KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says his administration is looking to position Jamaica to control and manage technology for the public good.
“It is not going to suit Jamaica to try to hide away from the wave of technological improvements because, no matter what, we have to interface with other countries, other societies, and other jurisdictions.
“So, we need to be in a position to be able to develop our technology and to use the technology that exists for our economic benefit and to strengthen our society. It is not to allow technology to happen to us; rather, we control how the technology happens to us,” Holness said, noting that the government’s policy is to see Jamaica transition to a digital society.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness delivered the feature address at the OPM retreat JIS Photo.
“That is a commitment we have made… it is something we believe in. We are trying to use technology to make the Jamaican experience more efficient.”
Holness, addressing a retreat for workers with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), outlined the role of the National Identification System (NIDS) in building Jamaica as a digital society.
NIDS is intended to provide a comprehensive and secure structure to collect and store personal identity information.
The voluntary system will also facilitate the electronic signing of documents and allow persons to access various government services online securely. NIDS will become the primary source for identity assurance and verification, resulting in improved governance and management of social, economic, and security programs.
Prime Minister Holness said significant investments have been made in developing the technology around NIDS to ensure that the system is reliable and that citizens’ information is protected.
“We are using the best technology there is to keep the data secure,” he said, adding that extensive work has been done in crafting the legislative framework to protect citizens’ rights, guard against abuse, and ensure an effective system for redress.
“NIDS is a priority for the government. We are almost there now and about to establish the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). It is an entire bureaucracy [that] has to be created to deliver this service, which is the root of the efficient use of technology in Jamaica,” Prime Minister Holness said.
The NIRA will have responsibility for the layered rollout and management of NIDS. It will assume the administration of the civil registration system in Jamaica, replacing the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), and provide enhanced services.
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