PROTECT it! - Jones Town residents urged to protect newly installed Wi-Fi access point

Having seen how barefaced criminals have become, a senior lawman last week declared that he will not be taking any chances with the WiFi access point that has been installed at the Jones Town Primary School in South St Andrew.

Senior Superintendent Michael Phipps, head of the Kingston Western Police Division in which Jones Town is located, said that the lawmen will be doing everything in their power to protect the access point.

"What we do, we have the security team that normally provides coverage to all the schools. So, our school resource officer will be visiting and once there is an issue, we will deal with it. We normally work very closely with the school communities, so any issue at all will be dealt with swiftly," Phipps told THE STAR last Friday after the $7.5-million facility was officially commissioned into service.

With the Wi-Fi portal installed, Jones Town has become the latest community to benefit from access to free and reliable Internet service as the Government continues to roll out its Wi-Fi hotspot programme across the island.

Sadly, the importance of the game-changing technology -- which forms part of the Government's efforts to provide Internet connectivity so that citizens can do business, work, learn and earn -- has not been universally embraced. Last month, brutes stole the Wi-Fi access point that was placed in the Golden Spring square in rural St Andrew.

Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Service Fund Daniel Dawes has urged the residents of Jones Town not to allow the Golden Spring episode to be repeated.

"We went over to Golden Spring on the Tuesday and they would have installed the facilities and the Thursday we went to launch Golden Spring. Some no-good somebody went and stole one of the access points. I know this experience will not take place in Jones Town," he said.

Dawes said that additional hotspots will be established in St Andrew South, specifically in Trench Town and at the Charlie Smith High School in Arnett Gardens, before the end of the month.

Mark Golding, Leader of the Opposition and member of parliament for the area, urged community members to protect the access point and not to let wrongdoers rob them of their opportunities.

"We must not underestimate the power of the Internet, but you have to use it wisely. Don't use it for no nastiness and don't use it for spreading badness and negative things. Use it to empower yourself and make your life advance and make your community better," Golding said.

"The equipment that has been put here is your equipment. It belongs to the community. Defend it! Don't make no likkle wrongdoer come mash up di ting. It's important, it belongs to everybody here, and it's for your benefit, so protect it. I'm relying on you to make sure that happen," Golding added.