KINGSTON, Jamaica— Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the Government is in the process of procuring over $200 million worth of body worn cameras for use by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and, where necessary, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

He made the disclosure on Tuesday while giving his keynote address at the National Police College of Jamaica graduation ceremony held at the AC Hotel in Kingston.

He told the audience that the Government is committed to having the cameras deployed and used by the security forces, so it can become “a standard feature of the police officer’s kit”.

“The Government of Jamaica is committed to the deployment and use of body-worn cameras for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and indeed where necessary for the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force). There is no conflict, there is no indecisiveness, it is something that we are doing and will continue to do. So, I want the country to be assured that the government is 100 per cent committed to having body-worn cameras become a standard feature of the police officer’s kit,” Holness said.

“We have in procurement now over $200 million for cameras and we procured last time about $70 million worth of cameras and we continue to procure. So, for us to deploy cameras, it is not about the deployment of the camera. The camera is the least of the system of being able to capture real-time footage of police doing their duties,” he added.

The prime minister said however that before acquiring the cameras a data centre needs to be created so that footage capture can be stored there.

Earlier this month, Assistant Commissioner at the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) Hamish Campbell, raised concerns over the number of people being shot and killed by the security forces in instances where body-worn cameras are not activated or worn.

He said these incidents include dozens of planned police operations where people end up dead and there is no recording of the alleged shoot-out or confrontation that led to their demise.

Campbell had stated that officers cited that they are either not trained in the use of the body-worn camera despite wearing them, the station is not equipped with body-worn cameras, or that the issuing officer responsible was not present on the occasion to deliver the cameras.

He further disclosed that as of October 31, the number of people killed in planned police operations stood at 58 from 50 operations representing 40 per cent of those killed so far this year.

WATCH: Cops refusing to activate body cameras in deadly operations, says INDECOM