Jamaica: Government pushed introduction of national biometric ID system

Prime Minister Andrew Holness told the House of representatives that efforts to combat Covid-19 would be “greatly assisted” by a mandatory biometric national ID system. The national identification system, NIDS, would require everyone to register and be linked to an individual’s unique biometric. The system has been highly controversial, and was subject to a challenge last year brought by oppossiton leader Julian Robinson in Jamaica’s Supreme Court, which ruled it violated the right to privacy and was unconstitutional. “Now is the time when we really need to have the system and we are going to move as quickly as possible within the boundaries of the law and the constitution to ensure that every citizen of Jamaica has a unique identifier”, said Prime Minister Holness.
 

Sources:

https://nationwideradiojm.com/nids-would-greatly-assist-with-anti-covid-19-efforts-pm-andrew-holness/
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/gov-t-vows-to-push-national-id-system_190837-2?profile=1373

Writer: Jamaica Observer, Nationwide Newsnet