NIDS will build a digital society in which there is no division and everyone in Jamaica can participate, according to Holness, who made this statement yesterday at the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) membership launch.
According to Holness, the nine members of NIRA were assembled to perform a state role that endures irrespective of the political agendas and government formations.
- Advertisement -
Holness noted, “This is about the establishment, the protection and the utility of citizens’ identity, citizens’ records and the civil registry within which these are entailed and protected.”
According to Holness, he wants Jamaicans to engage in the system because they see its benefits and because they eventually feel they must do so even if it is not mandated.
According to him, Jamaicans ought to view the system as beneficial to both individuals and society as a whole.
The government has bragged about NIDS as a special, trustworthy, and safe method of confirming someone’s identification.
However, a lot of Jamaicans are still hesitant to sign up for the program.
In 2019, the Jamaica Supreme Court found that the contentious National Identification and Registration Act was unconstitutional in its entirety and that some sections of the statute were unconstitutional.
After changes to the law that was initially enacted in 2017, the House of Representatives passed the legislation that will establish NIDS two years later in 2021. This led to a legal challenge initiated by the parliamentary opposition.
Since then, Holness has declared that system enrollment is entirely optional. “So, this system is built on it being a utility. It is a service that has value for people and therefore they will seek to participate and seek to join, and they will feel safe in doing so,” he stated.
According to Holness, the creation of NIRA shows a dedication to efficiency, modernization, and the protection of Jamaicans’ rights.
PM Holness stated that the government’s initiatives to strengthen national security, facilitate access to public services, and promote socioeconomic growth would be anchored on NIDS.
