Stop Dissing the NIDS: "Out of Many One People", "One Database"

 

The National Identification and Registration Act (2017) represents a move by the government of Jamaica to set up a National ID database for all Jamaicans due to the limitations that the other government databases.  If we look at things in context the only forms of Identification that a citizen of Jamaica has are Drivers License (18-year-old minimum requirement), Voters ID ( 18-year-old minimum requirement) and Passport ( Mainly used for international travel, no age minimum). Passports, however, are countercyclical in that children have different numbers when they are adults and to best of my knowledge a new passport means a new passport number for existing adult holders. In essence, the only database that the government has that is overarching and should capture information on Jamaicans is the Registrar Generals Database which is not fully digital and has many holes in it.  

The NIRA (2017) bill seeks to facilitate the establishment and regulation of a National Identification System (NIDS) for the registration, verification, and authentication of the identity of citizens and other persons residing in Jamaica; and the establishment of a National Civil and Identification Database to generate national identification cards. 

The Implementation of the Act is expected make our lives better off, despite the initial discomfort.

what are Citizens required to the provide?

Citizens are required to provide

Personal Information: 
  1. Full names 
  2. Date of birth/ name of parents 
  3. Place of birth 
  4. Sex 
  5. Principal place of residence and any other occasional place of residence 
  6. Occupation 
  7. Nationality 
  8.  Length of time that a person has been resident in Jamaica (if a non-national)
  9. Employer 
  10. Marital status/full name of spouse 
  11. Date of death 
  12. Place of death

Identifying Information: 

  1. Photograph of head and shoulders 
  2. Signature (for adults) 
  3. Fingerprints or other biometric data
-Biometric, as outlined by the act, refers to photograph, signature, fingerprint, palm print, toe print, footprint, iris scan, retina scan, blood type, height, eye color or such other biological attribute 


Reference numbers:
  1. Taxpayer Registration number 
  2. Driver’s Licence number 
  3. Passport number 
  4. National Insurance number 
  5. Birth entry number (where appropriate) 
  6. National Identity Number 
  7. Electoral Office of Jamaica Identification Card number 
Further details are in the Third Schedule (Section 15) of the NIRA (2017) 
The furnishing of Biometric data seems to be one of the points of contention, biometric information may be disclosed for the purposes of criminal investigation as well as other issues such as disclosure.Disclosure is limited to personal requests for access to your own information, identification of bodies upon death and missing persons, and order of the court. 

The other sources of penalties as outlined in the fourth schedule further reveals that once an individual operates within the confines of the law they will not be in breach of any other penalties.



#MI2cents

NIDS could never be a bad thing, a centralized depository of ID information on a secure database that ensures that all Jamaicans get access to the services they need in a more efficient manner. While working at the Bank I was exposed first hand to the existing Government database and it is extremely limited. The Presence of the NIDS will ensure fewer requirements for citizens when they conduct business with both government and the private sector. As an Economist, I have to be in support of a system that promotes efficiency, especially within government. Some comments have been made about Other countries rejecting the idea, but what does that have to do with Jamaica an Independent nation that can use this experience and create a knowledge pool which we can then export. Instead of looking at the downside and invasion of privacy lets us look at what we can achieve,. We may be able to put a dent in our crime fighting speed of the processing businesses verifications, police reports, Passport processing, Voters Licenses. If done well the central database should remove the hefty necessity for Paper in our system. Think about an integrated Ta system, Motor vehicle registry, Quicker censuses. As an economisty as well with this system we have greater access to data to perform empiral studies to the benefit of the country. 


Why Must we only focus on the negatives, and take extreme vies let us think about what we can achieve. "Out of Many One People", "One Database"
   

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