NIDS regulations to be brought before Parliament in coming weeks

By Prince Moore    

 

The government says the regulations to govern the National Identification System (NIDS) should be brought before the House of Representatives for debate within the next few weeks.

 

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, with oversight for Skills & Digital Transformation, Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, says the regulations will outline a raft of security features connected to the NIDS.

 

She says the regulations will outline fines for violations. 

 

"This is a very big kind of digital project for Jamaica. And we know that we are in a low trust environment in our country. And we also know that there are many Jamaicans who may be afraid of this digital change or even having this kind of national ID. And so it is very important that through the regulations that govern everything that we do, that the security element is very strong in there so that we can build trust in what has been built."

 

She added that the NIDS could improve financial inclusion where persons are given the opportunity to open a bank account using just that form of identification. 

 

Senator Morris Dixon said the regulations will also cover how third parties interact with the NIDS and how individuals are notified of this interaction. 

 

"So for example, if you're opening an account and you gave a bank your NIDS ID, and then they obviously have to verify you and they make a call on our system, you will get a check or an email that says, this bank checked to verify your identity. So the regulations builds those things in such as notifying people if anyone is verifying any of their information."

 

Senator Morris Dixon was speaking Thursday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines.