OUR to get independent telecoms testing equipment as Jamaica reviews utility safeguards

Jamaica’s utilities regulator is preparing to acquire equipment that will allow it to test telecommunications service quality independently, Energy, Transport and Telecommunications Minister Daryl Vaz said in a JIS interview on Friday, June 12, 2026.

Vaz said the Office of Utilities Regulation is in the final stage of buying the monitoring technology, which would reduce dependence on data supplied by telecoms operators and help the regulator enforce sanctions under the law. The move follows persistent complaints about mobile and data service, including reports of weaker service since Hurricane Melissa.

The minister also pointed to competition as a route to better cellular service. He said Rock Mobile, which received a telecommunications licence in 2021 but has not yet fully launched operations, could help improve the market if it rolls out later this year.

Vaz said consumers may also gain stronger protection through proposed amendments to the OUR Act and changes to the Jamaica Public Service Company’s operating licence. He said a revised JPS licence should include a compensation mechanism under the electricity disaster fund for customers whose property is damaged by JPS infrastructure, power surges or related service incidents. The comments followed the islandwide blackout on June 5. Vaz said JPS is not legally required under its current licence to compensate customers, but should consider doing so given its 690,000 customers.

In justice matters, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Delroy Chuck said tens of thousands of criminal records have been expunged after Parliament passed the Criminal Records Rehabilitation of Offenders Amendment Act earlier this year. He said more than 800 people had records cleared in the last financial year, while about 1,500 applications were received. The expungement committee has been expanded to nine commissioners and now meets at least weekly.

Fishers in St. Thomas, Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine and Clarendon are receiving support from a $60 million National Fisheries Authority programme, with five boats and engines handed over on Wednesday. Fourteen boats have been distributed so far, with 20 due islandwide. Agriculture Minister Floyd Green said another $66 million will provide 20 more boats and engines for fishers recovering from Hurricane Melissa, with special focus on fishers under 35.

The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation is also advancing hurricane-season preparations, Mayor Andrew Swaby said on Tuesday, including shelter training, emergency operations centre training, public education for vulnerable groups and drain cleaning.

NEPA, marking its 25th anniversary, has launched a Junior CEO of the Day programme inviting students to submit three-minute videos on sustainable development. Prizes are $75,000, $50,000 and $25,000, with the top entrant serving as NEPA’s CEO for a day.