Opposition Member of Parliament Fitz Jackson checks Prime Minister Holness for remarks he made during his contribution to the National Identification Registration (NIDS) Act 2021 debate on Wednesday (October 13).

Following Holness’ contribution in the House of Representatives, Jackson noted that he felt compelled to comment on the PM declaring that the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has no real reason for rejecting the NIDS bill.

Jackson stated that the legislation has always been one of controversy from the time it was first written some 40-years-ago, calling to attention critical elements of the bill that the Opposition felt needed to be amended.

He sought to make it clear to the parliament that the Opposition was never opposed to the implementation of the NIDS bill graduating to an act.

“The Opposition at no time objected to the creation of a National Identification System,” he said.

The South St Catherine MP agreed with the PM that the bill has gone across both administrations.

According to Jackson since the introduction of the bill by the Holness administration, the Opposition has relentlessly impressed upon the government the need to bring it before a select joint committee within the parliament to review the bill.

“At the time we pleaded, we begged, we besieged, we appealed, subject this bill to a joint select committee of the parliament,” he added.

He also expressed that it is unfortunate to witness the current position of the government on the bill following members on both sides of the political divide agreeing that far-reaching bills such as NIDS are best served for either party when it is subjected to proper consensus and investigation.

Jackson touched on the need to involve major stakeholders in society who wish to have an input in the direction of these kinds of bills, and in considering their inputs the parliament can provide the necessary information needed to foster a broader consensus for all ground-breaking bills.

A disappointed Jackson pointed out the PM referencing, “How much we could’ve achieved,” if the bill was not drawn out this long, considering his earlier remarks stating that he has learned a lot in the process.

“How could you have learned a lot, if it wasn’t subjected to this exercise?” Jackson questioned. 

Jackson spoke strongly on the need to have a piece of legislation that no matter which party is in government the people of Jamaica will be convinced and comfortable that the bill was fully backed by both the Opposition and the Government.

The MP commended Holness for both his opening and closing remarks to the debate, however, Jackson said that the PM became ‘self-destructive,” as he starting to change the tone to a cantankerous approach to get the bill passed.

Jackson shared that he gives his support to the bill, but that more importantly, he supports the consensus that must be reached.

“We should celebrate the unity of purpose and the consensus that was reached in the joint select committee, that’s what we should be celebrating,” he said.

“Prime minister I want us to get back better, but we have to get back better not by the pronouncements but by how we take those steps by steps moving forward,” Jackson added.