Ms. Karlene Francis, Director General of Jamaica’s
Ministry of Energy, Mining and Telecommunica-
tions, discusses Jamaica’s success in reaching full
mobile penetration and creating public sector
services that are available any-time, anywhere.
Turning Jamaica
into a knowledge-based society
J
amaica is among the first middle income Finally, it is easier and more cost effective to that allows anyone, anywhere in the world
nations worldwide to achieve nearly 100 deploy mobile networks than fixed networks to have access to land titles, deposited
percent mobile penetration. The biggest across our mountainous island country. plans, property sales data and related infor-
growth driver has been the market liberali- mation. The online Jamaica Trade Point serv-
zation process that began in 1999. Jamaica’s How is the government of Jamaica taking ice, in turn, makes it considerably easier for
mobile penetration is a significant achieve- advantage of ICTs to deliver public sector the trading community to conduct transac-
ment, given its average per capital income. services? tions with ministries, government agencies
E-Jamaica Tax Portal is the latest of the and traders.
What have been the biggest mobile far-reaching reforms that have been taken
growth drivers in Jamaica? to modernize public sector services. A key What kind of role do you see for
In general, increased competition in the objective of this reform is to improve public PPPs to promote even greater
market has led to a decrease in the price of services by making them more accessible adoption of ICTs?
calls. There are currently three major mobile through use of ICTs. These include electronic Cooperation between the private sector and
operators in our country. Also, the provision payment of taxes, fees and the conduct of local universities would advance technology
of pre-paid services has played an important other business with the government. In- development and local knowledge. Local
role in the increased use of mobile phones. terestingly, since the implementation of an investments and developing local entrepre-
Jamaicans can send airtime to family and online tax pilot, we have seen an increase in neurship and industries are also important
friends, making mobile services more afford- the collection of taxes. areas for public-private partnerships (PPPs).
able and accessible to lower-income people. eLandjamaica is another online service The private sector can provide technical as-
10 Expanding Horizons 3/2008
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