KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government is to launch its new E-commerce National Delivery System (ENDS) on Friday to enable the quick service industry to continue operating during the hours of the COVID-19 curfew.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who made the announcement at a virtual press conference yesterday, said the e-commerce system was developed through a joint effort between a Cabinet sub-committee and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ)

He informed that businesses and delivery operators registered on the ENDS platform will be allowed to continue operating until midnight.

Limited testing of the system has already commenced and it will be launched as a pilot in Portmore, St Catherine, said the prime minister.

“I want to emphasise that the system will be fully inclusive and will enable the smallest operator — the vendor, the jerk chicken man, your favourite fish vendor — to participate,” he stated.

Delivery drivers registered on the ENDS platform will be issued with a digital passport, in the form of a QR code, to present to the police in the event that they are stopped.

Customers will be able to choose from listed vendors and pay for their orders via a debit/ credit card or a top-up voucher.