KINGSTON,
Oct. 10 (JIS):
Prime Minister Holness |
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew
Holness, says the National Identification System (NIDS) is set to roll out in January
2018.
He said NIDS is expected to have a
transformative effect on Jamaica, providing a comprehensive
and secure structure to capture and store personal identity information for
citizens and persons resident in the island.
The Prime
Minister, who was addressing the Anti-Money Laundering/
Counter-Financing
of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston
today (October 10), informed that NIDS was the first item on the agenda for
discussion at today’s meeting of the Cabinet.
He said that given all the processes
involved in setting up the system, he recognises that the 2018 target date for
it to be operational is ambitious, but achievable.
Mr. Holness said the Government has
identified the setting up of NIDS as a strategic priority. What is envisioned
is a cradle-to-grave biometric identification system with a unique identification
number being used for every Jamaican, with the appropriate anti-fraud features.
“This source of identification will
be considered as conclusive for the purpose of customer due diligence, not only
for banks but for all businesses which require customer identification and
verification,” he pointed out.
Biometric and demographic information
will be accessible through databases and computer networks, he added. “We must leverage every technological
resource at our disposal to meet the demands of the global business environment.
Government’s use of technology in regulation and compliance must be in step
with international practices,” he said.
Mr. Holness noted further that NIDS
will serve to eliminate some procedural steps and make compliance with AML/CFT
regulations in the financial sector easier, while also leading to greater
financial inclusion.
The NIDS project is being
implemented by the Office of the Prime Minister, through funding from the
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and was allocated a sum of $14.98
billion this financial year for its continued development.
The project aims to establish a
reliable identification system for Jamaicans and other nationals resident in
the country, with a unique National Identification Number (NIN) as the primary
key identifier of a person in the system.
NIDS has
been in development since 2009 and will result in improved governance and
management of social, economic and security programmes.
The two-day
AML/CFT Conference is being hosted by the Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA) and
the Jamaica Institute of Financial Services (JIFS), under the theme
‘Understanding Our Obligations… Safeguarding Our Future’.
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