The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has received over J$6 million worth of information communication technology (ICT) devices from the Universal Service Fund (USF) to help in boosting its efficiency in operations.
At the handover ceremony, Daryl Vaz, Minister of Science, Energy, and Technology, noted that the gadgets will provide officers with real-time access to crucial information and communication tools, allowing them to do their tasks more effectively and efficiently.
He also said the technologies in the daily operations of the JCF will enhance public safety and lead to improved outcomes for all Jamaicans, adding that the devices will also help to improve accountability and transparency within the force.
Vaz further said the handover of the ICT devices is aimed at modernizing the operations of law enforcement agencies in Jamaica, noting that the USF has been assisting the JCF for over ten years.
“The JCF has been a beneficiary of the USF’s Islandwide Broadband Project since 2012, with over 61 police facilities receiving access to the Internet,” he said.
“The integration of technology into policing is a crucial step towards building a safer and more secure Jamaica, and the USF is committed to promoting the widespread availability and use of ICT in the country,” he further said.
Major General Antony Anderson, commissioner of police expressed gratitude to the USF on behalf of the JCF, stating that the devices are vital in enhancing the effectiveness of the police officers and in improving public safety in Jamaica.
Anderson also thanked the USF for its ongoing assistance through various projects and the advancement of the force.
“Today, I must also thank the USF for working with us on many projects and for funding our own members to do coding, coupled with the benefits that we receive from your broadband project. USF has been involved in the digitization process of the JCF – and we have an e-ticketing system and the digitization records … and the USF is a part of that as partnership is one of our strategic pillars,” Anderson said.