BUSINESS INTERESTS are applauding the Government's decision to reintroduce closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems in major towns to support crime-fighting measures.

Arthur Williams, state minister for national security, told the Senate last Friday that his ministry was involved in the development of three CCTV systems in Montego Bay, Mandeville and May Pen.

The police are to monitor the systems.

President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, Lloyd B. Smith, told The Gleaner yesterday that persons with criminal intent would have second thoughts if they felt they would be captured on camera. He also said the business community would feel safer with the implementation of this crime-fighting measure.

Identify traffic offenders

Smith said surveillance cameras would help to identify motorists, particularly taxi operators, who breached the law with impunity.

Aldo Brown, president of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce, said the National Works Agency and the Ministry of National Security were working with the association to install the CCTV. He said member of parliament for Central Clarendon, Mike Henry, was also providing financial support.

Brown said the system would help the police to provide wider coverage of the business hub in May Pen. According to Brown, with the CCTV system, the police could reduce the number of personnel to be deployed in the areas under surveillance and deploy these resources in areas without adequate coverage.

Brown argued that the CCTV system would serve as a reference and database for the police.

Senator Williams said a public tender was out for a CCTV system to cover sections of Montego Bay. This is being partially funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund.

He told the Senate that the final layout and system design of the CCTV system should be completed in the next two weeks and implementation is expected by September.