The National Security Council (NSC) has approved a series of strategic legislative and policy initiatives to strengthen Jamaica’s economic security, citizen security and national resilience in response to evolving criminal, technological and social threats.

The decisions were taken at the Council’s monthly meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Securing the Future of Jamaica’s Global Services Sector

The National Security Council reaffirmed that Jamaica’s Global Services Sector is one of the country’s most strategic economic assets and a pillar of national economic security.

The Council noted that the industry has undergone significant structural change, with employment declining from approximately 60,000 to 40,000 workers and annual foreign-exchange earnings falling to between US$700 million and US$900 million. Despite these pressures, the sector remains one of Jamaica’s largest export industries and among the country’s leading earners of foreign exchange. Protecting and regrowing the industry is therefore a national strategic priority.

The Council concluded that lottery scamming has evolved into a significant threat to Jamaica’s economic security and citizen security. It has increased the cost of doing business, weakened Jamaica’s competitiveness in an intensely price-sensitive global market, undermined investor confidence and damaged the country’s reputation as a trusted destination for global digital services.

The Government has therefore resolved to eliminate lottery scamming and dismantle the entire criminal ecosystem that enables, facilitates and profits from it.

To support that objective, the Council approved the development of legislative and policy reforms to:

• Modernise Jamaica’s lottery scam legislation and substantially strengthen criminal penalties;
• Align Jamaica’s legal framework with evolving international standards governing cybercrime, organised financial crime and digital fraud;
• Strengthen intelligence, investigations, prosecutions and asset recovery against organised criminal networks;
• Enhance regulatory oversight, governance and compliance across the Global Services Sector; and
• Deepen operational cooperation between Government, regulators and industry to safeguard Jamaica’s position as a secure and trusted destination for global digital services.

The Council also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting the industry’s transition into higher-value digital services, knowledge process outsourcing and AI-enabled business services to strengthen Jamaica’s long-term competitiveness.

Prime Minister Holness said:

“Economic security is national security. The Global Services Sector is one of Jamaica’s most strategic national assets. We cannot aspire to become a premier nearshore destination while tolerating organised criminal enterprises that increase the cost of doing business, undermine investor confidence and erode our competitiveness. The Government has resolved to eliminate lottery scamming and dismantle the entire criminal ecosystem that enables, facilitates and profits from it.”

Modernising Jamaica’s Drug Laws

The Council also approved recommendations to modernise Jamaica’s drug laws by bringing new psychoactive substances (NPS), commonly known as synthetic or designer drugs, within the scope of existing legislation.

The decision follows an increase in the seizure of synthetic drugs, including substances marketed as “Molly”, and reflects the Government’s determination to ensure that Jamaica’s legal framework keeps pace with rapidly evolving narcotics.

The Government will amend the relevant legislation to enable emerging psychoactive substances to be rapidly designated and controlled before they become established in Jamaica.

Prime Minister Holness said:

“Synthetic drugs represent one of the fastest-growing threats to citizen security and public health. Criminal organisations continually modify these substances to evade the law. Our legislation must evolve just as rapidly to ensure Jamaica has the legal tools necessary to protect our people, particularly our young people.”

Supporting Recovery Beyond Reconstruction

The National Security Council also reviewed evidence of increasing psychological trauma, domestic violence and interpersonal conflict in several Hurricane Melissa-affected communities.

The Council approved the development of a coordinated national programme to expand trauma counselling, community mental health services, family intervention programmes and violence prevention initiatives in the most affected areas.

Prime Minister Holness said:

“Recovery is not measured only by the number of homes rebuilt or roads repaired. We must also heal the invisible wounds left by disaster. Addressing trauma is essential to restoring families, strengthening communities and preventing violence from taking root in the aftermath of crisis.”

A Modern National Security Agenda

The National Security Council reaffirmed that protecting Jamaica’s national security requires safeguarding not only the country’s borders and citizens, but also its economy, public health, digital environment and the resilience of its communities.

The decisions taken by the Council reflect the Government’s integrated approach to national security, recognising that economic security, citizen security and national resilience are inseparable.