Information Division

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Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica

The Broadcasting Commission is an independent statutory agency established in June 1986. It falls under the ambit of the Minister with responsibility for Information.  The Commission is mandated by the Broadcasting and Radio Re-diffusion Act (BRRA) to monitor and regulate free-to-air television, broadcast radio and subscriber television (Cable) services to ensure their operation at appropriate levels in relation to technical, programming, and service standards.

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Jamaica Archives and Records Department

The Jamaica Archives and Records Department had its beginnings in the Island Secretary’s Office (ISO) established in 1659 as the administrative and record keeping arm of the Colonial Government.  The Island Secretary’s Office was dismantled in 1879 and some of its functions transferred to the Island Records Office (IRO) in Spanish Town under the Records Law of that year.

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Mandate

The Information Division has responsibility for ensuring an appropriate Policy, Legislative and Regulatory Framework for the Information Subject.  The Division is responsible for:

  1. Providing an enabling environment for the development of the Electronic Media Sector in Jamaica for the benefit of citizens, investors and other stakeholders;
  2. Providing technical and administrative support to the Minister in the administration of the Broadcast Licensing Framework;
  3. Facilitating the preservation and efficient management of official records and enabling the dissemination of and public access to government’s records and information; and
  4. General oversight of the Agencies comprising the Information Subject, and in keeping with those responsibilities provides policy (and administrative) guidance as well as monitors the Agencies’ performance more generally.

Information Subject Agency and, Department 

The Broadcasting Commission (the Commission) regulates the Electronic Media Sector.  The Commission is governed by provisions of the Broadcasting and Radio Re-Diffusion Act. The Commission is headed by a Chairman and Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor General. The work of the Commission is supported by a Secretariat headed by an Executive Director. (link to BCJ Website)

The Jamaica Archives and Records Department (JARD)  sets standards for the management of official records in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, supports GoJ adherence to data and information retention schedules, and is charged with the care, storage, preservation and the provision of access to archival material. JARD is governed by the provisions of the Archives Act (the Act) and is headed by a Government Archivist.  Provision is also made in the Act for an Archives Advisory Committee headed by the Chief Justice. (Link to JARD website)

Vision 2030 Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework 2018-2021

National Outcome # 6 – Effective Governance

  • Improving transparency and accountability in the public service and access to information facilitated by the Access to Information Act, Whole of Government Business Plan, Medium term budgeting. Government’s Consultation Code of Practice, and importantly, the strengthening of legislative and policy frameworks

 

National Strategy 6-5: Strengthen Public Institutions to Deliver Efficient and Effective Public Goods and Services

Sector Strategy:   Strengthen the coordination and capacity of national statistics, data and information systems to support sustainable and inclusive national development

No.

Priority Strategies and

Actions for FY2018/2019

– FY2020/2021

Additional InformationMain Implementing Entity

Contribution

to Achieving

SDG Targets

Sector Strategy: Strengthen the coordination and capacity of national statistics, data and information systems to support sustainable and inclusive national development
 Continue the implementation of the Government of Jamaica Records and Information Management Programme.

This Programme seeks to integrate the government’s information infrastructure and systems and will contribute to

Enhancing service delivery.  The Programme includes 5 key results areas:

1.      Policy, Legal and Regulatory Framework for the management of GoJ records and information;

2.      Organizational Structures and Human Resources for RIM;

3.      Reform of the Institutional Framework for JARD;

4.      RIM Systems; and

5.      Capacitation of Key Stakeholders.

 

MoEYI and Jamaica Archives and Records Department (JARD) 
 Complete Policy on Data and Collection and Information Sharing within the Public Sector.The Policy will l establish a comprehensive framework to enable government entities to be able to access accurate, current and quality data for purposes of verification, planning, making sound and effective decisions, engaging in evidence based policy making and delivering public services more seamlessly.MoEYI 
 

Modernize the

Electronic Media and

Content Sector/environment

This is intended to provide a modern policy, legal, regulatory and institutional framework, which contributes to the creation of a knowledge-based, digital literate and empowered citizenry, as well as enables a competitive electronic media industry to advance national development and add value to the global information societyMoEYI, Broadcasting Commission (BCJ) 
 Continue efforts to implement the National Digital Terrestrial Television SwitchoverThe Digital Switchover will transform the media landscape in Jamaica and will support the transition to a digital economy and society.BCJ, MoEYI 
 

Continue efforts to improve the organizational

Responsiveness and efficiency of the Broadcast Regulatory.

A transitional institutional framework will establish a modern regulator of the Electronic Media, that is to say, a rules-based and transparent Regulator which is designed and equipped to address the current issues/trends in the sector.  The Regulatory is to become the Content RegulatorMoEYI, BCJ