Jamaica has accelerated the buildout of its national broadband initiative to facilitate the rollout of high-speed Internet access across the island. In addition, the Universal Service Fund (USF) has been providing free Wi-Fi Internet access points in major town centres, public green spaces and parks, and communities across the island. Addressing the Commonwealth Business Forum Heads of Government and Business...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (right), participates in the handover of tablet computers to students at the St. Andrew-based Greenwich Town Primary School, on June 21. Others pictured (from left) are Anita Bennett, student; Principal of the school, Andrea Richards, and another student, Jerdane Dixon.

The Jamaica Productivity Centre is reporting that e-commerce and online shopping are flourishing among Jamaican consumers. “There was increased productivity in every quarter last year in the Wholesale and Retail Trade industry, with the last two quarters recording increases of 1.1 per cent and 11.5 per cent, respectively,” Minister of Labour and Social Security. Hon. Karl Samuda, said. Mr. Samuda...

Residents of the deep rural community of Facey in St. Catherine, now have full access to the internet following the installation of a free secured wi-fi hotspot. Teacher at the Troja Primary and Infant School Paula Duncan Frater, said a wonderful opportunity has opened in the community to boost education. The Universal Service Fund (USF) sponsored internet facility will help...

A new mobile messaging service dubbed ‘ParentText’ has been launched, providing another layer of support to Jamaican parents in becoming more effective in raising children. The service, being executed under the United Nations Spotlight Initiative and funded by the European Union (EU), provides tips to parents and caregivers of children up to age 17 via text messages, audio and video...

Persons with Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) accounts will be able to use these to receive remittances from overseas. Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), which is spearheading implementation of the CBDC dubbed ‘JAM-DEX’, Richard Byles, said that while individuals sending funds would have to do so using existing arrangements at their respective locations, when the money gets here,...

The Ministry of Education and Youth, through the Student Assessment Unit, is inviting suitably qualified individuals to apply for the position of Marker for the first official electronic marking of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Grade Five assessment. Applicants must be trained teachers with at least three years’ work experience; currently teaching, preferably at the primary-school level (grades four, five...

Minister of National Security and Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says he is pleased with how the initial phase of the rollout of the Station Records Management System within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been progressing. The system will facilitate electronic recording of reports, complaints, and administrative entries by the police. It was introduced at the Harbour...

Criminal records can now be integrated into national security systems more effectively for the execution of searches that will aid in the process of an investigation. This follows the upgrading of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Automated Palm and Fingerprint Identification System, which is now known as the Multi-Biometric Identification System. The new system, which law enforcers can also use...