1. Ministry of Energy, Mining and
Telecommunications (MEMT)
“Partners and Policies for a Sustained
Library and Information System”
Presenter: Karlene Francis, Director General

2. ICT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK 2007/08
 Electronic Transactions Act 2006
 Draft Telecommunications Policy 2007
 National ICT Strategy 2007-2012
 National Development Plan 2030 (PIOJ)

3. E-TRANSACTIONS ACT -
OBJECTIVES
 Facilitate electronic transactions by means of
reliable electronic communications;
 Promote the development of the legal and
business infrastructure necessary to implement
secure electronic commerce;
 Eliminate barriers to electronic
commerce resulting from
uncertainties over writing and
signature requirements;

4. E-TRANSACTIONS ACT -
OBJECTIVES
 Promote public confidence in the integrity and
reliability of electronic communications and
electronic transactions, through the use of electronic
signatures;
 Establish uniformity of legal rules and
standards regarding the authentication
and integrity of electronic communications;
 Facilitate electronic filing of information with
government entities and to promote efficient delivery
of government services

5. Draft Telecom Policy 2007
• Sets the framework for telecommunications as an
instrument for national development to improve
the global competitiveness of local industries.
• Seeks to improve overall efficiency in the public
and private sectors, promote increased investment
in Jamaica and utilize ICT to create an educated
and knowledge-based society.
• Recognizes telecommunications as a
key enabler for all sectors including
ICT, commerce, education,
health, security and entertainment.

6. Draft Telecom Policy 2007
Universal Service
and Access
 Broadband Internet access
 Access devices, e.g. computers
 Information literacy
 Access to telecommunications
services

7. Draft National ICT Strategy
2007-2012
•The vision is for Jamaica to achieve Accelerated
Economic and Human Development and Global
Competitiveness. It embodies the national goals of:
developing our people, fostering innovation,
strengthening governance, and creating jobs
•The mission of the NICT Strategy is
e-Inclusion: Open Access to ICTs and
Participation in a Knowledge-Based
Society.
•The Strategy is organized in seven interlinked strategic
thrusts, areas of activity & emphasis

8. Draft National ICT
Strategy 2007-2012
Strategic Thrusts Strategic Objectives
E-Inclusion Open Access to ICTs and Participation in a
Knowledge-Based Society
Education and Training Highly Educated and Well Trained Jamaicans
Available to the ICT Sector
Network Readiness and Widely Available, Affordable, Secure and Reliable
Infrastructure Development High Speed Connectivity to ICT Network
Infrastructure
e-Government Greater Adoption of e-Government Services by the
Government and those whom it Serves
e-Business and ICT Expanded Job Creation, Entrepreneurship and
Industry Development New Business Development
Research and Innovation Growth in Innovation and Development of New ICT
Products and Services
Cultural Content and Greater Global Recognition of and Rewards from
Creativity Brand Jamaica
Legislative and Policy Greater Confidence in the Conduct of Digital
Framework Transactions

9. National Development
Plan 2030
The Plan will put Jamaica in a position to
achieve developed country status by 2030
The vision is to make ‘Jamaica
the place of choice to raise families,
live, work and do business’
• The PIOJ is responsible for the preparation,
articulation and monitoring of the Plan
• Organized in three sectors: Social, Sustainable
Development and Economic. Each sector has
several Taskforces for certain key elements

10. National Development
Plan 2030
• MEMT chairs the ICT Taskforce under the
Economic Sector, which consists of key
government reps, private sector
representatives and academia
• The Task Force is responsible
for developing the ICT Sector
Plan for the NDP
• Decision to adopt the goals, objectives and
strategies of the NICT Strategy for the first 5
years of 2030
• Preparation Jan 2007 – March 2008 to be
tabled in the Houses of Parliament, April 2008

11. Opportunities for Libraries
• Jamaica is suffering from an education and
skills divide when compared with other
countries and also need to bridge the digital
divide
• The Policy, Strategy and Sector
Plan promote the utilization of ICT to:
transform the educational
system and to improve the skills
• Provide knowledge and expertise
• Facilitate research and innovation
• Development of Content (archives)
• Universal access and service

12. Specific Opportunities
• Institutional Networking among libraries
• Improved administration through
implementation of various systems
• Electronic books
• Access to on-line training courses and on-line
universities
• On-line subscription to magazines, periodicals
and journals
• Provision of Information Literacy and
Literacy Programmes
• Creation of cultural and historical content
• Access point for community

13. Ministry of Energy, Mining and
Telecommunications (MEMT)
THANK YOU !!!
E-mail: kfrancis@mct.gov.jm
Please visit our websites at:
www.mct.gov.jm
www.cito.gov.jm