“In
discussion with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), they are still trying to
develop policy and regulation that govern these unmanned aerial vehicles. They
are still trying to develop the regulations to govern how these aircraft are
used. We are now joining the wider community to use these aircraft for public
safety and for law-enforcement activities”
Project manager at the
ministry L. Garth Soares, Ministry of National Security explaining to the PAAC
their stance on Drones for Police
The
Jamaican Police are still waiting for their Drones to be used in Fighting
Praedial Larceny.
Jamaican
Police have quite a long wait indeed as the Ministry of National Security has
yet to acquire drone for the Jamaican Police as noted in the article “Drone
Technology For Police Use Delayed”, published Friday October 28, 2016 by
Edmond Campbell, The Jamaica Gleaner.
JA$55 million has been set aside by the Ministry of National Security, but to date no drones have been purchased and it might not happen this year either. Permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security Diane McIntosh made the declaration before the PAAC (Public Administration and Appropriations Committee) on Wednesday October 26th 2016 that no drones will be ordered this year.
Instead,
only JA$30 million will be spent to equip the Jamaicans Police with drones.
Apparently this is to give the criminals chances a head start in using drones
for everything from surveillance to even drug transhipment.
Already,
based on sources of mine in Milk River, Clarendon, cocaine and marijuana
traffickers are working on building a large drone that can be land and launched
from short roadways used as runways and even moving vehicles.
This
all seems odd to me, as already Private sector usage of Drones is on the rise.
A good example is the use of drones by Hi-Pro designed by Agrocaelum to spray crops
as detailed in my blog article
entitled “Why
Agrocaelum and Hi-Pro Herald for JCAA allowing Drone Racing in Jamaica”.
So
what’s the holdup.
JCAA holding up Drone
Developement - Drone Developer and Design Competition to help Police
The
JCAA is the main holdup; JCAA (Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority) rules on drone
usages are very strict as noted in my blog article
entitled “JCAA
Drones Regulations - Why GOJ Double-Standard suggest Commercial Drone Pilot
Licenses are coming”.
The
need for cumbersome aerial permits that restrict usage to LOS (Line of Sight)
means the GOJ hasn't fully embraced the use of Drones in Jamaica. So what can
the GOJ do?
The
Government to Jamaica can sponsor a Drone Developer and Design Competition with
the remaining JA$20 million as argued in my blog article
entitled “How
JCAA and GOJ can foster Drone Design for Jamaican High Schools and Universities”.
This
will foster a love for Electronics, mechanical and Aviation Engineering in
Jamaica, starting with high school and university students. It helps to spread
the knowledge of drone design and maintenance among ordinary Jamaicans and
encourage responsible usage of UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) in Jamaica.
Best
of all, the Jamaican Police can benefit from the local Design and Developement
of Drones to aid in their Praedial larceny fight as noted in my blog article
entitled “Jamaican
Drone Contractors Testing Drones in Pedro Cays – Why Ministry of Agriculture
needs Drones to catch Poachers in the Act”.
Jamaican
Police, time to step in the 21st Century, as Drone Drug
trans-shipment is already taking place in Clarendon!
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