ROSEHALL, St James – Minister of Mining, Energy and Communications Clive Mullings will next month initiate a public education programme and develop specific recommendations to guide the emergence of Next Generation Networks (NGNs) with a view to sensitising Jamaicans to the Electronic Transactions Act of 2006 and continuing the reformation of the information communications technology (ICT) sector.

In his first public speech since taking office, Mullings told over 100 delegates at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation’s (CTO) gala dinner Monday night that the importance of inspiring confidence in the ICT sector through the appropriate legislation could not be over-emphasised.

“The objective of the campaign is to advise major stakeholders and the public sector on roles, rights and responsibilities and the benefits under the Act. I advise all Jamaicans to participate in the regional meetings which will be held during the period November to December 2007,” he said.

The Act, which was pushed into legislation during the reign of former minister of industry, technology, energy and commerce, Phillip Paulwell, will provide legal recognition for the electronic equivalents of the hard copy processes which currently govern business transactions.

Paulwell is scheduled to address the CTO’s fifth annual forum, which on Monday convened at the Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa resort, tomorrow.

In the meantime, Mullings is inviting the public to visit his ministry’s website at www.mct.gov.jm to comment on the 2006 draft telecommunications policy which he intends to embellish with guidelines concerning the NGNs.