• In 1990, the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) made a recommendation to the then Minister of Justice (who was responsible for electoral matters), for the establishment of a body to implement a National Registration System.

• In 1995, the Cabinet, by way of Cabinet Decision No. 45/95, gave approval for the tabling of a National Registration Bill.

• In 2006, the Cabinet approved the proposal for the implementation of a NIDS, as well as, amendments to the existing draft National Registration Bill, by way of Cabinet Decision No. 12/06. Based on the Cabinet Decision, the Bill was withdrawn for redrafting and resubmission at a later date.

• In July 2011, approval was given for the National Registration Unit to be transferred from the Ministry of Health to the Office of the Prime Minister.

• The Official Launch Ceremony for the NIDS Project was held at Jamaica House on September 27, 2011.

• In August 2012, eGov Jamaica Limited (then Fiscal Services Limited), entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Jamaica, to provide technical support in the management of the ICT consultancy required to design the NIDS architecture.

• In October 2016, Cabinet approved the NIDS Policy for tabling in Parliament as a White Paper, by way of Cabinet Decision No. 34/16.

• In April 2017 a two-stage procurement process commenced for the NIDS solution.

• In September 2017, the Bill was passed in the Lower House.

• In December 2017, the Inter-American Development Bank approved a US$68 million loan to the Government for the NIDS and other projects.

• In April 2018, the second stage for the procurement of the NIDS solution commenced involving three (3) consortiums: PBS et al.; IDEMIA et al.; and NEC de Mexico SA de CV et al.

• In October 2018, the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case “Robinson, Julian v The Attorney General of Jamaica.”

• In April 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the National Identification and Registration Act (2017) was “null and void, and of no legal effect.”

• Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, on Tuesday December 15, 2020 tabled the National Identification and Registration Act, 2020, which makes provisions for a voluntary and secure National Identification System (NIDS) for Jamaica. [Click here to view the New Bill ]

The first sitting of the Committee started on January 5, 2021. Various groups, organisations and individuals were given the opportunity to make submissions to the Committee.

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.

On September 21, 2021, debate on a Bill shortly entitled THE NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION ACT, 2021 started in the House of Representatives.

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The National Identification and Registration Act, 2021 passed in the Senate on November 19, 2021

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A contract was signed with Fujitsu Limited at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Friday May 6th, 2022 to facilitate the Digitisation Of Records process at the RGD.

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