In a bold legislative step aimed at safeguarding national telecommunications infrastructure, the Jamaican Government has introduced a bill to sharply increase penalties for tampering with telecommunication systems. The proposed amendments were laid before Parliament on Tuesday as part of a broader strategy to curb theft, sabotage, and vandalism that continue to burden the sector.
Speaking during his contribution to the 2025/26 Sectoral Debate, Minister Daryl Vaz emphasized that the telecommunications industry has faced unsustainable repair costs due to recurring acts of destruction.
“One incident earlier this year cost over US$200,000 to rectify—yet our existing laws barely scratch the surface in terms of deterrence,” Vaz stated. “The criminal elements must be put on notice: this government will not tolerate the destruction of critical infrastructure.”
The Law Reform (Amendment of Penalties) Act was formally tabled by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Fayval Williams. If passed, the bill will significantly heighten the consequences for trespassing or interfering with telecom networks—offenses which until now carried minimal punitive weight.
Beyond legislative reinforcement, Minister Vaz also addressed the vulnerabilities exposed by Hurricane Beryl, which disrupted telecom operations and highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure resilience. He acknowledged shortcomings in preparedness but pointed to renewed commitments from telecom operators.
“Our providers have pledged stronger pre-storm logistics, including stationing equipment on-island ahead of hurricanes and investing in backup systems such as generators and solar solutions,” he said. “This is the type of forward planning we need if we are to secure connectivity in times of crisis.”
The push to protect and modernize Jamaica’s communications backbone reflects a wider effort by the government to bolster national security, economic continuity, and public safety in an increasingly digital age.
