The Universal Service Fund (USF) wishes to correct misleading information that has been in the media, concerning:

1) The filing of Annual Reports

2) Insinuation seeking to connect the USF to the issues affecting Petrojam.

The clarification follows claims made by President of the PSOJ Howard Mitchell while speaking on ‘This Morning’ on Nationwide News Network on Tuesday June 26 stating that the latest Annual Report available on the USF website is dated 2014. Mr Mitchell insinuated during the radio discussion that no reports have been submitted by the Agency for the last 4 years.

Chairman of the Universal Service Fund (USF) Robert Lawrence has described Mr Mitchell’s claims as unfounded and misleading.

He states that all Annual Reports up to 2016/17 have been duly submitted, as required under the Public Bodies Management Act. He adds that the draft 2017/18 Annual Report inclusive of the Agency’s Audited Financials for the period will be submitted at the board’s monthly meeting this Thursday. Further, this report is not due until July 31.

The Chairman is disappointed that the entity was not contacted for verification to avoid promulgating incorrect and damaging information regarding the Agency in the Public domain.

Meanwhile… The Chairman states that the fact that the Agency handles large sums of funds cannot be grounds for ordering a forensic audit into its operations. Additionally, the fact that the USF falls within the same Ministry as another state-run company currently being investigated cannot provide the basis to impute irregularities within the Agency.

As a Government Agency that is funded by an international levy, the USF is consistently subjected to local and international scrutiny and as such, irresponsible utterances can cause irreparable damage to its reputation. 

The USF will continue to comply with the financial audit and administration act and we have been audited by our independent auditor annually and no irregularities have been reported.

We therefore view any claims of impropriety, without more, baseless.

With the use of Information Communication Technology often associated with an unhealthy, sedentary lifestyle, the Universal Service Fund is urging Jamaicans to harness the power of technology to achieve their fitness goals.

Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the Universal Service Fund Ms. Deleen Powell says while using technology for education and to increase earning potential is important, one should also seek to employ technology to improve their wellness and wellbeing.

She adds that in striving to become a knowledge-based society, one’s health cannot be neglected.

‘There are several applications that you can download on your mobile phone or other device to help you design a fitness regimen and ultimately improve your health.’ She said, adding that the beauty of these applications is that it can be tailored to meet your individual needs.

‘So whether your have been exercising for years or you are just beginning your wellness journey, there are applications that can help you to get more active and to better plan your meals. The technology is literally at our fingertips, it’s now up to us to use it in a way that makes a positive impact on our health and our lives.’ Ms. Powell was speaking at the Ministry of Health’s recent Jamaica Moves Corporate Challenge Breakfast Forum and awards ceremony of which the Universal Service Fund was a sponsor. The USF provided winners of the challenge with Garmin smart watches to help them continue along their fitness journey.

The Government’s Technology Advancement Programme (TAP) is gathering momentum with the recent staging an orientation session for participants in the island-wide programme.

Under TAP a thousand unattached young persons aged 18-35 will receive training and practical experience in Information Communication Technology.

The programme, is being spearheaded by the Universal Service Fund, an agency of the Ministry of Science Energy and Technology.  TAP will be executed over 12 months.

Speaking at Wednesday’s orientation opening ceremony, Minister of Science Energy and Technology Dr the Honourable Andrew Wheatley said TAP is just one way his Ministry is helping to equip young Jamaicans with the skills needed to participate in the ever-growing global digital economy.  

“Globally ICT is a multibillion dollar industry which also enables practically every other line of business. Through TAP, persons with various levels of ICT exposure will increase their earning potential in the field of ICT whether as entrepreneurs or through gainful employment within the industry.” Minister Wheatley said. He added that the programme forms part of the USF’s mandate under the Telecommunications Act to create a knowledge based society through training for vulnerable groups, particularly young people.

Benefits under TAP will be multi-faceted, as participants will also provide much needed human resource support to the Government of Jamaica in a bid to accelerate the ongoing digitization process.

“There is a lot of data within Ministries, Departments and Agencies which we are not able to utilize as it is not in a format that makes it easy to analyse. With this information properly collated, analysed and at our fingertips, we will be able to make better-informed decisions in everyone’s best interest”

Minister Wheatley said such data can help inform policies and programmes and drive economic growth. Training under The Technology Advancement Programme will commence in February 2018.