Gov't rejects ownership protection proposal for national ID cards

The Government has rejected a proposal by the Opposition for the proposed national identification card to be given the same ownership protection as the Jamaican passport which is guaranteed under the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedom.

The National Identification and Registration Bill states that all cards remain the property of the National Identification and Registration Authority.

But Opposition senators argued that ownership by the individual must be protected.

Lambert Brown contended that vesting the right of ownership solely to the authority is a bad decision.

Brown was supported by opposition colleague K.D Knight.

But after some back and forth, the matter was put to a vote and the Government used its majority to push through the provision.