KINGSTON, Jamaica  (JIS) — The civil and identification database being established under the National Identification System (NIDS) is 90 per cent complete, the project director has disclosed.

According to Warren Vernon, the work is advanced “in terms of defining all of the features and the requirements in order to deliver the system”.

He was speaking at a town hall meeting at Emancipation Park in New Kingston yesterday.

NIDS, which is scheduled for implementation in 2019, will provide a comprehensive and secure structure to enable the capture and storage of identity information for all Jamaicans.

Under the system, each citizen will be provided with a randomised nine-digit National Identification Number (NIN), which they will have for life.

Vernon said the NIDS team is also in the process of developing the cybersecurity strategy to deal with all of the threats and risks related to the system.

“We are also in the process of developing a plan to generate awareness, because how we use technology now, it’s very clear that there are so many persons that are not aware of the various threats and risks that are out there,” he noted.

Vernon gave a presentation regarding the security of the system. Presentations were also made by acting chief technical director in the Office of the Prime Minister, Jacqueline Lynch Stewart, who spoke on the legal and institutional framework of the system; and Chief Executive Officer, e-Gov Jamaica Ltd, Maurice Barnes, who focused on the information and communications technology (ICT) aspect.

State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Floyd Green, in his address, sought to dispel some of the misconceptions on the NIDS. He also joined the NIDS team in a panel discussion to answer questions from the audience.

The town hall meeting was the first to be held across the island as part of the Government’s public education campaign on the NIDS.

Implementation of the NIDS is supported by the National Identification and Registration Bill, which was passed in both Houses of Parliament last month.

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 three- to four-year period.

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.