Mandatory AI Training Planned for Jamaica's Entire Public Sector

Every tier of Jamaica's public service is set to receive compulsory training in artificial intelligence, as the Government moves to refresh how state services are delivered and tighten operational performance.

Trevor Forrest, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects in the Office of the Prime Minister, revealed the plan during a panel on building Jamaica's AI and digital future through diaspora engagement. The discussion formed part of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, held in Montego Bay last week.

In a June 18 Jamaica Information Service (JIS) release, Forrest said the instruction will reach staff from the highest ranks to the most junior posts. Workers are expected to develop a foundational understanding of what AI is, how it operates, and the ethical considerations tied to its use.

He said the aim is to enable public servants to put the technology to practical use in their daily duties and to help ministries, departments, and agencies run more efficiently.

Forrest also accepted that the scheme may meet opposition. Some government employees, he noted, approach new technology with unease, concerned that automation could eventually take over their jobs.

His position is that training, not retreat, is the sounder course. Equipping workers to handle AI tools properly, he argued, is what will allow the state to secure efficiency gains without pushing aside those already in post.

He connected those improvements to wider benefits for Jamaicans living on the island and in the diaspora.

The disclosure did not include a timeline, identify a training provider, or spell out the full workforce scope of the rollout.