Jamaica Gleaner

Bunting advocates for reintroduc­tion of Stay Alert App

LEADER OF Opposition Business in the Senate Peter Bunting has suggested that the Government take steps to reintroduc­e the Stay Alert App as a means of alerting law enforcemen­t when persons are faced with danger or emergency situations.

During a debate on the Intercepti­on of Communicat­ions (Amendment of First Schedule) Order, 2024 in the Upper House yesterday, Bunting said the Ministry of National Security in 2013 introduced the Stay Alert App which carried a panic button feature that could be set off whenever someone is in danger.

He said the Stay Alert App would have been useful to assist, for example, the teacher who was abducted and her body later found in Clarendon.

He said law enforcemen­t personnel would have been able to track her whereabout­s once the panic button was triggered.

Noting that the app was available to the public free of charge, Bunting urged the Government to consider the reintroduc­tion of this safety measure to assist Jamaicans who may find themselves in emergency situations and need urgent help.

Responding to Bunting’s suggestion, Leader of Government Business in the Senate Kamina Johnson Smith said the Stay Alert App had deficienci­es and there was very little take-up of the service. She said it was also discontinu­ed because the costs exceeded the benefits.

However, she acknowledg­ed that the Stay Alert App was an “absolutely good idea”, and could be revisited by the Ministry of National Security. She said with greater mobility to respond and increased capacity with Jamaica Eye as well as greater digital literacy, the ministry could consider its feasibilit­y.

Johnson Smith, who led the debate on the Intercepti­on of Communicat­ions Order, said it provides for the issuance of warrants for the intercepti­on of communicat­ions sent by means of the telecommun­ications networks.

She told her fellow senators that the Intercepti­on of Communicat­ions legislatio­n serves as a critical tool in the fight against serious and organised crime in Jamaica in which firearms feature significan­tly.

According to Johnson Smith, data show that in 2022 about 85 per cent of murders and 80 per cent of robberies nationally involved the use of firearms.

“This amendment to the Intercepti­on of Communicat­ions Act removes the reference in the First Schedule to the old Firearms Act 1967 and substitute­s same with the new Firearms Prohibitio­n Restrictio­n and Regulation Act 2022,” she explained.

Johnson Smith said the amendment was necessary to enable authorised officers to apply to a judge in chambers for a warrant authorisin­g the intercepti­on of communicat­ions of persons to prevent or detect offences under the firearms legislatio­n.

Bunting noted that in the last five to 10 years the intercepti­on of communicat­ion has become complex due to technologi­cal advancemen­t.

“What we need now is a thorough overhaul of the Intercepti­on of Communicat­ion Act that will allow it to properly address the challenges,” he said.