Sectoral Debate highlights digital government plans and climate reform calls

Minister without portfolio Audrey Marks told the House of Representatives that Jamaica’s public sector digitisation programme is moving into a new phase, with online vehicle services, electronic signatures, digital payments, identity services and postal reform among the priorities being advanced.

Marks said the Information and Communications Technology Authority, operational since April 2025, has helped push electronic motor vehicle registration and digital fitness certificates, with 1.1 million registrations processed online. She also pointed to the Tax Administration Jamaica mobile app, which has more than 40,000 users, and the full roll-out of electronic signatures across government in March 2026.

The minister said judges have electronically signed about 103,089 traffic ticket warrants, while motorists can check ticket status through the government’s online lookup service. She also highlighted Paygate, the secure online payment gateway, saying more than one million transactions were handled in the last financial year across agencies including Tax Administration Jamaica, Jamaica Customs, the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission, Kingston Freeport Terminal, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, and the Port Authority of Jamaica.

Marks announced plans for a digital document wallet, Gov Notify alerts by email, SMS and WhatsApp, and the Jamaica Data Exchange Platform to let authorised agencies verify information directly. She said the system should support faster bank account opening and a “once only” approach to government information.

On identity services, Marks said the National Identification and Registration Authority has expanded 24-hour online access and processed 47,562 document recovery applications after Hurricane Melissa, including 856 free services for vulnerable people. Mobile units for constituency outreach are expected by June 2026, with additional enrolment and service centres planned across several towns.

Marks also said Jamaica Post is being repositioned for digital services, logistics and e-commerce, including a digital address system with Yaso Jamaica Limited, wider express mail service, restored United States parcel delivery from June 1, 2026, and post offices serving as one-stop government service centres.

In a separate contribution, St. Mary Central MP and opposition environment spokesman called for stronger beach access rights, modern environmental regulation, improved waste enforcement, climate-risk screening for major infrastructure, and an independent environmental protection agency. He argued that environmental protection, public health, water security, agriculture, tourism and national resilience are now inseparable.