NIDS will save Jamaica US$5 million – project director

Project Director for National Identification System (NIDS) Warren Vernon says the system will pay for itself at the end of the project.

The government is taking out a loan of US$68 million to finance the implementation of NIDs.

Addressing concerns about the cost of NIDs to the country at a town-hall meeting last night, Vernon said Jamaica will benefit in the long run.

He underscored that in addition to a national identification system, the government information technology infrastructure will also get an upgrade.

This, he said, will result in better government services.

The NIDs project director said a cost-benefit analysis using government data show that NIDs will result in savings in the long run of about US$5 million.

Vernon said the most recent cost-benefit analysis was done between August and September.

The government has said that NIDs will be roll out islandwide start next year September and that the programme will take three years.