Government pushes digital transformation to improve services for Jamaicans abroad
Trevor Forrest (right), Senior Advisor to Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, makes a point during a plenary session at the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James on Wednesday (June 17). Also participating in the discussion is Chairman of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force and Deputy Chair of the Caribbean AI Task Force, Chris Reckord. Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Key Points(5)
- The Jamaican government is moving to make it easier for citizens living overseas to access public services and conduct business at home, as part of a broader digital transformation agenda aimed at strengthening engagement with the diaspora.
- The push was outlined during the 11th Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, where officials highlighted both technological development and human capacity building as central to the country’s digital future.
- Trevor Forrest, senior advisor to the minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for science, technology and special projects, Dr.
- Andrew Wheatley, said improving efficiency for Jamaicans abroad remains a key priority.
- “One of the most frustrating things is how difficult it is to get things done from overseas,” Forrest said during a plenary session on Harnessing Diaspora Talent to Build Jamaica’s AI and Digital Future .
The Jamaican government is moving to make it easier for citizens living overseas to access public services and conduct business at home, as part of a broader digital transformation agenda aimed at strengthening engagement with the diaspora.
The push was outlined during the 11th Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, where officials highlighted both technological development and human capacity building as central to the country’s digital future.
Trevor Forrest, senior advisor to the minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for science, technology and special projects, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, said improving efficiency for Jamaicans abroad remains a key priority.
“One of the most frustrating things is how difficult it is to get things done from overseas,” Forrest said during a plenary session on Harnessing Diaspora Talent to Build Jamaica’s AI and Digital Future. “One of the things that we must look at in a very real sense is how we can make it more efficient, easier for everybody, not only the ones here but overseas, to engage with us, to do business and get things done.”
He stressed that while digital tools are essential, they are not sufficient on their own, adding that investment in people is equally important for long-term transformation.
Forrest said the government has launched initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, while also building the skills needed for participation in the digital economy. He suggested that broader AI literacy could unlock new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among young people and vulnerable communities.
The conference also heard from Chris Reckord, chairman of the National AI Task Force and deputy chair of the Caribbean AI Task Force, who outlined ongoing work to strengthen Jamaica’s readiness for AI adoption and digital resilience.
Reckord said the National AI Task Force has been tasked with translating policy recommendations into actionable strategies and reviewing existing legislation that may require updates to support responsible AI integration.
“The AI Task Force was tasked with two main things in this dispensation… turn the recommendations into policy and then look at the laws that need to be adjusted,” he said.
He also pointed to the work of the Technology Recovery and Resilience Task Force, formed after Hurricane Melissa to assess technological damage and coordinate recovery efforts in affected communities, including schools.
Reckord said several hundred schools have already been brought back online, aided in part by support from overseas partners within the Jamaican diaspora who have provided equipment and technical assistance to restore connectivity and learning systems.
