Despite some similarities, the National Identification System cannot be built by upgrading the system that manages the tax registration number (TRN). According to the developers, an upgrade to the TRN database will be a longer process than to implement a different system.

The NIDS system is a database designed to store biographic, biometric, and demographic information about Jamaicans. When implemented, Jamaicans will be required to enrol in the system and be provided with a national identification number (NIN). Similar to the TRN, the NIN will provide each Jamaican with a unique, nine digit number to access government initiatives.

In recent weeks, unconvinced Jamaicans have questioned the need for a National Identification System, as opposed to improving the system used for tax registration.

“Persons have asked why is it that we didn’t just upgrade the TRN, put some biometrics on and a photograph. The experts, international and local, advised that the upgrade of something like that would cost us more, and we may not end up with clean data because no one knows how clean the data is as it is, because it has no photograph and no biometrics, it just has a number. not knowing, we would maybe spend far more resources trying to get it clean,” Jacqueline Lynch-Stewart, Chief Technical Director of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation division in the Office of the Prime Minister said.

“If we used that approach, we’d have to call you in to get you to come in and make sure you are the person who has that TRN, take your photograph and biometric information. It would be far, far riskier and could lead to confusion,” she continued, noting that the decision was made upon the advice of local and international experts.

Programme Director of NIDS, Warren Vernon also stated that it would be more expensive if the government were to clean and upgrade the TRN databases than it is to start anew. Pointing out that the TRN database was specifically designed to house tax information, Vernon dispelled the belief that the system is feasible.

“It wasn’t designed for the complex nature of an identification system, so modifying the existing tax registration system for it to become an identification system again, it would be starting from scratch and going through the entire data verification process — we would not finish for years to come,” he explained.

“So the TRN system is not capturing identity attributes. it’s just a database that stores your name, date of birth, in some cases it has address…and a number that is assigned to you. But the complexity required for identity purposes and to protect our data is not there yet. So we could consider it to be as if you’re starting from scratch,” he added.

The technocrat explained that the architecture and algorithm for the TRN system does not possess what is required to properly secure people’s identity information.

“When you’re looking at identification systems…you can’t joke around with people’s identity. You have to use systems that are established, and systems that are proven to support the highest level of data protection as it relates to identity information and identity attributes,” he stated.

The NIDS is to be implemented by 2018, on provision that the corresponding bill — National Identification and Registration Act of 2017 — is passed.

The US$68-million project is being funded by the Government and the Inter-American Development Bank. The first phase of enrolment is slated for September 2018, and the national roll-out by April 2019.