NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Tourism stakeholders in Negril are appealing to the authorities for issues related to connectivity to the JamaicaEye network to be resolved ahead of the winter tourist season.

The matter was raised at last Thursday’s Negril Chamber of Commerce meeting attended by National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang as well as Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson and his team at Couples Swept Away resort in Westmoreland.

Hotelier Daniel Grizzle is of the view that cameras placed on Negril’s famous seven-mile stretch of white sand beach, in particular, could assist in mitigating harassment, fear and petty crimes. The cameras, he argued, will assist the police in doing their job while at the same time deterring criminals in the area who, he said, are afraid of their pictures being taken.

Among the undesired activities taking place on the beach are the offering of illegal horseback riding and jetskiing services.

That has resulted in the business community trying for years to get a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system in place on their own.

JamaicaEye is the national CCTV surveillance system that allows registered private citizens to share footage from their cameras with the local authorities free of cost.

“We know the cameras that we want because we have put up a sample and it works beautifully. All we need is for the technical person to come and direct us to say this… so we don’t do things piece piece,” stated Grizzle.

“I think we could have those cameras up in four [or] five weeks if we work together. We are ready to do our part if it means putting up your technicians down here for a day or two. Let us just design something that we can get the cameras up quickly,” stated Grizzle.

Grizzle explained that Negril is fortunate enough to have a retired security expert from the United Kingdom who had introduced the business community to a particular camera.

“We bought it and put it up as a sample to see if it really delivers what we want. Your police officers have seen it, a lot of technical people have seen it and they work,” stated Grizzle.

“So, it is not that she is going to buy one type and he is going to buy one type. We are all going to buy the same camera so that it can work properly,” added Grizzle, who noted that the business community would prefer to know that the cameras will integrate well with the JamaicaEye network before they go ahead and purchase the equipment.

However, Dr Chang revealed that he was advised that there is a technical issue with Internet protocol network connection compatibility in Negril on the part of service providers. He explained that the right network is needed to make the system work properly.

Chang, who is also the deputy prime minister, said dialogue will be had, particularly with telecommunications giant Flow. He also suggested the possibility of examining the use of Starlink’s satellite Internet service.

Starlink was given the green light to commence operating in Jamaica in October 2022.