ICT Authority Advances Jamaica’s Digital Government Services

Jamaica’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Authority is being credited with helping to modernise public-sector services one year after it officially began operating in 2025. The agency forms part of the Government’s Streamlining Processes for Efficiency and Economic Development (SPEED) Agenda, which is aimed at reducing red tape and improving how the State delivers services.

Ambassador the Hon. Audrey Marks, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, outlined the Authority’s progress during her contribution to the 2026/2027 Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Wednesday, May 20.

She said the Authority was formally brought into operation in April 2025 to improve technology governance, speed up digital change and better coordinate the use of technology across government. One year later, she said, the country is beginning to see the results.

Among the major changes cited was the upgrade of Jamaica’s motor-vehicle registration system, moving away from paper-based documents to electronic motor-vehicle registration and digital fitness certificates. According to Ambassador Marks, 1.1 million motor-vehicle registrations have been completed online so far.

She said the system is also changing how Jamaicans interact with government services. Vehicle owners can now get alerts when certificates are close to expiring, while renewals can be completed online from any location.

Ambassador Marks also pointed to the expansion of Tax Administration Jamaica’s reach through its mobile app. The app allows users to carry out several transactions, including tax payments and payments for government services such as police record applications, tax compliance certificates and drivers’ licence applications. She said the app has passed 40,000 users.

The Minister said the ICT Authority has also supported the rollout of digital signature services across government. Although the Electronic Transactions Act was passed in 2006, she said full use of electronic signatures required digital systems, governance arrangements, security structures and coordinated implementation across the public sector.

She said two important parts of that work were the electronic transaction signature policy and Jamaica’s national public key infrastructure (PKI), both of which have now been implemented by the Government. The PKI allows secure electronic documents to be issued and provides the trust framework needed for legally accepted digital transactions.

With that foundation in place, electronic signatures were fully implemented across government in March 2026. Ambassador Marks said digital signing now allows documents to be completed securely online, meaning individuals and businesses can submit and receive authenticated documents at government offices without depending on paper forms or in-person wet-ink signatures.

She said electronic signatures have been especially important for the courts. Since 2026, 322,364 traffic tickets have been issued, compared with 714,362 in 2025. Some traffic ticket cases require a judge to sign and issue a warrant, and judges can now do so electronically.

Ambassador Marks said about 103,089 traffic ticket warrants have already been signed electronically by judges. She said this reduces the need to move paper documents, cuts administrative delays, lowers printing and storage costs, speeds up processing in the justice system and gives judges more time for other duties.

She also noted that members of the public can check the status of their traffic tickets through the Government’s official online service at trafficticketlookup.gov.jm.