Cables thieves to face stiffer penalties

Persons who vandalise and steal cables and other infrastructure in the information communication technology sector are to face more serious penalties.

Daryl Vaz, minister of science, energy and technology, says the Government will table legislation in Parliament this year to increase the penalties and custodial sentences.

Vaz said amendments would be made to the Telecommunications Act to impose higher fines and custodial sentences for offences that may constitute acts of vandalism, including trespass on any telecommunications facility and meddling, interfering, or tampering with or otherwise causing harm to the facility.

He reported that during the financial year 2022-23, several persons were arrested and charged, in most cases, with simple larceny. The minister indicated that simple larceny carries penalties that pale in comparison to the gravity of service disruption and great expense of service restoration associated with the illicit practice.

In his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Wednesday, Vaz said deliberate and criminal acts cost telecommunication companies close to $2 billion during the previous financial year.

Vaz said he was heartened that telecommunications companies Digicel and FLOW are working together on an industry solution to tackle the theft and use of stolen phones.

According to Vaz, incidents of theft and vandalism of telecommunications equipment continue despite strenuous efforts by the operators to invest in more sophisticated detection and monitoring systems.

Vaz praised the efforts of the police to apprehend and support the prosecution of these vandals. However, he said that vandalism and theft of devices and ICT infrastructure continue to be a huge nuisance to Jamaicans and to national development.