KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Special provisions will be made for people with disabilities and the indigent under the National Identification System (NIDS).

This was disclosed by Programme Director for NIDS, Warren Vernon, during a press conference at Jamaica House on Tuesday.

“We intend to have 43 enrolment centres across the island (and) those centres will be configured in such a way that will cater for the entire population (including) persons with disabilities,” he said.

He noted that to enrol in the system, persons will be required to give their full name, date of birth, and biometric information, which includes fingerprint, facial image and a manual signature.

However, for persons with disabilities who are unable to give some of the core biometric information required, Vernon noted that “we will use other biometric attributes in order to register the individual”.

In the meantime, Director of Communications and Public Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister, Robert Morgan, noted that there will be static and mobile registration facilities set up for enrolment.

“The static facilities [will be at] a government office where… you can register. The mobile [is for] persons who are indigent, shut-ins, persons [with disabilities] and [those] within the penal institutions,” he noted.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Shahine Robinson, in a statement expressed full support of NIDS, especially in terms of its facilitation of the disabled.

She noted that it is imperative that people with disabilities be empowered and feel that they are a part of what is happening in the society “and NIDS is now an additional arm to facilitate this process”.

 “To this end, the registration of all citizens, particularly those living with disabilities, is encouraged, to enable the Government to properly identify and plan for these persons,” she said.

Implementation of NIDS is supported by the National Identification and Registration Bill, which was passed in the Senate on Monday with 168 amendments and has been returned to the House of Representatives for approval.

With anticipated funding of US$68 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Government intends to put the NIDS infrastructure and systems in place over the next 12 months, beginning with a pilot project.

This is expected to be followed by the national roll-out in September 2019, over a period of three to four years.

The layered roll-out and management of the NIDS will be handled by a new agency, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), which will replace the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) and provide more enhanced services.