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The new design for the Government’s proposed communications network ‘GovNet’, which is expected to result in greater efficiency in the public sector, is to be completed by July. Challenges were encountered with the previous design, which was at an advanced stage. State Minister for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, made the disclosure during his contribution to the...

Programmes aimed at enabling persons to use technology available at the island’s 182 community access points (CAPS) are to be developed for implementation by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining. State Minister, Hon. Julian Robinson, says that in addition to enabling persons residing in the communities where the centres are located to “earn money legitimately,” they will provide...

Six special education schools are to benefit from a $33 million project earmarked for implementation this year by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining. The institutions are: the Lister Mair-Gilby School for the Deaf, Salvation Army School for the Blind, Randolph Lopez School of Hope, and Carberry Court Special School, in Kingston and St. Andrew, as well as...

The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining is consulting with the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to determine the extent of the agency’s authority to ensure that all telephone service providers adhere to the May 2015 timeline for number portability implementation. “LIME (telecom service provider) hasn’t been able to give us a date as yet for when they can...

The Government’s ‘Start-up Jamaica’ initiative, aimed at providing technical support to local entrepreneurs and innovators in the area of technology, is expected to be formally launched in October/November of this year. This was disclosed by Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the...

Implementation of the proposed number portability system by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, has been pushed back to May 2015. State Minister, Hon. Julian Robinson, says this is to facilitate the completion of several activities and engagements that will enable its full establishment, which was initially set for May 2014. The State Minister made the announcement during...

The Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) will be working more closely with the energy sector over the next year to encourage service providers to become accredited, thereby boosting consumer confidence. The thrust to target the energy sector stems from the theme for World Accreditation Day (WAD), ‘Delivering confidence in the provision of energy’. The day was observed on June 9....

A total of 371 public institutions have been connected to the broadband communications network, being rolled out across the island by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining (MSTEM). The network is being implemented through the Universal Service Fund (USF). The institutions include: 206 of 207 targetted educational institutions; 67 of 77 post offices; 57 of 60 hospitals and...

The Government has undertaken a number of preparatory activities, as it readies for the roll out of the $1.4 billion Tablets in Schools pilot project for the new academic year. State Minister for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, informed that schools and parents have been sensitized in the use and care of tablets; a Tablet in Schools...

Passage of the Banking Services Act has paved the way for commercial banks and other deposit taking institutions to begin using agents to offer banking services to the Jamaican population. This was disclosed by Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House...

The University of the West Indies (UWI) is to coordinate six innovation hubs under the Caribbean Mobile Innovation Project. This was disclosed by Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 11. “These hubs are specialized business incubation...

Several key pieces of legislation are far advanced for the modernization of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, including the establishment of a single Regulator for the industry, and updated laws to deal with cyber crimes. In relation to the single ICT Regulator, the Government since June 1, has commenced review of technical proposals, and will contract a consultant...