The Government intends to complete and launch phase one of the National Identification System (NIDS) enrolment and issuance of national identification cards during the 2024/25 financial year. This will be done through a $1.3-billion allocation for the National Identification for Economic Growth project. Details are outlined in the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister...

Seventeen residents from Clarendon North Central, who were without formal identification, have received birth certificates under the ‘Operation Birthright’ programme. The documents were presented by representatives of the Registrar General’s Department (RGD during a ceremony held at the Chapelton Library. Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Robert Morgan, in his address at the handover ceremony, said he was pleased...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the National Identification System (NIDS) is for the benefit of all Jamaicans, noting that stronger laws and penalties are in place for the handling of personal information. “It is important that we are able to identify all our citizens [in a way] that does not invade the privacy of the citizen. The...

The National Identification System (NIDS) is being updated based on feedback from the testing of the system earlier this year. Programme Director for NIDS, Dr. Warren Vernon, who gave an update on the project at the post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday (October 25) said the modifications are under way. “We had the pilot of the system, and...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is looking to position Jamaica to control and manage technology for the public good. “It is not going to suit Jamaica to try to hide away from the wave of technological improvements because, no matter what, we have to interface with other countries, other societies and other jurisdictions. “So, we...

The Government is committed to digital transformation and has prioritised investments in this regard, says Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Alando Terrelonge. Citing initiatives in this regard, he said that the development of a digital economy is moving ahead, noting that the programme has potential to consolidate and strengthen “our resilience-building efforts”....

The Government has made significant progress in establishing the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the National Identification and Registration Inspectorate (NIRI). Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, informed that completion of the NIRA and NIRI organisation design approvals is far advanced. “The Government intends to put in...

The Government is moving to eliminate the need for a life certificate to verify the living status of a pensioner. This will be done with the introduction of a new national civil registration solution, which is being facilitated through the National Identification System (NIDS) project. “This solution will be able to link all our records from birth, marriage, deed poll...

The Bank of Jamaica has given National Commercial Bank (NCB) the approval to pursue three use cases that integrate the services of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). Those being pursued by the Bank are face-to-face deposit account on-boarding, online deposit account onboarding with biometric authentication and Know Your Customer (KYC) remediation. Minister without Portfolio in the Office of...