Implementation of the Streamlining Processes for Efficiency and Economic Development (SPEED) Programme will be accelerated in the new financial year, which begins April 1.
Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen made the disclosure while delivering the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament for the 2026/27 legislative year on Thursday, February 12, in Gordon House.
Outlining priorities under the Office of the Prime Minister, he said that these include developing the National Continuity of Governance Plan and tabling Electoral Integrity Reforms and improvements to the Integrity Commission Act.
He said that the Government will pursue a “mission-driven strategy” for science, technology and innovation that converts Jamaican talent into measurable national outcomes.
“The focus is research for development, with science and technology deployed to solve Jamaica’s problems at speed and at scale. A unified national operating model will align government, academia, and industry so research moves from laboratories into real products, policies, and services,” he said.
Turning to disaster preparedness, the Governor-General said that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) completed the $1.87-billion Improved Emergency Communication System, creating a secure national radio and data network for faster, more reliable emergency communication.
Following Hurricane Melissa, the ODPEM, supported by the Jamaica Defence Force JDF, provided humanitarian support through a hub-and-spoke system.
He also said that key policies were advanced, including the Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Policy (draft White Paper), the National Logistics Plan, and the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy.
Legislative advances included the Data Protection (Disposal of Personal Data) Regulations and the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act.
“As Jamaica continues to strengthen its digital security architecture, the nation was recognised in the 2025 Organisation of American States/Inter-American Development Bank (OAS/IDB) Cybersecurity Report as the English-speaking Caribbean’s most cyber-mature nation,” the Governor-General said.
In 2025/26, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) was established as a unified civil registration and national identification framework, incorporating the Registrar-General’s Department, and launched a new client portal.
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