Expansion of CCTV Cameras Continues

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says the Government continues to expand the network of closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras under Jamaica Eye.

Through JamaicaEye, hundreds of Government CCTV cameras have been installed in townships across the island.

“We are expanding, and we will continue to expand. We have now completed the required surveys to look at what is required nationally, and we are also in the process of installing our C5 (command) centre, which deals with both cyber and communication,” he said.

The command-and-control centre will integrate, coordinate and analyse data in real time from all available contact points, with the necessary back-end support.

The Minister was speaking to JIS News during the Ministry’s CyberSMART Conference at the AC by Marriott Hotel in St. Andrew, on February 11.

Dr. Chang said more cameras will be installed, adding that this is critical to the further buildout of the programme.

“It’s not something that you can complete. We should complete the end of this phase when you have an entire system by the end of this financial year into the new financial year [but] we need another 2,000 cameras up, so that won’t be completed until maybe the next financial year,” he said.

The Minister further noted that greater partnership will be undertaken with private-sector and telecommunications players to broaden the scope of collaboration.

The public-private partnership, launched in 2018, is designed to network CCTVs owned by the Ministry as well as accommodate feed from privately owned cameras.

The feeds provide useful footage in relation to criminal activity and other emergencies and are monitored by a team of security professionals.