Warren Vernon, Executive Director of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), says Jamaica now has a modern, secure system for national identification and civil registration. Since taking office on October 1, 2025, Vernon has overseen the integration of services previously managed by the Registrar General’s Department, including birth, death, and marriage registration, alongside national ID enrolment. The system operates under strict data protection laws and independent oversight, ensuring transparency and public trust. NIRA has launched an online enrolment portal, and both the national ID and first birth certificate are provided free to all Jamaicans. Vernon said the Authority is expanding services nationwide and partnering with government and private sector entities to increase enrolment and develop new uses for the ID, including digital verification. He also noted a 24% decline in births from 2018 to 2024, with Jamaica’s fertility rate at 1.8–1.9, below the global replacement rate, a trend consistent with global patterns but of national concern. Vernon emphasised that NIRA provides a secure, modern, and integrated framework to improve identity management, service delivery, and public confidence in Jamaica’s civil registration system.(Andrew Holness)