The Government has approved close to $790 million in new contracts for the expansion and maintenance of its JamaicaEye surveillance network, with the bulk of the spending directed at Portmore, St Catherine, according to contract award notices obtained by the Financial Gleaner.
The awards come as Jamaica grapples with balancing the public’s interest in safety against citizens’ right to move freely without being tracked by the state.
The larger of the two contracts, valued at $439.4 million, was awarded on July 21 to local firm, Sitewatch Electronic Security Limited through restricted bidding for the supply and installation of 300 CCTV cameras and associated devices and infrastructure for JamaicaEye in Portmore. A second contract worth $351.1 million was awarded three days later to local firm Konnexx Services Limited on a single-source basis for maintenance and related services for the JamaicaEye system islandwide.
Both contracts were funded by the Government of Jamaica, according to published award notices.
The Ministry of National Security confirmed the contracts but declined to provide further details about camera deployment, saying the information “cannot be shared at this time due to the sensitivity of the project and the strategic decisions to be taken”.
The ministry also asked that the names of contractors not be published, however, contract award notices are public records under Jamaica’s procurement rules. Additionally, the Jamaica Constabulary Force said it was unable to comment.
Security experts welcome investment
Security consultant Dr Jason McKay welcomed the expansion, describing JamaicaEye as an important investigative tool.
“This investment in infrastructure is what is needed to provide investigators valuable technology to track offenders,” McKay said. “I have seen this technology used in several high-profile court cases, including murder.”
He added that spending on such resources provides a solid return to the security forces, and society alike.
“This is where we need to spend money, where we can help victims of crime to develop trust in the system,” he added.
The Portmore expansion follows years of calls for greater surveillance coverage in one of Jamaica’s most densely populated urban areas, where some residents have complained that criminal activity outpaces police resources.
