JAMAICA’S new national identification card system got a rousing welcome from Government parliamentarians at Gordon House Tuesday when Prime Minister Andrew Holness was presented with the first card sample.

The presentation was made by the minister with responsibility for the new National Identification System (NIDS), Floyd Green, who assured the House that the Government took high-priority measures, immediately after the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) established a special committee consisting of professionals from the public and private sectors, and international security experts who designed the first card.

Green noted that the new card, which is about to hit the road, has “a unique layout” with Jamaica’s national symbols embedded in the design. These include the coat of arms; the national bird; the national flag; and national fruit, which have all been vetted for correct use by the Chancery and Protocol Division of the Government.

Green also announced that the NIDS Card Production Centre is 97 per cent completed, and staff have been recruited to facilitate the pilot. All card production staff were subjected to extensive background checks.

He said that the first NIDS enrolment site in Kingston is to be ready by August. An additional five pilot sites in Kingston will be ready by year end. They will be expanded beyond the pilot areas of Kingston and St Andrew, to include Greater Portmore, Mandeville, Old Harbour, Black River, Morant Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Maria, and Montego Bay.

All other parish capitals will have additional enrolment sites installed by mid-2023. The partnership with Jamaica Post will result in significant modernisation of 24 post offices islandwide to be used as enrolment sites. This is already being addressed at the Central Sorting Office in Kingston.

Green said that his office has taken a high-priority approach to security for the card itself. Other cards in the space have about 12 security features; national identification cards will have 26 security features spanning all levels of security — one, two and three. He also explained that the card is polycarbonate, with the identity data engraved, which means that no one can physically alter the card without it being noticeable.

“There will be a period of sensitisation, so that persons can be up-to-date with the visible level 1 security features, similar to what is being done for our local currency,” Green noted.

“Today I am pleased to announce that in keeping with our drive to accelerate the pace of digitisation, customers will now be able to: obtain an electronic burial order — online; apply for adoption certificates — online; and, importantly, you can now book your wedding at the RGD online,” he pointed out.

“That is thinking digital. This is not only good for our residents, but this is also for our diaspora, who can now access these services, and are also able to upload documents and make payments and, as such, conduct whole transactions from the comfort of their homes, anywhere in the world,” he told the House, noting last year’s increase in online utilisation of 35 per cent.

“We are not stopping, members. We are now moving to procure a new registration software solution, that will link birth, marriage, deed poll, and death records for the first time,” the minister declared.

He said that the Government will be signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the local financial institutions to participate in the NIDS pilot.

“So far, all 10 members of the Jamaica Bankers Association have expressed intent to sign the memorandum of understanding to participate in the NIDS Pilot,” he confirmed.

He said that inclusion of the banks will ensure a simplified process when opening bank accounts, using the national identification card.

He also stated with the services of justices of the peace (JPs) being far more than identity verification, as the fact that many JPs unfortunately do not have an identification card and oftentimes have to use their seals to prove that they are JPs, they will also be represented by an identifier at the rear of the National Identification Card.

He said that this move will save the Government $7.2 million, instead of printing separate cards for JPs and paid tribute to Justice Minister Delroy Chuck for the idea.

For vulnerable Jamaicans with disabilities and who are without identification, special provisions are to be made for them to access the identification cards.

“We have met and deliberated with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), and have agreed on using the International Access Sign to represents persons with disabilities at the rear of the National Identification Card,” he said, adding this option and that persons with disabilities will decide whether to use the sign at the back of the ID or not.

“This will ensure that persons with disabilities are treated with appropriate regard and provided with the access necessary to conduct their business and functions,” he added.