The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified well-known shortcomings and deficiencies with Jamaica’s information technology and telecommunications infrastructure.
Containment measures saw the closure of schools forcing educators and students to go online or do remote learning. In May the education minister would tell the parliament that 31 thousand Jamaican students did not have access to the internet, radio, or television to access instructions.
It is believed the number is much higher as there have been numerous reports of the struggles and challenges of schools, teachers and parents especially in rural Jamaica about sustained and meaningful learning experiences online due to limited access to the internet or the prohibitive costs of data plans daily.
Island-wide internet penetration is said to be approximately 54 percent.
The country was also stunned by long lines of people waiting outside remittance agencies to collect COVID-19 relief grants disbursed by the government – an indication that a significant percentage of Jamaicans remain unbanked.
The Prime Minister has indicated that in the post-COVID-19 era Jamaica must transform into a digital society.
The idea of a digital economy suggests a modern society that has adopted integrated information and communication technologies.
It’s a reshaping of the society to speed up processes, make them more efficient and more importantly save you time and energy when doing business.
So imagine being able to avoid banking halls, no long lines and several hours waiting to pay government taxes and shopping online as a matter of course…will this one day become the norm and reality in Jamaica?
Larren Peart is CEO of Blue Dot Insights. He also sits on the new economy subcommittee of the COVID-19 economic recovery task force.
He shares with us his idea of what a digital Jamaica should look like.
In our next segment we introduce you to farmers in what was described as the pineapple capital of Jamaica. We have their story of struggle and resilience in dealing with the impact of COVID- 19.
We’ll also hear about the latest efforts of the government to assist members of the farming community.
Welcome to the community of Tangle River in St James. It is primarily a farming district.
Most of the residents live from the land. It’s their main source of economic survival. The last few weeks have been particularly challenging with the slowdown of commerce and uncertainty about where to send their produce. With assistance from the government some of the farmers have found ways to navigate the difficulties while others continue to appeal for help.
But what exactly is on the land here?
