#ThroneSpeech | National identification cards to be rolled out this year
Published:Thursday | February 10, 2022 | 12:28 PM
The Government is expected to this year begin roll out of the National Identification cards as part of its push for the digital transformation of Jamaica.
It coincides with the country's 60th year of independence and is being touted as a critical milestone in the adoption of digital technologies to improve services and businesses.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness last month recalled Floyd Green to the Cabinet to serve as Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for establishing the national identification system (NIDS).
Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, in delivering his throne speech during this morning's ceremonial opening of parliament, said the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of establishing the unique identity of each Jamaican to provide efficient, timely and targeted services by the Government.
He said with the passage of the National Identification and Registration Act last year, the implementation of NIDS is now fully under way.
“This is a critical milestone in our digital transformation. In this our 60th year, we will pass the associated regulations for the Act and issue our first National Identification cards,” he said.
The Bank of Jamaica is expected to follow on with the roll out of the digital Jamaican dollar after a successful pilot in 2021.
Allen said it should serve as a foundation for the country's digital payments architecture and will facilitate greater financial inclusion and increase transaction velocity while reducing the cost of banking for Jamaicans.
The move forms part of Jamaica's transformation to a digital economy and comes against the backdrop of the national broadband initiative which aims to enhance access and connectivity.
It is a strategy by Government to achieve universal broadband access, with data showing fixed broadband penetration at 11.65 per cent and mobile penetration at 59.76 per cent.
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