PM wants Communications Interception Act Amended

KINGSTON — Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, has tabled a Bill to amend the Interception of Communications Act, in the House of Representatives.

A decision was taken to amend the Act to provide that a warrant, under Section 4, may authorise that intercepted communications be disclosed to a foreign government, or agency of such government.

The Bill, however, noted that the disclosure of the intercepted communication can only occur where there exists, between Jamaica and such foreign governments, an agreement for mutual exchange of that kind of information, and when the Minister certifies that it is in the public interest that such disclosures be made.

The Bill also seeks to amend the Act, in order to provide for extraterritorial jurisdiction in respect of the offence of unauthorised disclosure of intercepted communications, set out in section 15 (2).

By LATONYA LINTON, JIS Reporter