Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, Trevor Forrest, is urging increased vigilance against cybercrime, as everyone is at risk. He noted that last year, the country lost US$100 million due to cyber criminal activity, and a report for this year has indicated that more than 230,000 threats were detected in the space of a month. “You...

Attorney General, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, has welcomed the proposed establishment of a Building Practitioners Board as provided for in the Building Act that is now before the House of Representatives. The Board will define and establish categories of practice of building practitioners, and determine the scope and nature of work that each category shall be licensed to perform. The...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Geo-spatial Information System (GIS) technology will play a major role in assisting the government’s security objectives. This he said will allow for more informed and systematic intervention, in line with the approach that is being taken to address the level of crime and violence in the country. “We are enhancing the use of GIS in...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Robert Montague, has credited the use of geospatial data in improving the technological capabilities of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) as it seeks to predict and prevent criminal activity. Addressing the opening ceremony of the inaugural Jamaica GIS User Conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Tuesday (October 10), Mr. Montague said the Ministry is...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is encouraging greater use of geographic information system (GIS) technology across all sectors in order to spur higher levels of economic growth and development. He contends that despite Jamaica’s use of the technology over the past 25 years, its full potential remains untapped. “It is certainly accepted by the Government… definitely at the...

Senior Advisor, Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, Trevor Forrest, says a feasibility study to determine Jamaica’s readiness for the establishment of a Science and Technology (S&T) Park has been completed and is now being reviewed. Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, made mention of the study in his Sectoral presentation earlier this year. Mr. Forrest, who was speaking...

The National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy is expected to be promulgated before the end of the year. Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, Trevor Forrest, said the policy aims to foster a dynamic culture of innovation and unleash more of the nation’s creative potential. “It intends to… catalyse economic development and sustainable prosperity, contributing...

Jamaica will join the international community in observing Cyber Security Awareness Month in October. The Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology will be hosting and participating in several activities during the month, under the theme ‘Protecting the Internet is a shared responsibility’. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on October 4, Head of...

Encouraged by findings from two-dimensional seismic surveys conducted off the country’s south coast in the search for oil and gas in Jamaica, Tullow Oil will now be moving to three-dimensional surveying. Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of a three-day Natural Gas Conference held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel...