Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he was dismayed to see Jamaicans lining up in the sun for government services.
He wants to use technology to change that and bring prosperity to the country.
Speaking at the opening of a new office for Chinese tech giant Huawei on Thursday, Holness said he was determined to transform Jamaica into a digital society and would work with Huawei and other tech innovators in this regard.
“I’m always frustrated seeing our seniors and our citizens lining up in various social safety net programs, sometimes queuing through gates, under the scorching sun, uncomfortable, trying to access government services and many of them can be delivered digitally,” Holness said at the opening of Huawei’s offices on Hope Road in St Andrews.
Jamaicans are overcoming their skepticism and reluctance to do business online, as evidenced by the number of people who signed up for government grants at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Holness said.
The prime minister said he was determined to create a digital society that would allow the country to thrive in the 21st century economy and “use technology to drive our economic prosperity”.
“We’ll be more productive, we’ll be more efficient in both the public and private sectors, and we’ll be able to deliver faster … less stressful services to our citizens and customers by integrating technology,” Holness said.
Prime Minister Holness on the red carpet with officials from the Chinese Embassy in Jamaica and Huawei.
Holness also said his government would ensure that services delivered through technology are accessible to all, regardless of age, status or income.
He said he had issued “firm instructions” to the Jamaica Customs Service, the Passports, Immigration and Citizenship Service, as well as the Jamaica Police Force and other government entities to “accelerate the pace of digitalisation”.
Huawei is investing $300 million in the new 9,000-square-foot building that will house administration, human resources, R&D and technology departments, meeting rooms and restaurants.
The company said the new facility will enable it to grow further in Jamaica.
Huawei, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary on the island, said it has developed strong and innovative technological infrastructure, such as wireless and fibre-to-the-home networks and digital TV services.