Jamaica Takes the Lead on AI: Government Launches Landmark UNESCO Readiness Report
The Office of the Prime Minister yesterday hosted the official launch of the UNESCO Jamaica Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report, marking a landmark milestone in Jamaica’s pursuit of ethical, inclusive, and innovation-driven artificial intelligence governance.
Delivering the opening remarks today, Dr. the Honourable Andrew Wheatley, Minister without Portfolio with Responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, stated that Jamaica is among the first Caribbean countries to complete a national AI readiness assessment using UNESCO’s globally recognized Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM).
“In a region still finding its footing in the governance of emerging technologies, Jamaica chose not to wait and see. We chose to lead. That decision is deliberate, disciplined, and forward-looking and is a direct reflection of how seriously this Government takes the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence,” Minister Wheatley said.
The Minister outlined Jamaica’s deliberate and structured approach to artificial intelligence development, beginning with the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Task Force in August 2023, followed by the delivery of National AI Policy Recommendations in September 2024, and culminating in the completion of the UNESCO Readiness Assessment. He described this progression as a step-by-step effort to build a coherent, ethical, and people-centered national AI agenda.
The launch event brought together senior government officials, international dignitaries, private sector leaders, academics, civil society representatives, and members of the National Artificial Intelligence Task Force. Among those in attendance were representatives of the European Union and UNESCO, underscoring the significance of Jamaica’s achievement on the international stage.
About the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment
Developed following UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, the Readiness Assessment Methodology provides governments with a structured diagnostic of their preparedness to adopt and govern AI across five key dimensions: legal and regulatory; technological and infrastructural; economic; social and cultural; and scientific and educational.
Jamaica’s assessment engaged over 196 individuals across government, academia, the private sector, civil society, and youth organizations, with nearly half of participants being women.
Meanwhile, Minister Wheatley highlighted Jamaica’s existing Data Protection Act and Cybercrimes Act as a solid foundation for digital governance, noting the country’s 85 percent internet penetration rate, its young and digitally engaged population, and a growing technology ecosystem. He also pointed to Jamaica’s global cultural footprint as a distinct advantage in developing AI innovations with international resonance.
The Minister also identified four priority areas drawn from the report’s findings. These include enacting AI-specific legislation to address algorithmic accountability, bias, and explainability; establishing a National AI Oversight and Implementation Council to coordinate governance across sectors; expanding AI education from early childhood through tertiary and vocational levels, with a focus on closing the gender gap in STEM and scaling community-based AI literacy; and deploying AI as a driver of national productivity in agriculture, tourism, healthcare, and public services, while building an investment environment attractive to AI-focused partnerships and capital.
Minister Wheatley confirmed that, with both the National AI Policy Recommendations and the UNESCO Readiness Assessment now complete, the Government is moving forward with the drafting of Jamaica’s National AI Policy. The policy will be anchored in Vision 2030, grounded in UNESCO’s AI Ethics principles, and developed through continued national consultation and the established Cabinet policy development process.
“Being among the first in the Caribbean to complete this assessment gives us both a head start and a responsibility. A responsibility to our citizens, to our region, and to the generations of young Jamaicans who will live and work in an AI-shaped world. We intend to be among the first to show what responsible AI governance truly looks like in practice,” the Minister said.
About the National Artificial Intelligence Task Force
Established under the Office of the Prime Minister in August 2023, the National Artificial Intelligence Task Force is a multi-sectoral body mandated to provide research, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based recommendations for the development of Jamaica’s National AI Policy and Strategy. The Task Force delivered its National AI Policy Recommendations Report in September 2024 and subsequently served as the Steering Committee for Jamaica’s UNESCO Readiness Assessment implementation.
Minister Wheatley extended the Government of Jamaica’s appreciation to UNESCO and the European Union for their continued partnership and support and offered special recognition to Christopher Reckord, Chairman of the National Artificial Intelligence Task Force, and its members for their dedication to this national effort.