AGP Executive Report

GIS in Schools: Prime Minister Andrew Holness launched the MapMakers pilot with Esri and National Geographic, rolling out GIS-based geography lessons in eight high schools. Digital Literacy for Seniors: HEART/NSTA Trust, USF and NCSC delivered the ICT Proficiency programme, graduating 91 seniors in St. Andrew. Cybersecurity Lawmaking: Jamaica is moving toward a dedicated Cybersecurity Act to require secure systems and set penalties, alongside the already-updated Cybercrimes Act. Clean Energy Policy Push: An Ember report says Caribbean solar growth is outpacing official stats, but policy and regulation are slowing the wider transition—Jamaica is flagged as highly exposed to imported fuel. Innovation Funding: DBJ launched the R&D Vouchers Programme, offering up to $2.35M per project to validate and test local ideas. Tourism + AI Skills: Tourism officials reaffirm AI integration plans, while Edmund Bartlett urged students to become creators and entrepreneurs, not just tourism workers. Agriculture Tech & Biosecurity: Veterinary Services stepped up bird flu surveillance as migratory season nears. Women-Led Green Tech: CDB’s SheTrades Caribbean Tech It Up Facility will support women-led clean energy innovators across the region.

Cybersecurity & Governance: Jamaica is moving to modernise its national cybersecurity framework with a proposed Cybersecurity Act, aiming to secure systems before breaches and set penalties, while keeping the Cybercrimes Act in place. Digital Skills & Education Tech: The MapMakers pilot will bring digital mapping and spatial analysis into eight Jamaican high schools via GIS tools, while the JIS is pushing real-time monitoring to fight misinformation and disinformation online. Tourism Innovation: The Ministry of Tourism reaffirmed its plan to integrate AI and digital tech into tourism, and Edmund Bartlett urged students to become creators and entrepreneurs, not just job seekers. Innovation Funding: DBJ launched a Research and Development Vouchers Programme, offering non-reimbursable support up to $2.35m per project to help innovators validate and test prototypes. Public Access & Inclusion: 91 seniors completed an ICT digital literacy programme, and Jamaica is also stepping up bird flu surveillance with lab testing and animal identification focus. Environment & Heritage Recovery: A contract was signed for emergency restoration work at the Blue and John Crow Mountains World Heritage Site after Hurricane Melissa.

Tourism + AI Push: Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism reaffirmed its plan to integrate AI and digital tools into tourism, aiming for smarter visitor services, marketing, training and crisis management. Education + GIS: Prime Minister Andrew Holness launched the MapMakers pilot to modernise geography teaching in eight high schools using GIS tools. Innovation Funding: The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) rolled out R&D Vouchers, offering up to $2.35M per project to help innovators validate prototypes and reach market. Cybersecurity Lawmaking: Jamaica is moving toward a Cybersecurity Act to require secured data systems and penalties for breaches, while keeping the Cybercrimes Act in place. Digital Skills for Seniors: 91 seniors completed the HEART/NSTA Trust ICT Proficiency programme, boosting smartphone and computer confidence. Clean Energy for Women: The Caribbean Development Bank launched a US$500,000 facility to support women-led clean energy businesses across the region. Public Health + Work Disruption: JMDA says only emergency services will run for doctors for 24 hours amid an overtime compensation dispute. Aviation Safety: A construction worker died during steel erection work at Sangster International Airport; work was suspended and police are investigating.

Cybersecurity Law Push: Jamaica is moving to develop a national cybersecurity act, with a draft timeline aimed at speeding up the legislative process and setting penalties for insecure data systems. AI in Tourism: The Ministry of Tourism reaffirmed plans to integrate AI and digital tools to improve decision-making, workforce skills, and destination management. GIS for Schools: Prime Minister Holness launched MapMakers, a pilot using Esri and National Geographic Society tools to modernise geography teaching in eight high schools, linking data and resilience lessons from storms. Digital Literacy for Seniors: 91 seniors completed the HEART/NSTA Trust ICT proficiency programme, part of efforts to close the digital divide and protect older people from scams. Bird Flu Watch: Veterinary Services stepped up surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza ahead of migratory bird season, including routine checks and lab testing. Clean Energy Support for Women: CDB launched a US$500,000 initiative to back women-led businesses building clean energy solutions across the region. WorldSkills Win: Brandon Brown returned after winning gold in optoelectronic technology at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Tourism Ranking Boost: Jamaica climbed four places in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index, citing improved resilience and digital readiness.

Tourism & Resilience: Jamaica jumped four places to 78th in the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index, with Minister Edmund Bartlett pointing to gains in resilience, infrastructure, digital readiness and safety. Cybersecurity Governance: Jamaica plans to take a Cabinet proposal to create a National Cybersecurity Coordination Assurance Council under the Office of the Prime Minister, with a view to paving the way for a permanent national cybersecurity authority. AI for Tourism & Readiness: Jamaica is pushing AI and digital transformation for tourism and hurricane readiness, including a focus on youth and digital skills. Digital Skills & Schools: Government and private sector partners are urged to improve tech offerings in schools to close the digital skills gap threatening future human capital. Agriculture Tech & Food Systems: CARICOM’s Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Trelawny drew its biggest turnout in 20 years, spotlighting practical fixes for regional food systems and innovation. Clean Energy for Women Entrepreneurs: A new US$550,000 initiative will support women-led clean energy businesses across the Caribbean, including Jamaica, from ideas to early commercialisation. WorldSkills Win: Jamaica’s Brandon Brown brought home gold in optoelectronic technology at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, with a homecoming celebration in Montego Bay.

Cyber Resilience: Jamaica is launching National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and moving to create a National Cybersecurity Coordination Assurance Council to turn existing plans into action and set up the groundwork for a permanent authority, as officials cite millions of cyber attack attempts and warn AI is helping attackers find weak spots. Digital Skills & Education: Government says it’s equipping schools with computers and pushing tech into classrooms to close Jamaica’s digital skills gap, while calls continue for private-sector support to train future talent. Tourism Tech & Resilience: Jamaica climbed four places to 78th in the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index, with gains tied to resilience, infrastructure, people, innovation and digital readiness. Clean Energy Innovation: The CDB-backed SheTrades Caribbean Tech It Up Facility will fund and support women-led clean energy businesses across the region, including Jamaica, from ideas through early commercialisation. Agriculture & Regional Trade: Caribbean Week of Agriculture highlights the need for better transport links, cold storage and border processes to move food across islands, plus calls for frameworks to ease farm labour shortages. Gaming for Youth: Registration opens for Jamaica’s Red Bull Wings Cup EA SPORTS FC 27 University League, giving students a shot at representing Jamaica at a Miami world final.

Cybersecurity: Jamaica recorded 5.4 million attempted cyber attacks in the first quarter of 2026, with ransomware flagged as an “existential threat” and the government moving toward a National Cyber Security Coordination Assurance Council. Digital Skills & Education: Leaders at a PSOJ and iamtheCODE Caribbean roundtable warned Jamaica’s digital skills gap could block business growth; the Education Ministry says schools are being equipped with computers and is pushing stronger industry-linked training. Land & Survey Capacity: The National Land Agency says land titling expansion is slowed by a shortage of commissioned land surveyors, with only eight available to meet demand for systematic registration. Health Tech & Safety: Jamaica is using PAHO talks to push health financing, infrastructure and health technologies, while a separate focus on food safety highlights higher risks for cancer patients during treatment. Agri-Tech & Research: Caribbean Week of Agriculture is being urged to deliver actionable outcomes, with Jamaica also advancing a US$460.6m swine research facility at Bodles to boost research and technology transfer. Gaming & Youth: Registration is open for Jamaica’s Red Bull Wings Cup EA SPORTS FC 27 University League, with UWI and UTech hosting early qualifying events. Tourism Tech: WTE Miami 2026 returns with an AI-heavy agenda aimed at travel tech and future booking strategies.

Cybersecurity: Jamaica recorded 5.4 million attempted cyber attacks in Q1 2026, with ransomware flagged as the biggest threat as the government moves to strengthen its national cyber security coordination. Education & Skills: The Education Ministry says nearly 40% of job skills will change by 2030, urging private-sector collaboration on digital and AI skills training. Agriculture Tech & Food Security: Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) is pushing “dialogue into action,” with Jamaica showcasing research and climate-smart farming—from new yam planting methods using leaf nodes to soil tech promising major water savings. Swine Research: Plans are advancing for a $460.6m swine research facility at Bodles to modernise breeding and improve local pork competitiveness. Disaster Data Governance: ODPEM says Support Jamaica relief platform data has been moved into a secure government environment. Digital Policy: Jamaica’s VASP Act passed in the Lower House with amendments, while debate continues over how virtual assets regulation should balance risk and growth. Health & Science Careers: A UWI Mona PhD graduate is expanding knowledge of Jamaica’s rat lungworm, highlighting pathways into parasitology. STEM Achievement: Brandon Brown wins Jamaica’s first WorldSkills gold in optoelectronics, underscoring the value of TVET.

Tourism Tech Push: Jamaica is spotlighting AI and digital transformation during Tourism Awareness Week 2026, with plans for multilingual digital concierges, real-time visitor support, predictive analytics, and centralized marketing dashboards to boost bookings and resilience. Public Health Readiness: Jamaica completed its first Voluntary External Evaluation under the International Health Regulations, reviewing core capacities from surveillance and labs to points of entry and risk communication. Virtual Assets Law: The Lower House passed Jamaica’s Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2026 with amendments, aiming to meet FATF obligations while critics warn it may not build an industry or local technical capability. Agri Innovation: New yam propagation tech could multiply planting material up to 300-fold using single-node vine cuttings, while Caribbean Week of Agriculture also highlighted youth-led innovation and regional food-security integration. Skills & Tech Talent: HEART/NSTA Trust celebrates Brandon Brown’s WorldSkills gold in optoelectronics technology—Jamaica’s first gold at the international competition. Education Access: The PSMD will run an Employee Performance Management system survey, and the Ministry of Education is urging more open access to public information.

WorldSkills Win: HEART/NSTA Trust celebrates Brandon Brown’s historic gold in optoelectronics technology at WorldSkills Shanghai—Jamaica’s first WorldSkills gold and the Americas’ first for the category. Tourism Tech: Jamaica is rolling out AI and digital tools for tourism, including multilingual digital concierges, real-time visitor help, predictive analytics, and centralized marketing dashboards ahead of hurricane season. Education Access: Jamaica is pushing a shift toward easier public access to information, urging public-sector officers to treat information as a public resource. Public Sector Modernisation: PSMD will run an Employee Performance Management (EPM) System survey from Oct 6–30 to map how performance is managed across government entities. Learning Support: A renewed focus on language-based learning disabilities highlights dyslexia and dysgraphia, stressing they’re not tied to intelligence and need targeted support. Agriculture & Food Security: CARICOM renews its push to cut the region’s food import bill by 25% by 2030, while Jamaica’s leaders call for faster, smarter regulation and better regional logistics to move food efficiently. Maritime Sustainability: Caribbean port leaders return from Europe with practical lessons on cleaner, more resilient port operations. Housing for Tourism Workers: Bartlett says housing solutions are advancing for tourism workers via HAJ partnerships, including a plan for 1,500 homes.

UN Tech Diplomacy: India’s AI and digital public infrastructure push took centre stage at “India Day @ UNGA,” with Jamaica’s Kamina Johnson Smith joining global ministers to discuss scaling innovations for the Global South. Diaspora & Climate Resilience: A Jamaican-American “connector” helped Montego Bay land in the Mayors Migration Council’s 2026 Global Cities Fund, backing a 24-month project for earlier flood warnings. Caribbean Food Security Tech & Policy: At Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Trelawny, Floyd Green urged an overhaul of regional agri-transport and called for action plans, blended financing for small farmers, and more locally made inputs. Regulation Speed-Up: Prime Minister Andrew Holness said bureaucracy is strangling agri-investment and demanded faster, more strategic regulation for technology-driven farming. Digital Education + Nutrition Data: A UN SDG programme is building Jamaica’s digital education ecosystem, including feeding and nutrition data integration into EMIS for better school decisions. AI Weather Safety: Google DeepMind’s WeatherNext Cyclones model won a science award for giving forecasters an extra day of warning, boosting cyclone intensity and track confidence. Regional Payments: Caricom central banks are advancing CAPSS for instant cross-border payments in local currencies, learning from Africa’s PAPSS.

Agriculture Innovation Push: Prime Minister Andrew Holness used Caribbean Week of Agriculture to argue for youth seeing farming as rewarding, with productivity as the “central organising principle” and a focus on climate-smart tech, export growth, and cutting the region’s $13.7b food import bill. Regional Tech for Food Security: IICA says Jamaica will host a Regional Centre of Excellence for Agricultural Innovation, plus seed quality support and climate-smart demonstration plots. Tourism Goes AI: Jamaica is rolling out AI for destination marketing, visitor demand forecasting, multilingual digital concierges, and “AI clinics” for small tourism businesses as part of Tourism 3.0. Digital Finance in the Spotlight: ProText Mobility flagged ABSA’s confirmation as its first pilot client for digital-asset custody onboarding, as it advances real-world asset tokenisation and an exchange uplist plan. Health Tech Reminder: Dr Elon Thompson urged men to take prostate health seriously, warning that “feeling well” isn’t a substitute for checks. Disaster Recovery Tech & Learning: Schools still recovering from Hurricane Melissa include efforts to restore labs and expand solar power to stabilize operations.

AI in Tourism: Jamaica is rolling out AI and digital tools to reshape tourism—using predictive analytics, multilingual digital concierges, AI-assisted training, and “AI clinics” for small businesses, with the Jamaica Tourist Board adding an AI chatbot for 24/7 visitor help. Tourism Resilience & Policy: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett ties the push to Tourism 3.0 and targets of 10 million visitors and US$10 billion in earnings, while UNGA leaders warn AI could widen inequality and anxiety about work. Skills & Tech Talent: Jamaica’s Brandon Brown wins gold in optoelectronic technology at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, and the country also heads to robotics competition in Korea—signals of growing technical capacity. Education After Melissa: Western Jamaica schools are still recovering hurricane-damaged labs and records; Herbert Morrison Technical High faces a major task restoring student files, while other schools rebuild science spaces and expand solar plans. Global Tech Spotlight: Google DeepMind’s WeatherNext Cyclones model adds about an extra day of hurricane warning, improving track and intensity forecasts.

Tourism Tech & AI: Jamaica used World Tourism Day to push “Tourism Awareness Week” and a digital agenda, with Minister Edmund Bartlett saying AI, predictive analytics, digital concierges and workforce training will help Jamaica reach 10 million visitors and US$10 billion in earnings. Skills & Innovation: Jamaica struck gold at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 as optoelectronic technology competitor Brandon Brown won the country’s first medal at the biennial event, with UAS competitor Omar Cockett taking Best of Nation. Regional AI Policy: Nevis Premier Mark Brantley’s op-ed argues AI won’t wait for the Caribbean and calls for urgent regional action to shape the tech shift. Tourism Inclusion: St. Maarten’s small properties group says AI travel planning must “tell the whole story,” boosting visibility for local businesses beyond big hotels. Local Tech Capacity: Jamaica also highlighted a staffing gap at special needs diagnostic centres, with the Education Ministry struggling to find enough qualified professionals despite scholarships. Global Diplomacy: Jamaica called for reform of the multilateral system at the UN, warning small states need a more representative, accountable and efficient rules-based order.

Jamaica Tourism & AI: Jamaica marked World Tourism Day by launching World Travel Week Jamaica 2026 in Negril (Oct 10–15), with a strong digital agenda and AI focus, while commentary pieces weigh AI’s promise in travel against job-displacement fears. Science Policy: The Scientific Research Council (SRC) is set to get a 3–5 year strategic plan aimed at boosting research, human capacity, and innovation commercialisation. Tech for Skills: The USF announced a $3m ICT grant push for 12 Jamaicans, backing emerging digital leaders and professional development in ICT and cybersecurity. Health Data & Access: The Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC) will capture the impact of Hurricane Melissa and track chronic illness and healthcare access barriers to inform policy. Agritech & Climate Resilience: RADA urged pig farmers to tackle heat stress with water, shade, ventilation and cooling. Global Tech Governance: UNGA discussions highlighted calls for AI that doesn’t deepen inequality, with Jamaica warning against a new global divide.

WorldSkills Shanghai: Jamaica’s UAS competitor Omar Cockett is competing in Skill 64, with training support from Studica Robotics and a cross-Caribbean camp experience. Science & Innovation Governance: The SRC has been tasked with a 3–5 year strategic plan to boost research, human capacity and innovation commercialisation. Health Data for Policy: Findings from the 2026 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC) will track chronic illness, healthcare access barriers, and how Hurricane Melissa disrupted education, health, livelihoods and housing. Digital Talent Funding: Jamaica’s Universal Service Fund (USF) will invest $3m in ICT education grants for emerging digital leaders and professional development. Entrepreneurship & AI Skills: UWI’s leadership expo heard a push for young Jamaicans to upskill for AI and use digital platforms to sell globally. Pensions Tech Policy: PIAJ’s automatic pension enrolment proposal is before Cabinet, with a new sector study underway. Tourism 3.0 at WEF: Edmund Bartlett will co-chair a WEF forum, arguing tourism should be measured by resilience, skills and inclusive development. Climate Adaptation Finance: Water Minister Matthew Samuda calls for bigger international funding for Jamaica’s water sector and drought resilience. Agriculture Under Heat Stress: RADA urges pig farmers to cut heat stress impacts using water, ventilation, shade and practical cooling. Health Tech Screening: The Marley foundations’ prostate screening highlighted TropIQA, a needle-free approach to early detection.