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Julian Robinson, who successfully challenged the constitutionality of the first NIDS bill.
As a joint select committee of Parliament sets in motion plans to deliberate on the new National Identification and Registration Act, 2020 (NIDS) in early January, one lawmaker is suggesting that the Government offer incentives for Jamaicans to sign on to the system when established.
Member of parliament for St Andrew South East, Julian Robinson, who took the Government to court challenging the constitutionality of the first NIDS law, said the administration should make it attractive for people to acquire the national identification card.
The new NIDS bill makes provisions for voluntary enrolment with the National Registration Authority, but allows individuals to cancel the registration.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that he benefited from the court’s quashing of the first proposed NIDS, which “made us think deeper in crafting a policy that would be in keeping with the parameters of our Constitution”.
A new National Identification and Registration Act, 2020 (NIDS), was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday with significant departures from the previous controversial law that was struck down by the Supreme Court on April 20, 2019, as unconstitutional.
The bill has been referred to a joint select committee of Parliament for deliberations. The previous law that was ruled unconstitutional by the courts was not reviewed by a joint select committee despite requests from civil society and the parliamentary Opposition.