PayGate Tops One Million Government Online Payments, Marks Says

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Jamaica’s Government processed more than one million payments through its online PayGate system in the last financial year, according to Minister with responsibility for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Ambassador Audrey Marks.

Marks gave the update on Wednesday while making her first presentation in the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives. She said PayGate, which operates under the Information, Communications and Technology Authority, allows members of the public to settle property taxes, business taxes, motor vehicle fitness and registration fees, along with other government charges, through the Tax Administration Jamaica website and mobile application.

She said the Jamaica Customs Agency is also using the system to let importers and brokers pay customs duties, import permits, licences and certificates online, cutting processing times and helping to improve the ease of doing business.

Marks told the House that other transactions on the platform were handled by the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission, Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, and the Port Authority of Jamaica. She said the activity shows wider use of digital payments across the public sector.

According to Marks, six additional government entities joined PayGate during the last financial year. She said the ICT Authority has upgraded and reinforced the platform, describing it as an important part of Jamaica’s digital transformation and a way to make public services more accessible, secure and convenient for residents and businesses.

PayGate supports online payments in Jamaican and United States dollars through Visa and MasterCard, and is connected with major local commercial banks for payment processing.