MONTEGO BAY, St James – Mining, Energy and Telecommunications Minister Clive Mullings yesterday pushed his campaign to sensitise the public to the E-Transactions Act a bit further.

This, through a focus group meeting which gave participants access to the legal expertise of commerce expert Karlene Francis and attorney Tricia Gaye Watson of the law firm Myers, Fletcher and Gordon.

The meeting which followed on a series which started in October, saw members of the business community fielding questions relevant to the government’s Electronic Transaction Act which came into effect in April.

“In the series of focus groups meetings that have been taking place, we are seeking to ensure that all affected groups are fully cognisant of the ways in which facets of this new legislation will benefit players in the various industries,” said Mullings at yesterday’s meeting in the resort city of Montego Bay.

He noted that players in the travel and tourism industries are among the groups that will stand to benefit significantly from the new legislation, pointing out that many of the customers in those sectors continue to transact their business online.

“Hotel reservations, rental of ground transport, airline reservations and other activities related to the travel and tourism industries are increasingly being done electronically,” the telecommunication minister noted.

The E-Transaction Act, which applies to any person who engages in electronic transactions, provides the legal framework for consumers to confidently conduct such transactions.

“The E-Transaction Act creates a safer environment for business people and for individual consumers as well,” Mullings stressed. “On the basis of this Act, we envision a Jamaica where there is greater confidence in the integrity and reliability of electronic documents and electronic transactions.”

Arguing that doing business the electronic way could lead to greater efficiency, Mullings used the occasion to urge businesses to conduct transactions via the Internet, rather than relying on the telephone, or other traditional means.

“Beyond the benefit of convenience , doing business the electronic way could translate into greater efficiency and lower operational expenses, including lower telephone bills,” he told the meeting.

The ministry’s E-Transaction Act public education programme, which includes mass media and regional meetings, will continue until January 2008.