Portmore, St Catherine, 16 August 2026
The Government has awarded almost $790 million in new contracts to expand and maintain the JamaicaEye surveillance network, with most of the money going to a major camera build-out in Portmore, according to contract award notices.
Two contracts
The larger contract, worth $439.4 million, was awarded on 21 July to Sitewatch Electronic Security Limited through restricted bidding. It covers the supply and installation of 300 closed-circuit television cameras, along with related devices and infrastructure, for JamaicaEye in Portmore.
Three days later, a second restricted award worth $351.1 million went to Konnexx Services Limited for maintenance and related services across the JamaicaEye system islandwide. Both contracts are funded by the Government of Jamaica.
The Ministry of National Security confirmed the awards but declined to give details of where cameras will be placed, citing the sensitivity of the project. The Jamaica Constabulary Force said it could not comment.
Welcome, with questions
Security consultant Dr Jason McKay welcomed the investment, describing JamaicaEye as an important investigative tool that he has seen used in several high-profile court cases, including murder trials. He argued that such spending gives a strong return to both the security forces and the public.
The expansion follows years of calls for more surveillance in Portmore, one of Jamaica’s most densely populated areas, where some residents have complained that crime is outpacing police resources.
It also raises questions that remain unsettled. The Data Protection Act, passed in 2020, sets rules on how personal data is gathered and used, but the Office of the Information Commissioner told Parliament in July that full enforcement is not expected before 2028. How the law applies to JamaicaEye footage is still unclear.
Jamaica recorded 673 murders in 2025, a 40 per cent fall on the previous year and the lowest annual total in more than three decades, though public safety remains a pressing concern.
What it means for residents and buyers
Safety is one of the first things buyers and renters ask about, and visible security infrastructure can influence how a community is perceived. For Portmore homeowners, wider camera coverage may add some reassurance and could support demand over time.
Residents may also want clearer answers on how footage is stored and who can see it. Those questions are likely to grow as the network spreads into more neighbourhoods.
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