KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) —National Security Minister Robert Montague is endorsing the establishment of the National Identification System (NIDS) as a means to combat crime.

Montague reasoned that a verifiable system of identification in Jamaica, as well as in the rest of the Caribbean, would enable law-enforcement authorities to properly identify the perpetrators of crime.

The minister was speaking at the graduation ceremony for 18 law-enforcement professionals following the completion of a two-week instructor training and development course at the National Police College of Jamaica (NPCJ) in Twickenham Park, St Catherine yesterday.

Under NIDS, which is scheduled for implementation in 2019, a reliable database of all Jamaican citizens will be established and will involve the issuance of a unique life-long National Identification Number to every person. The system will also collect two forms of biometrics — fingerprints and facial recognition.

“Recently at the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), we introduced facial recognition in the application of passports. What we found was over 600 hits of people with multiple identities and passports. Saying your passport is a proper means of identification is (questionable),” Montague said.

Meanwhile, Montague wants harsher penalties for those found in possession of illegal firearms, as well as people convicted of gun crimes, as illegal guns are involved in approximately 80 per cent of the murders committed in the country.

The minister pointed out that the graduation of the 18 people demonstrates the region’s commitment to the eradication of drugs and drug-related activities.

The course was offered by the Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Training Centre (REDTRAC) at the NPCJ.

The men and women will add to the over 350 law-enforcement professionals trained by REDTRAC since the start of the year.