive pieces of legislation ever put to this honourable House,” said Chuck in his opening remarks. He noted that the joint select committee held 32 meetings before the report was submitted to Parliament for debate and approval just before the summer break in July. Chuck told the House that the legislative framework for the National Identification and Registration System (NIDS) has been strengthened and improved in order to: -Recognise and protect

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 20) approved the Report of the Joint Select Committee on the National Identification and Registration Act, 2020. This legislation makes provision for a voluntary and secure national identification system (NIDS) for Jamaica. The initially proposed legislation was withdrawn and the National Identification and Registration Act, 2021, which incorporates the recommendations proposed by the Joint Select Committee, was tabled. In his remarks, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said in April 2019, the Constitutional Court highlighted deficiencies in the previous 2017 Act, adding that these have been fully addressed in the new legislation. “The Bill incorporates various inputs arising out of the Joint Select Committee process. The committee made several recommendations that have served to shape the legislation to a more widely accepted fit for purpose and overall better legislation to underpin the governance and oversight of the national identification system,” Mr. Holness said. The Prime Minister informed that all Jamaican citizens or persons ordinarily resident in Jamaica will have the opportunity to voluntarily enrol for a national identification card protected by several safeguards. “We are aware of the concerns of the right to privacy and the security of identity information, and as

  THE EDITOR, Madam: The National Identification System (NIDS) has so far divided opinions in Jamaica. The general atmosphere towards the proposed system does appear to be negative; however, there is potential for a transparent system which will revolutionise the way we operate. One of the main benefits of NIDS will be the transparency which it will provide. Jamaica currently lacks a dedicated national ID, hence the over reliance on functional forms of identification, such as driver licence, voter ID, passport, etc. The advantage with NIDS is that it will be a digital platform, with layers of cybersecurity attached to enhance safety and accessibility. The NIDS system is being built from scratch to support optimal function in this ever-advancing digital era. One potential benefit of NIDS will ultimately allow citizens the ability to know who accessed their information and for what reasons. The official NIDS website states that NIDS, “will permit the digitalisation of government; reduce bureaucracy, and create dynamic and transparent records of government-to-citizen transactions”. Belgium, for example, with their eID project, allows citizens to keep track of who has accessed their data stored on the card and for what purpose. NIDS has the potential to be revolutionary through

  THE EDITOR, Madam: Maintaining the confidentiality of information is crucial when dealing with the information of individuals. It is no secret that the current system is urgently in need of an upgrade and with the Government’s plan to implement the National Identification System (NIDS), safeguarding the privacy of those enrolled must be at the forefront of such a policy. The Government referred to the secure storing of citizens’ biometric and biographic data on separate databases and having a statutory body in place to ensure the validity of the system. I must also commend the plans of the government to ensure that persons employed at the various related agencies will be properly vetted to minimise corruption within these agencies. This is a great step taken by the government to ensure the security of the system. Also, while it will be difficult to maintain a system that is fully secured, the new NIDS will be a great improvement to the current system. Digitising the databases may lead to the risk of them being exposed to hackers; however, citizens will be alerted whenever their data is accessed. The same cannot be said about the current system, which involves a lot of manual

The joint select committee (JSC) of Parliament examining the revised National Identification and Registration (NIDS) Bill has agreed on the eight members of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) forming the oversight National Databases Inspectorate (NDI) for the proposed national identification system. The NDI will be a body corporate which will, among other things, monitor compliance with the Act as well as the performance of the proposed National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). It will conduct periodic inspections of its operations and give the board directions and advice “as may be appropriate to ensure identity information collected by the authority and stored in the national identification database is subject to the highest practicable levels of security and confidentiality”. The current ECJ comprises three non-partisan selected members – ECJ Chairman Earl Jarrett, who is also deputy chairman and chief executive officer of Jamaica National Group; retired Court of Appeal judge, Justice Karl Harrison, who resigned from the Integrity Commission in 2019; and former Chief Justice Zaila McCalla. There are four nominated members in: attorney-at-law, Senator Thomas Tavares Finson who is also president of the Senate and Dr Aundre Franklin, both from the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP); former Senator Wensworth Skeffery; and

Jamaica is set to join several countries in creating a secure national identification system, with the proposed National Identification and Registration Act, 2020. The Bill is now being reviewed by a Joint Select Committee of Parliament. Jamaica’s national identification system (NIDS) will provide a comprehensive and secure structure to enable the collection and storage of identity information. This secure voluntary tool can also verify an individual’s identity, facilitate the electronic signing of documents and securely access a range of government services online. Providing details on the system during recent virtual townhall sessions, Programme Director for the National Identification System (NIDS), Warren Vernon, said Jamaica is moving in the right direction to ensure the implementation of a secure national identification programme that is in line with what is happening in some of the most innovative countries in the world. “The 2020 top eight most innovative economies in the world all implemented a national identification programme similar to what we are doing in Jamaica, to simplify processes and embrace innovation,” he said. According to the Bloomberg Innovation Index, the 2020 top eight most innovative economies in the world are: Germany, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, Israel, Finland and Denmark. Mr. Vernon pointed

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says the Government hopes to implement the Data Protection Act, 2020 before the new National Identification System (NIDS) comes into effect. The Data Protection Act, 2020, which seeks to safeguard the privacy and personal information of Jamaicans, was passed in the Senate on Friday, June 12, 2020. The Bill, which was approved without amendments in the Lower House on May 19, got the green light in June with three amendments. Responding to questions from a member of the public, during the virtual town hall meeting by the Joint Select Committee on the National Identification & Registration Act, 2020, on January 27, Minister Chuck outlined that the regulations were being worked on. “Once these are completed, the likelihood is that the Data Protection body will be set up,” Mr. Chuck said. “I suspect that it will be a matter of months before everything comes into operation. I can’t give you an exact date, but I know the Government is working to put it into operation, and there’s a real likelihood… and we hope it will be before the implementation of the NIDS Bill,” he added. Meanwhile, Attorney General, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, said implementation of

Chief Executive Officer, Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Andrew Wynter, says implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS) provides the opportunity for persons applying for a passport for the first time to do so online. “Where NIDS could provide that kind of reassurance and security of identity, and the unique identity credentials for that person, then I certainly see that there’ll be an opportunity, in the future, for us to use that data to facilitate first-time applicants,” he said. Mr. Wynter was addressing a virtual town hall on the National Identification and Registration Act, 2020, held on Thursday (January 28). PICA’s online facility is currently limited to the renewal of documents by adults only. “Currently, with adult renewal, we have what we call a simplified renewal and because we already have the majority of the data for the adult… a Justice of the Peace (JP) does not have to do that declaration. Particularly in this time now, you can go online and complete your passport renewal, and this is for adults only,” he said. The National Identification and Registration Act, 2020, makes provision for a voluntary and secure national identification system for Jamaica. The layered rollout and management of

Programme Director, National Identification System (NIDS), Warren Vernon, says the system will usher in a new level of transparency in engagements between the State and citizens. He noted that the National Identification and Registration Act, 2020 provides for a secure and reliable verification framework to safeguard personal data and prevent unauthorised disclosure of such information. Members of the NIDS authority will be held accountable for any breaches, he pointed out. “We are putting in place controls to prevent that because while there’s a law and established processes for people to follow, you must put in place controls to hold them accountable,” Mr. Vernon said. “We are going to enforce this by ensuring that every time the identity information is verified, there is a log and there is a time stamp attached to that log. The information will be protected by blockchain to prevent any officer, irrespective of their rank in the authority, from deleting that log,” he added. He said that as part of the process of transparency, persons will be notified when a request is made for their identification number to be verified by any organisation. Mr. Vernon was addressing the fifth virtual town hall on the National Identification

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, has called on Jamaicans to support the National Identification System (NIDS), as it will prevent identity theft from affecting hard-working Jamaicans whose information fall into the hands of criminals through cyberspace. While responding to issues outlined during the third Joint Select Committee on National Identification & Registration Act, 2020, Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday (January 20), both online and through traditional media outlets, from the Banquet Hall at Jamaica House, Minister Chuck reiterated the importance for Jamaicans to support the new identification system. “One of the great benefits of the NIDS identification when it’s actually implemented is that it will avoid identity theft. We have so many Jamaicans now who have suffered from identity theft, and their bank accounts have been depleted, because criminals are able to use, by whatever means, identification that has been stolen,” the Minister said. “So, with the NIDS identity, probably the best benefit, if I might put it that way, is that the individual will have a unique identity and no one can steal it, and to that extent, it is a benefit that all Jamaicans should appreciate,” added Mr. Chuck, who is also Chairman of the Joint

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says persons who breach the provisions of the National Identification and Registration Act, 2020, and unlawfully access or misuse information provided for the national identification system (NIDS), could be fined up to $3 million. Mr. Chuck, who is Chairman of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament reviewing the legislation, was speaking during a virtual town hall meeting on the legislation on January 14. The legislation makes provision for a voluntary and secure national identification system for Jamaica. The layered rollout and management of the NIDS will be handled by a new agency, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), which will replace the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) and provide more enhanced services. “[Under] Section 30 of the Bill, any official of the NIRA who misuses or provides information unlawfully or anyone who provides information to anyone which is not provided for in the Act commits an offence and the person, having committed the offence breaches the duty of secrecy or confidentiality imposed by this Act, [and] shall be liable on conviction before a parish court to a fine not exceeding $3 million, in lieu of a term of imprisonment,” the Minister disclosed. Meanwhile, Mr.

Programme Director for the National Identification System (NIDS), Warren Vernon, says that biometric data for the national identification database will be encrypted to prevent unauthorised access. “Your fingerprint and facial image will be encrypted, so that a regular person just can’t access it like that unless you have the resources or the authority to decrypt the information,” he said. “Additionally, your fingerprint and your facial image will be kept offline. We are only using your facial image and your finger print to ensure that your identity is unique and to protect [against] identity theft,” he noted. Mr. Vernon was speaking at the second virtual town hall on the National Identification and Registration Act, 2020. The legislation makes provisions for a voluntary and secure national identification system for Jamaica. The NIDS Programme Manager informed that roles and functions have been separated to ensure identity security and reduction of identity fraud and to safeguard the information of persons who enrol in the system. “We have over seven layers of vetting. No single person can produce [or generate] a national identification card,” he pointed out. He said that at the point of enrolment, the officers will not be allowed to enter basic identity

Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, on Tuesday (December 15) tabled the National Identification and Registration Act, 2020, which makes provisions for a voluntary and secure National Identification System (NIDS) for Jamaica. The legislation has been referred to a Joint Select Committee of Parliament for detailed review. Speaking in the House of Representatives, Prime Minster Holness said the identification system has the potential to positively transform the efficacy and transparency of interactions between the State and citizens and residents, with significant additional positive effects for private businesses. “The Bill will serve as the legal basis for the establishment of a robust, efficient and effective National Identification System underpinned by a legal and regulatory framework that supports safe, secure and reliable verification of identity information for citizens of Jamaica and persons ordinarily resident in Jamaica,” Mr. Holness said. “It will allow for the strengthening of identity security, reduction of identity fraud and the simplification of bureaucracy,” he added. The Prime Minister noted that subsequent to the Supreme Court ruling dated April 20, 2019 on the National Identification and Registration Act, 2017, the Government has taken steps to revise the National Identification and Registration Policy of 2016 and develop a new

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A new National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI) project has been launched by the Government under the National Identification System (NIDS) programme. The launch took place on Wednesday (January 15) at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, in Kingston. The NPKI project will be rolled out during the next seven months, with the objective of making Jamaica a more digital society in which there is ubiquitous use of information and information and communications technology (ICT) in all spheres, such as home, work, school and recreation. This project will enable trusted electronic identities for people, services and things, and make it possible to implement strong authentication, data encryption and digital signatures, based on a certifying authority. Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Fayval Williams, said the NPKI project will have numerous benefits to Jamaicans, based on the Government’s legislative plans for a digital society. “The National Public Key Infrastructure is one of the pillars of the ICT platform that will enable us to be able to use secured [original] signatures online to do business,” Mrs. Williams said. She noted that the new system will ensure that Jamaicans authenticate themselves online, which will reduce time and travel and guarantee that messages coming from

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — General Manager, Caribbean Country Department, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Therese Turner-Jones, says the National Identification System (NIDS) will lay the foundation for Jamaica to become a digital economy. The digital economy is the worldwide network of economic activities, commercial transactions and professional interactions that are enabled by information and communications technology (ICT). The Government is emphasising the creation of a digital society in order to drive growth, create opportunities for businesses, promote innovation and create jobs. DIGITAL ECONOMY “Prime Minister (Andrew) Holness actually announced a few months ago that he would like Jamaica to become a digital economy, but you can't have a digital economy unless there is a digital signature and a lot of our documents can be done electronically,” she pointed out. She was speaking at the inaugural Public Sector Corporate Governance Awards Ceremony at The Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston yesterday. The IDB recently approved a US$68-million loan to the Government for the design and implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS). The loan will also cover the necessary systems to ensure the safeguarding of personal information. “I want to say that your international partners have recognised that you have come a long

After decades of talk, talk, talk, system now needs to be implemented, he says Former Director of Elections Danville Walker has pointed to the benefits of the national identification system (NIDS), saying it was long overdue after more than two decades of talk. “Thankfully NIDS has created some stir, and what amazes me is that some believe this is a new idea,” Walker, who is managing director of the Jamaica Observer, said in a letter to the editor. Walker was referring to the controversy sparked by the passing of the Bill in the Senate last Monday after two contentious marathon debates. The Opposition, which voted against the Bill, has called on the Government to reconsider its position, and said it reserved its right “to do everything necessary, in whatever forum, including the courts, to ensure that the Jamaican people are not trampled upon”. Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips told journalists at a news conference last week that the Opposition could not support the provision in the proposed legislation which made it mandatory for citizens to register or be fined if they do not. The Opposition also found objectionable, Clause 41, which could see citizens denied access to necessary public service

Kingston, Jamaica: The Government says the proposed National Identification System (NIDS) is poised to secure the future growth of Jamaica. The NIDS is to provide every Jamaican citizen with a single source of trusted identification and begin the country’s push toward e-Governance. (more&