Does fully digital means a fully cashless society?
What does Prime Minister Andrew Holness mean when he says “fully digital society”?
On May 31, Prime Minister Andrew Holness scolded the PNP Leader, Mark Golding accusing him of telling lies about the digital currency. According to Holness, he recently came across some concerns circulating on the internet, even among my good friend, the Leader of the Opposition, regarding digital payments. He said, “let me clarify that the government has no intention of removing cash, meaning paper money, from our system.
On May 12, 2023, the Jamaica Information Service, which is the official paper for the government, announced, that the Andrew Holness government will shortly be announcing additional steps to advance Jamaica’s transition to a digital society.
According to the article, In the coming weeks and days, Andrew Holness “will be making certain announcements regarding the acceleration of Jamaica’s intention to become a fully digital society,” the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.
Holness was speaking at the official commissioning service for three community Wi-Fi access points in St. Andrew West Central at the Andrews Mews Recreational Park on Thursday (May 11).
The Prime Minister said that the country is well on the way to making the transition.
“We have established the National Identification System (NIS). We have put in place our digital currency. We have given directions to our Ministries to digitalise their operations; most of our Ministries are now moving from paper-based systems to digital systems.
“Our military is transitioning [as well as the Jamaica Constabulary Force]. The society is moving very quickly, very rapidly to become digital. Our banking consumers are seeing it, as well, because the banks are moving very rapidly to digital,” he pointed out.
Prime Minister Holness said he is aware that some persons remain hesitant in embracing technology.
“For those of us who are skeptical… we are here to support you… digital is the way, and so every Jamaican must become digital in their thinking, and that means you must have access to the Internet.
“We have now started a programme to have broadband access all around the country, so Jamaica is going to be the digital society,” the Prime Minister said.
The community Wi-Fi will serve Tower Avenue, Cockburn Pen and Penwood.
The USF is the Government agency mandated to ensure access to information and communications technology (ICT) tools to facilitate development.
This is very frustrating for many Jamaicans, who believes Prime Minister Andrew Holness are deliberately trying to confuse them on the issue.
On May 8, 2019 Holness announced in Parliament, that Jamaica has the potential to become a fully digital society. He said that his government aims to move the country to more modern and cutting-edge technologies and argue that Jamaica must be fully equipped and efficient as possible in this digital era.
The majority of the Jamaican public argue that do not agree to a digital currency and feel they are been bamboozled into it. Most Jamaicans use cash on a daily basis and many do not have a bank account. The consensus amongst Jamaicans, are, crime is a bigger and more urgent problem and they do not understand why the government is making the digital currency a priority.