Security Minister Wants More Persons to Use Stay Alert App

National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, is calling for more persons, including foreign nationals gaining Jamaican citizenship, to utilise the Ministry’s ‘Stay Alert’ mobile app.

Speaking at a recent swearing-in ceremony at the Police Officers’ Club in St. Andrew for 47 foreign nationals living in Jamaica who were granted citizenship by the Government, Mr. Montague said the Ministry’s ongoing advocacy for greater use of the facility has resulted in an increase in the number of downloads by persons from just under 3,000 to approximately 137,000.

Noting the important role the app plays in enhancing public safety, the Minister said he is encouraging everybody to download the system.

Mr. Montague said the app, which is free, comprises four distinctive security components, and once downloaded, will “transform your smartphone into your personal bodyguard and safety device”.

The Minister said these features include the ‘alert’ component, which facilitates the dissemination of police bulletins to each smartphone equipped with the app; the ‘law’ component, which simplifies public-safety provisions; the ‘eye report’ feature, which facilitates the public’s communication with the police via texts, voice notes, photographs or video uploads; and the ‘panic button’, which, when pressed, alerts the police to the need for assistance.

“So, if you see anything out of the norm happening in your community, use the Stay Alert app to report it… . You can forward the information to the police. We need to become more preventative and (not) react after the crime,” he said.

The 47 new citizens were presented with documents formalising their status by the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) during the ceremony.

Mr. Montague encouraged them to take steps to secure additional key documents, including taxpayer registration numbers and passports.

Chief Executive Officer of PICA, Andrew Wynter, pointed out that approximately 3,000 foreigners are granted Jamaican citizenship annually.

Mr. Winter informed that PICA has granted citizenship to some 10,000 persons during its 10 years as an executive agency.