CABINET has approved drafting of legislation for the establishment of a Mandatory Registration of Subscriber Information (MRSI) framework, which will require Jamaica’s three mobile phone companies to provide data on request, as part of law enforcement.

Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz, who made the announcement at a press conference said the MRSI is regarded by the local security forces as a tool to assist law enforcement in investigating serious crimes.

“Security intelligence supports the fact that criminal networks exploit the anonymity accorded by pre-paid mobile telephones to execute their nefarious dealings,” he said.

Vaz also noted that an analysis of international trends, in relation to MRSI, indicates that a collaborative relationship between the security forces and communication service providers can improve intelligence gathering and the investigative processes, for the identification and detection of crimes. This latest move means that the government will be able to keep tabs on the citizenry under the guise of national security. Many regard this as a dangerous move and akin to George Orwell’s Big Brother.

“The danger is the government or agents of the state can abuse this with impunity and claim it is acting in the interest of national security. The political process and politicians in the Caribbean do not have the best of reputations and I am told in Jamaica, the Government is embroiled in some sort of chicanery on a monthly basis. Isn’t a government minister accused of ordering a hit on somebody? It sounds like something out of a Mickey Spillane novel down in Jamaica and this move will further erode the rights of people. It can be a most harmful device in the hands of an irresponsible government,” said Pablo Rodriguez of Telefonica.

Cabinet has approved drafting instructions for the Chief Parliamentary Counsel to prepare amendments to the Telecommunications Act, 2000 to effect the establishment of the MRSI, and the development and execution of an evaluation framework by which the Ministry of National Security will be able to assess the levels of compliance of Communication Service Providers in the implementation of the framework and its overall effectiveness.

“Cabinet also stipulated that special consideration be given to the registration process to ensure that this would not be open to abuse and was not restrictive to legitimate existing and potential subscribers,” Vaz said.

The development in Jamaica comes days after Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar claimed that Digicel and the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) were forced to help the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA) monitor the phone calls and intercept the messages and emails of public figures and private citizens over a five-year period.

Digicel suggested that it cooperated with the Ministry of National Security in keeping with the terms of its licence but distanced itself from any illegal activity, saying that it had no control or insight into who had been monitored.

The state-owned TSTT has declined to either confirm or deny any involvement, saying only that it would fully cooperate with the relevant authorities on any investigations into the matter.

Persad-Bissessar announced the discovery of the spy operations last week, revealing that the targets have been parliamentarians from all parties, including her, media persons; members of the judiciary, trade unionists; and other private citizens.