A malfunctioned CCTV camera failed to capture a recent fatal stabbing in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth.
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National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang
National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang has admitted that a significant number of JamaicaEye closed-circuit television cameras, installed in towns across Jamaica, are out of service due to a technical issue with maintaining the surveillance network.
Last Saturday, 28-year-old Shemar Bryan was fatally stabbed in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, under a CCTV camera, which failed to capture the incident because it had malfunctioned.
Speaking at Wednesday's New Market Business Community meeting in St. Elizabeth, Dr. Chang said most of the 75 CCTV cameras in Santa Cruz are down.
"Since we have gone digital in the telecommunications system, nobody in the country has an effective islandwide technology maintenance system," the minister lamented, adding that this is a major procurement issue since a significant number of cameras are down across the country.
Dr. Chang said the government is in negotiation with a Jamaican company to establish an effective islandwide maintenance system for the 1,000 JamaicaEye CCTV cameras.
The Ministry of National Security is also looking to expand the JamaicaEye surveillance network by installing more cameras across the island.
Dr. Chang said the government has already identified 3,000 sites that require CCTV coverage, to boost the ability of the authorities to apprehend criminals.
He said, although there are some issues with private systems, some private sector cameras will also be among the thousands of new cameras implemented as part of JamaicaEye.
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