• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Our Services
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Top Nav Social Icons

FindBiometrics

FindBiometrics

Global Identity Management

Paravision banner
  • Biometrics
    • What are Biometrics?
    • FAQ
    • Biometric Associations
    • Companies
    • Premier Partners
  • News
    • Featured Articles
    • Interviews
    • Thought Leadership
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • Year in Review
  • Applications
    • Biometric Security
    • Border Control and Airport Biometrics
    • Consumer and Residential Biometrics
    • Financial Biometrics
    • Fingerprint & Biometric Locks
    • Healthcare Biometrics
    • Justice and Law Enforcement Biometrics
    • Logical Access Control Biometrics
    • Mobile Biometrics
    • Other Biometric Applications
    • Physical Access Control Biometrics
    • Biometric Time and Attendance
  • Solutions
    • Behavioral Biometrics
    • Biometric Sensors and Detectors
    • Facial Recognition
    • Biometric Fingerprint Readers
    • Hand Readers & Finger Scanners
    • Iris Recognition
    • Biometric Middleware and Software
    • Multimodal Biometrics
    • Physiological Biometrics
    • Smart Cards
    • Vein Recognition
    • Voice and Speech Recognition
  • Stocks
  • Events
  • Directory
  • Podcasts

Jamaican Government Aims to Fast-Track National Identification System to Help with COVID-19 Aid

March 31, 2020

Biometrics News - Jamaican Government Aims to Fast-Track National Identification System to Help with COVID-19 Aid

The Jamaican Government has expressed its desire to fast-track the creation and implementation of a national identification system (NIDS) to help it with its aid and benefit distribution in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept across the world.

In a digital press conference Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that it was clear that it would have been easier for the Government to provide individual aid and benefits to Jamaicans had it already implemented a NIDS prior to the pandemic.

“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 that will be able to ensure that whatever benefit comes from the Government will go directly to them,” he said.

The system aims to be similar to others found throughout the world — the largest of which is the Aadhaar program in India –, providing each citizen with a unique national identification number (NIN) for life that can be used alongside a card or uploaded onto smartphones. The government is also exploring the use of biometric scans — either fingerprint or retina — as a means of authorization.

However, as has been the case with similar systems elsewhere, this proposal has met with criticism and opposition over concerns that individual’s constitutional rights would be violated.

Holness addressed the concerns, saying in his press conference that “[t]he Government is not your enemy; we are here to help and we want to know every single Jamaican.”

The Government also indicated that the NIDS would help some professions that are, under the current system, less formally integrated into Jamaica’s economy, such as taxi drivers and bartenders.

“We are opening the door if they become formalised, but if they don’t, it’s going to be very difficult to take up taxpayers’ resources which are formally placed in the system and prioritise those who are not formally in the system versus those who have taken the time to register,” said Holness.

Holness maintains that the NIDS will become Jamaican’s main source of identity verification and will streamline and improve the governance of social, economic and security programs.

Source: Jamaica Observer

–

March 31, 2020 – by Tony Bitzionis

Related News

  • Secureye Launches New Face and Fingerprint-Scanning Biometric DeviceSecureye Launches New Face and Fingerprint-Scanning Biometric Device
  • JENETRIC Coats Fingerprint Sensors with Antimicrobial MaterialJENETRIC Coats Fingerprint Sensors with Antimicrobial Material
  • KABN Announces Cloud-Based Biometric AuthenticationKABN Announces Cloud-Based Biometric Authentication
  • ID4Africa to Focus on Crisis Response at Marathon of InnovationsID4Africa to Focus on Crisis Response at Marathon of Innovations
  • South African Biometric National ID Program Moves to Public Comment PhaseSouth African Biometric National ID Program Moves to Public Comment Phase
  • India Uses Biometrics to Register Pensioners RemotelyIndia Uses Biometrics to Register Pensioners Remotely

Filed Under: Features, News Tagged With: biometric registration, COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, digital identity, facial biometrics, fingerprint biometrics, government ID, Jamaica, national ID, national ID programs, retinal biometrics

Primary Sidebar

Iris ID

Read the Latest 2020 Year in Review Analysis:

IDEMIA big box

Sponsored Links

AU10TIX, an identity management company headquartered in Israel, provides critical, modular solutions to link physical and digital identities so that companies and their customers can confidently connect.

CMITech is a leading provider of high performance, cost effective iris recognition systems. The company is setting the industry standard for advanced user interfaces that are fast, intuitive and effortless. Serving enrollment and authentication solutions of all sizes, CMITech systems include binoculars-type, wall mount, desktop, and kiosk-type product configurations.

Onfido is building the new identity standard for the internet.Our AI-based technology assesses whether a user’s government-issued ID is genuine or fraudulent, and then compares it against their facial biometrics. That’s how we give companies like Revolut, Zipcar and Bitstamp the assurance they need to onboard customers remotely and securely. Our mission is to create a more open world, where identity is the key to access.. For more information, please visit
www.onfido.com
TECH5 is an international technology company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with branches in the US, Europe and Asia, dedicated to the design, development, and distribution of biometrics-driven Identity Management solutions. Target markets include Government and Private sectors with products powering Civil ID, Digital ID, eKYC, Digital Onboarding, Visitor Management and others. Learn more:
www.tech5.ai
ThreatMark brings trust to the digital world by providing cutting-edge fraud prevention solutions. Major banks use ThreatMark's AI-powered technology and behavioral biometrics to build secured banking experience to precisely verify their legitimate users, seamlessly across all digital channels. All while securing the users' most precious assets and keeping the fraudsters away. Learn more:
www.threatmark.com/
Aware ABIS webinar
MobileIDWorld

Mobile ID World is here to bring you the latest in mobile authentication solutions and application providers. Our company is dedicated to providing users with the best content and cutting edge information on technology, news, and mobile solutions for your mobile identity management needs.

Aware ABIS webinar

Recent Posts

  • Airport Biometrics, Remote Onboarding, and More in This Week’s Top Stories
  • Facebook Weighs Privacy Risks of Facial Recognition for Smart Glasses
  • BindID IoT Security Solution Leverages Face, Fingerprint Biometrics
  • TikTok Reaches $92 Million Settlement in BIPA Lawsuit
  • FacePhi Named Spain’s SME of the Year

Biometric Associations

IBIA and fido
Thales digital ID

Tweets

Footer

  • About Us
  • Company Directory
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Archives

Follow Us

Copyright © 2021 FindBiometrics