KINGSTON, Jamaica — Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Fayval Williams says the latest installation of public Wi-Fi service in the Corporate Area at Emancipation Park represents a significant step towards transforming Jamaica into a truly digital society.

“As a ministry and certainly as a government, we understand the growing need for connectivity for our people and the need to become a digitally inclusive society where no one is left behind,” she said at Emancipation Park in New Kingston yesterday March 22, where the seventh public Wi-Fi hotspot was officially commissioned into operation by the Universal Service Fund (USF).

Other public Wi-Fi hotspots already in operation include Half-Way Tree; St William Grant Park, in Kingston; Olympic Way, Kingston; Devon House, Kingston; the Cecil Charlton Park in Mandeville, and in Junction, St Elizabeth.

Williams noted that the Government is providing the tools necessary to positively transform lives, so that persons will be able to create opportunities, connect, communicate and build networks.

“As a ministry, we are (also) committed to ensuring that Jamaica has the best information and communications technology infrastructure,” she indicated.

Williams pointed out that the commissioning of the public Wi-Fi, injects “a fresh and new way that Emancipation Park opened 16 years ago, can be used”.

Meanwhile, USF, Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Dawes said his agency will continue to roll out of Wi-Fi hotspots across the country, “at a rate of four per year”.

He said that public Wi-Fi will be installed in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, St James in the first quarter of the 2019/ 20 financial year.

The USF will also continue to finance the Tablet in Schools Programme and the E- Learning Jamaica Programme.