KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says it has filed a motion in the Supreme Court against the Attorney General and the Government, seeking to delay the implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS), the Jamaica Observer reported on May 8.
The motion, which was filed this morning, challenges the constitutionality of sections of the National Identification and Registration Act, 2017.
The PNP, at a press conference this morning, said the system is a violation of people’s privacy and the party took particular issues with sections four, six, 15, 20, 39, 41, 43 and 60 of the Act, which speaks to data protection and the Jamaican passport.
It said the NIDS infringes on the right to security of the person; the right to equality before the law; the right to privacy; the right to a passport; the right to protection of property rights; and the right to due process.
General Secretary of the party, Julian Robinson said: “We believe that as responsible Opposition, on behalf of the people of Jamaica, this is the right course of action to take.”
Roll-out of NIDS is slated to begin with a pilot project in January 2019, focusing on civil servants.
The NIDS is intended to provide a comprehensive and secure structure to enable the capture and storage of identity information for all Jamaicans, where each citizen will be provided with a randomised nine-digit NIN, which they will have for life.
