KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Identification System (NIDS) Bill a short while ago successfully passed the Senate despite what leader of Government Business, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith said was “strong obstruction by the Opposition”.

In hailing the passage of the Bill, Johnson Smith noted: “Despite challenges, the interest of the majority of Jamaicans won the day. I thank the many members of the society who participated in the formulation of this law.

“We had wide consultations and these consultations included members of civil society, the church, law enforcement and numerous other groups including those representing the physically challenged. We want to thank members of the technical team for their work and the clerk and her staff for going beyond the call of duty to ensure the passage of this most important piece of legislation.”

“Part of the reason we had so many amendments, is that we wanted to ensure that sector groups had a voice in this law. A lot of the amendments were suggested by these groups as well as the opposition,” she added.

She said that she is confident that as the people of Jamaica learn more about the law, they will continue to recognise that it is formulated to make their lives better.

Johnson Smith further urged Jamaicans to pay close attention to the public education programme that has begun and look out for meetings and engagements in their communities.