Information Commissioner Urges Data Controllers to Register

Information Commissioner, Celia Barclay, is urging data controllers to register, despite any obstacles they may face in meeting the requirements of the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2020.

Ms. Barclay’s plea comes as Jamaica moves forward with the full implementation of the legislation, which aims to safeguard individuals’ privacy rights and regulate the processing of personal data across various sectors.

In a recent interview with the Jamaica Information Service’s ‘Get the Facts’ programme, she empathised with organisations that are encountering challenges in preparing for registration and appointing data protection officers.

“At this point, what we are promoting is registration. So, if you do not feel that you have met every requirement for compliance under the Act or you have not identified the perfect person for your data protection officer [role], you can still come forward and register,” she said.

“You will have time to make yourself compliant as well as amend the particulars which have been provided,” Ms. Barclay added, while highlighting the flexibility within the legislation.

Registration commenced on June 1 for the December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024 period.

This follows a six-month grace period for entities to become compliant with the legislation.

Additionally, data controllers are also being encouraged to visit the Office of the Information Commissioner’s website for detailed guidance on the registration process and compliance requirements.

The platform can be accessed using the link https://oic.gov.jm/.

The Office of the Information Commissioner is responsible for overseeing compliance with the Data Protection Act in Jamaica.

Its mission is to build confidence in the protection of individuals’ privacy rights through the robust implementation of the Data Protection Act.