KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby has announced that the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is taking steps to go digital, citing the high costs of photocopying and printing.

Speaking at the KSAMC’s two-day retreat at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Business Centre held on Thursday and Friday, Swaby revealed that all 40 councillors have been provided with laptops as part of the initiative.

“Right now the KSAMC spends millions each year on photocopying and printing, this is unsustainable. We have to go digital, which is why we have started to provide laptops for our counsellor and they will be presented today.”

“This is just the beginning,” Swaby said, emphasising the need to modernise operations within the municipality, which spends millions annually on printing-related expenses.

Meanwhile, Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie addressed broader issues affecting the sector, stating that the local government is often undervalued by some segments of society.

“The challenge we face as local government practitioners is that a sector of society undervalues our importance,” McKenzie said, adding that no judge in Jamaica could effectively rule on matters concerning local government due to a lack of knowledge about how it operates.