In a drive to facilitate greater Internet access to Jamaicans, the Government will continue to roll out free secured Wi-Fi hotspots in popular public places across the island.

The initiative is being made possible through the Universal Service Fund (USF), an agency of the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, which will carry out the installation in the select locations.

So far, the popular heritage site, Devon House, has been provided with the free service.

This was noted by Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, during the fourth staging of the National Cyber Security Conference at the Regional Headquarters of the University of the West Indies, Mona, on November 29.

Dr. Wheatley said the service will also be rolled out in Half-Way Tree and Emancipation Park in Kingston; Spanish Town, St. Catherine; Montego Bay, St. James; and Ocho Rios, St. Ann, as well as rural centres across the island.

“As a Government, we recognise that we have to embrace technology and as we improve the way citizens do business on the Internet, the Government has committed to removing the barriers to facilitate use of these fantastic services, especially as it relates to citizen-to-Government interactions,” he said.

Dr. Wheatley added that other measures include zero-rated access to Government websites and content, the Tablets in Schools initiative, as well as the Smart City initiative, which will be piloted in the New Kingston area.

He said the Smart City initiative will be rolled out in the latter part of 2017, with persons who live and work in the area finding themselves plugged into technology grids for the seamless delivery of services.

In the meantime, he urged Jamaicans, particularly children, to be vigilant with cybersecurity issues, such as hacking, identity theft, cyberbullying, among others.

The Minister said the Government has collaborated with several agencies to undertake public-education campaigns, such as the Jamaica Bankers Association and the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

More than one million Jamaicans are online. The total number of mobile subscribers grew by 3.9 per cent last year to 3.3 million persons.

The two-day conference was hosted by the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), University of the West Indies, under the theme ‘Mobile Money, Online Banking and Citizen Awareness’

Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, presented laptops to the two top-performing students in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Information Technology examination for 2016.

The students, Desmond Edwards and Kharissa King, are currently in lower sixth-form at Campion College.

Desmond Edwards received top marks for the entire region in Information Technology, while Kharissa received the highest mark in the subject for the island.

Their teachers, Sanchez Adamson and Julene Powell Wright, were also presented with plaques for their contribution to the students’ successes. A plaque was also presented to the school.

The presentations were made during a courtesy call on the Minister at the Ministry’s New Kingston Offices, on December 14.

In his remarks, Dr. Wheatley congratulated the teachers and students on their achievements.

“I am very pleased, as it sends a signal that Jamaica is moving in the right direction, and that our future is secure, because this Government believes that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is the main pillar for economic growth and development,” he said.

Dr. Wheatley encouraged the students to keep up the good work, while commending the teachers.  “You have done the work and have engineered the minds of our students to be able to perform at this very high level,” he told them.

“To the parents, I know what it is to be a parent and to be committed and to ensure that you provide the opportunity for your child to succeed. Congratulations to the parents as well,” he added.

For her part, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the Universal Service Fund (USF), Stacy-Ann Delevante, also congratulated the students and teachers on their successes.

“I thought it fitting, as an Information Technology-related organisation, to do something like this to encourage those who are in the field to go on and to do greater things; and we want to hear good things about them in the future,” Ms. Delevante said.

Meanwhile, the recipients were appreciative of the awards and recognition received.

“I am somewhat elated that all the hard work and the sleepless nights have finally paid off. I would also like to thank my teachers and my parents for all the support they provided and the guidance that they have given in achieving this goal,” Desmond said.

Kharissa noted that, for her, it was the hard work and dedication that resulted in the successes she has achieved. She also thanked her teachers for making the subject enjoyable.

“I was really well prepared and I felt confident going into the examination, and I am just really happy that all the hard work and dedication has resulted in this achievement,” she added.

Teacher of Information Technology at Campion College, Mr. Adamson congratulated both students for the extraordinary job that they did.

“It is not surprising. For Desmond, in his fifth-form years, he was a dedicated and committed student.  Kharissa King, likewise. She was more of the reserved student, but she was also committed and dedicated to the task,” Mr. Adamson said.

Parent, Desmond Edwards Snr., said he is very proud of his son and is not surprised at his achievement, as “he is a very ardent and dedicated worker and always wants to be the top boy”.

Donna Henriquez-King said she is extremely proud of her daughter, while also expressing appreciation for the teachers at Campion College.

The Universal Service Fund (USF) will be managing the use of WI-FI hotspots being set up across the island in order to prevent loitering at these sites. Already, free broadband Internet access is available at the historic Devon House and Mandela Park, St. Andrew, with other sites to come on stream shortly. Chief Executive Officer of the USF, Suzette Buchanan, told JIS News that as it relates to the Mandela Park hotspot, which was launched on January 12, users have the opportunity to use it every six hours for a duration of 60 minutes.

Once someone has been on the system for an hour they will not be able to access the service again for another six hours. Ms. Buchanan said that this measure is in place so that “what is intended to be something positive does not turn out to be negative.” She noted that the Devon House hotspot, launched late 2016, is at a more controlled location and therefore the Wi-Fi use at that site is unlimited. Ms. Buchanan told JIS NEWS that for upcoming sites, the USF will be managing usage on a case by case basis. She noted that the USF is looking to launch a Wi-Fi hotspot at St. William Grant Park, downtown Kingston in another three weeks and at Emancipation Park, New Kingston in six weeks. From there, the USF will move into Spanish Town and other areas throughout the country later this year.

Ms. Buchanan said that the provision of Wi-Fi hotspots across the island is in an effort to keep Jamaicans connected as well as to enable students to conduct research. She is encouraging persons to make good use of the facilities.  “Use it to help yourself and by extension help your country as we work towards a knowledge-based society,” she said.

The USF is an agency of the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the island has 100 per cent Internet access