Old Harbour business sector to play pivotal role in JamaicaEye project

Indeed, either side of the year the national surveillance system was launched, the town have had quite a few murders and other crimes occurring in the centre, the majority still unresolved to this day.

Its grand announcement brought with it plenty optimism amongst the general public, but some six years later parishes like Trelawny, St Mary, Portland, St Thomas are yet to be brought under the state’s surveillance apparatus. The list of smaller townships like Old Harbour not under surveillance is more extensive with no indication of a timeline anytime soon.

Where Old Harbour is concerned, we are now being told that fast-tracking JamaicaEye to the fastest growing town on the island will require the business sector playing a lead role.

This is due to the fact that areas with a greater propensity for crime and other kinds of social disorder occurring remains the focus of the Ministry of National Security lies.

“The reality is that it’s by order of priority. It’s a hard concept to appreciate, because the challenge that you are facing in Old Harbour it is unique to you, it is experienced by you, so you it is pressing, overly concerning and needs to be addressed now; and that is fine,”  Emil Holgate said.

Holgate, project manager, JamaicaEye was speaking March 30 at a virtual meeting organized by the South St Catherine Chamber of Commerce. The influential lobby group, consisting of some of Old Harbour’s powerful figures, is taking proactive steps to get the system setup in the heartland of southwest St Catherine.

But to cite an example, Holgate said: “It would be hard for me to convince Cabinet to say let us install 70 cameras in the town of Old Harbour without first saying you need to install 50 more cameras in a space like Montego Bay; because Montego Bay is a place where we have murders happening every day, and that is the reality.”

He continued: “We can’t grow as fast as we want covering all the places that need coverage because we know that the issues are affecting Old Harbour, they are affecting business and they need to be managed. So that’s why this aspect of JamaicaEye is important because it gives the business community the opportunity to make and take a stand.

“The model that has prevailed over the years is the business community coming together funding the installation and what we offer is the technical guidance and then the integration into the system. We will tell you where best to put the cameras, we will guide you through the implementation, but it’s completely funded by the body in terms of the business or the residential community. You own the system, it’s not own by the government, it’s your system.”

Treacha Reid, president of the South St Catherine Chamber of Commerce, said the matter is a high priority for the business community and the general public.

Old Harbour may not be a major crime hot spot,” reid told Old Harbour News after the meeting. “However, it is important for us to be proactive and institute measures that will deter criminals from targeting Old Harbour and prey upon our people or see the area as a safe haven. And not only that too, when JamaicaEye gets here it will force many persons to conduct themselves in a manner that is socially acceptable.”

During the question and answer segment Holgate noted that the current system is constantly being upgraded in line with international standards. He also informed the business community that the state will bear the cost for cameras at locations such as stoplights and other similar areas classified as government asset.

Business and residential groups are encouraged to register with JamaicaEye their closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras that capture public spaces. To register your camera persons must visit the JamaicaEye website and follow the instructions.

In the event of a crime being committed the individual or business will not be implicated or bound by the court to provide any footage of the act, as such evidence is already accessible and managed by personnel who have been vetted and of the highest integrity.

JamaicaEye and the chamber of commerce as well as other key stakeholders namely the St Catherine Municipal Corporation and Member of Parliament Everald Warmington will continue to have dialogue on the implementation of the surveillance system.