The Caribbean nation of Jamaica is on a quest to completely digitize practically everything in the country, including the rapid phasing out of paper records and even physical cash.
A little over a year ago Jamaica quietly became the first nation to release a fully functional central bank digital currency (CBDC) they call “JAM-DEX,” The WinePress reported.
“No Problem” is a phrase that instantly evokes Jamaica, and moreover, speaks to exactly the mood we want consumers and businesses to have when they are using Jam-Dex. ‘No cash, no problem’ simply but explicitly speaks to the ease and worry-free convenience of using Jam-Dex as a substitute for cash.
The central bank said at the time
The Jamaican leadership has been urging their citizens to make the transition to total digitalization for many years, such as the case in 2018 when Prime Minister Andrew Holness revealed as much at the time, announcing the implementation of National Identification System (NIDS) Bill, creating a new digital database collective for IDs.
That is a good example of digital leadership […] . The Government has to ensure that every citizen can (operate) in a digital society, and the transaction has to be secure. We have to ensure security and integrity. We have to ensure transparency, and to do that you have to ensure identity.
Holness said at the time, indicating also that this would cutdown on all the paperwork and time it takes to file and send
In May of this year the Prime Minister and his cabinet began to unveil a new leg of this national scheme. He explained that basically everything public related would begin the transition to total digitalization, but did recognize that some are still hesitant.
In the coming weeks and days, I will be making certain announcements regarding the acceleration of Jamaica’s intention to become a fully digital society.
We have established the National Identification System (NIS). We have put in place our digital currency. We have given directions to our Ministries to digitalize their operations; most of our Ministries are now moving from paper-based systems to digital systems.
Our military is transitioning [as well as the Jamaica Constabulary Force]. The society is moving very quickly, very rapidly to become digital. Our banking consumers are seeing it, as well, because the banks are moving very rapidly to digital.
For those of us who are skeptical… we are here to support you… digital is the way, and so every Jamaican must become digital in their thinking, and that means you must have access to the Internet.
We have now started a program to have broadband access all around the country, so Jamaica is going to be the digital society.
Holness said
SEE: Dubai Government Nears 100% No Paper Transactions As A Move To Digitize Everything
Several days prior Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister Hon. Floyd Green, further explained that the NIDS system would help Jamaicans get access to social benefits like payments under the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) via the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The ID would help with giving special issuance to the elderly and people with disabilities by adding unique stickers for them, Green explained.
However it appears not all Jamaicans are on board and see this move as a way to remove cash from the economy. Holness bitterly pushed back against this. He claimed on May 31st that this transition to digital money is optional. That said, he also went on to explain that JAM-DEX will continued to be emphasized along with the rollout of the National ID system.
There is no mandate to be cashless. Just be rational – why would the Government spend billions of dollars to change the currency to a new durable banknote that we don’t have to change ever so often, only to turn around and take it out of the system.
We have spent money to put in place a new, durable note that accounts for the inflation in the society [and] the convenience of the notes that you need to make payment, and then to just turn around and say ‘no’?
Don’t you see it is stupidness?!
I want to take the opportunity to assure everyone that neither the digital ID nor digital currency will be mandatory. There will be no compulsion to use them. The reason we are implementing these things is to make the lives of citizens easy. If you choose to use them, great to you, if you do not use them, that is your choice
There will be strong safeguards to ensure that your personal data and information is properly secured and used for the purposes that the citizen has provided it for.
We know that many persons are not digital natives and will require assistance and support in conducting transactions and interfacing with technology, so we have started to put together a strategy as to how we will help those who choose to be involved in this digital transformation.
He said, additionally warning about the “unnecessary, unreasonable and dangerous trend” emerging to keep Jamaica from being on the cutting edge of development by spreading misinformation.
In preparation for the rollout of the new digital ID, the government announced in March they sought to increase the number of locations where citizens could enroll for the new card; in tandem with free birth certificates that enable residents to receive the new biometric ID, Biometric Update reported.
I suspect that within this quarter, the public education efforts will start before the rollout of the sites.
Minister for Information Robert Morgan said at the time
In April the government praised its people for volunteering to try out the new system, with the public purportedly giving overwhelming support for the projects.
More recently in late-June the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) announced they are in the process of upgrading their biometric identification system to help protect against voting mismanagement and election fraud, something Jamaica has been accused of many times before.
‘The new automated biometric identification system (ABIS) will match voters’ fingerprints against a database to prevent vote duplication. The ECJ also said it has purchased handheld devices to scan prints at polling stations,’ Biometric Update said.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
Sure, it’s optional today, but we all know where this is going.
Jamaica, with a population of around 2 million, are being used as guinea pigs to trial a lot of this digital ID and CBDC stuff before more developed and larger nations adopt it. The claim of ‘national pride’ by leading the charge is just a ruse.
Clearly everything is going cashless and paperless, which is all designed to track and trace everything we do; building up to the eventual “final solution:”
[16] And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: [17] And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [18] Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Revelation 13:16-18
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Guy looks like he may be related to Barack Obama