A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Ministry of National Security and the Jamaica Gasoline Retailers Association (JGRA) for a public-private partnership arrangement for the JamacaEye project.

The MOU between the ministry and the JGRA, which represents petroleum retailers, will allow JamaicaEye to connect approximately 121 gas stations to the national surveillance system.

This will allow feed from public-facing cameras at gas stations to assist crime-fighting efforts and maintain public order.

The partnership will include an overall assessment of cameras at these locations to deduce technical requirements and available coverage areas to connect to the JamaicaEye system.

Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang, has welcomed the agreement as an integral step towards a more proactive approach to curtailing criminal activity across the island.

He noted that the Government is committed to the JamaicaEye project and has invested significantly in the technological advancement of the security forces.

“The goal is to enable faster and more specialised responses, by enhancing our surveillance capacity. I would like to encourage other private sector members to partner with us in our crime-fighting efforts by connecting to the JamaicaEye system,” the minister says.

President of the JGRA, Gregory Chung said the association welcomed the partnership, especially since gas stations are often located at strategic locations in town centres, as well as on main roads, and will provide key information for the monitoring and detection of crime.

“Today is a major milestone for the JGRA, as we continue to work closely with the Ministry of National Security in fighting crime by providing real-time information which will benefit the people of Jamaica,” he said.

JamaicaEye was launched in March 2018 and is part of an islandwide network of camera surveillance systems. Following an islandwide technical audit of all pre-existing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and infrastructure in 2019, the project replaced several outdated cameras and installed additional CCTV cameras in high-priority locations across the island.