The Senate will be moving to pass the National Identification and Registration Act, 2017 at the next sitting of Senate.

This will allow Jamaicans to have one identification number to make it easier to do business with the government.

Jamaican will have a 9 digit identification number, unique to the individual, under the National Identification System (NIDS).

Making her presentation in the Senate this morning (Nov 3) Senator Kamina Johnson Smith said, this will provide all the information relevant to the person, thus eliminating the use of multiple ID’s, when conducting business.

Senator Johnson Smith stressed that it is important for the bill to be passed next week, in order to secure funding.

The NIDS project is being funded jointly by the government and the Inter-American Development Bank, at a cost of $68 m.

The bill has been tabled twice in the Senate.

In the meantime, Johnson Smith has sought to clear up why it will be mandatory for all Jamaicans to be a part of the National Identification System, when it is implemented.

She says a fine will be charged for those who do not have this national identification number.

Senator Johnson Smith states that Jamaica is not an orderly society and there needs to be laws in place, for citizens to understand the need for the national identification number.