The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining will be recruiting a Chief Information Officer (CIO) to oversee administration of the newly established e-government (e-gov) agency. The recruitment and establishment of e-gov form part of the administration’s focus on streamlining Information and Communications Technology (ICT) activities and processes across government ministries, departments, and agencies. E-gov resulted from a merger of two...

The Government is advancing work towards establishing a single regulator for Jamaica’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector. The functions of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Broadcasting Commission, and Spectrum Management Authority, are being merged to create the single agency. State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, advised that the Government has...

Government Senator, Sophia Frazer-Binns, is recommending that a levy be placed on all blank CDs and DVDs,  as part of measures to improve the creative industries. “This levy would not go to the Consolidated Fund, but used for the purpose of enhancing the creative industries,”  Mrs.  Frazer-Binns said. The Senator was making her contribution to the State of the Nation...

The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising that it has commenced Phase 4 of the Agency’s islandwide Spray Patching programme along major corridors in the Kingston Metropolitan Region. Spray Patching activities began on Thursday, February 20, 2014 and these are scheduled to be completed in three (3) weeks. Among the twenty two (22) roadways to be patched in Kingston are...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, has announced that the tablet computer project, originally earmarked for primary and high schools, will now be extended to basic schools. “Over 400,000 students will have their own individual device, starting with the pilot project,” the Minister said, while delivering the keynote address at the re-launch of the Grant’s Pen...

A new day has dawned for the community of Top Mountain in St. Catherine, where residents now have free access to information communication technology (ICT), through funding from the Universal Service Fund (USF) at a cost of $3.5 million. The Top Mountain Computer Internet Access Point, which was officially opened by Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Phillip Paulwell, boasts...

Within a few weeks, the Government will be switching on electricity in the community of Barry in St. Catherine, providing residents with the commodity for the first time. The project is being undertaken through the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, who made the announcement on Wednesday, February...