Jamaica’s Tech Minister Orders Urgent AI Literacy Push for Government
Dr. Andrew Wheatley has ordered the National AI Task Force to deliver an urgent policy recommendation to boost AI literacy across Jamaica’s government, addressing rapid AI adoption that outpaces current safeguards.
Photo: Donald De La Haye Minister Without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley (second right), shares the lens with (from left) Regional Director and Representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Regional Office for the Caribbean, Eric Falt; Director General of UNESCO, Professor Khaled El-Enany; and Head of Cooperation for the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Jamaica, Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz. The occasion was the presentation of Jamaica’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) Report, launched on Wednesday (April 1) at Jamaica House. The assessment was completed in partnership with UNESCO, with funding support from the EU.
TL;DR
Jamaica’s technology minister has ordered the National AI Task Force to produce an urgent policy recommendation to boost AI literacy across government, citing rapid adoption that outpaces safeguards. The initiative aims to align training with broader ICT governance and technology oversight duties.
Context
As ministries begin deploying AI tools, officials warn that usage is moving faster than the policies meant to govern it. Dr. Andrew Wheatley, Minister with responsibility for Technology, says the gap raises concerns about risk management, accountability, and operational guardrails. He notes that without timely literacy efforts, the public sector could deploy AI in ways that undermine trust and effectiveness.
Key Facts
He directed the National AI Task Force to deliver an urgent policy recommendation to Cabinet for swiftly advancing AI literacy across the public service. The directive calls for a clear roadmap that outlines training objectives, timelines, and responsible-use guidelines.
The minister observed that AI adoption is already underway in some agencies and, in places, exceeds the safeguards needed for responsible use. He warned that this premature deployment could create vulnerabilities if not accompanied by proper governance.
He said the forthcoming literacy programme will be tied to the government’s wider ICT governance and technology oversight responsibilities. This linkage ensures that any proposed training aligns with existing policy frameworks and oversight mechanisms.
What It Means
The push seeks to ensure public servants understand both the capabilities and limits of AI before scaling its use. By building foundational knowledge, the government hopes to reduce reliance on ad‑hoc experimentation.
Linking literacy to ICT oversight aims to embed accountability into any future AI deployment, making oversight a routine part of the technology lifecycle. Officials expect this approach to streamline risk assessments and improve transparency.
Watch for the task force’s recommendation to Cabinet in the coming weeks and any pilot training programs that may follow. The outcome will shape how Jamaica integrates AI into public services while maintaining safeguards.
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