Government of Jamaica seeks to acquire Kool97FM from AEROTEL Limited.

According to the Jamaica Information Service, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed between the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and AEROTEL Limited, the owner of the radio station, to facilitate the transfer of Kool97FM for the consolidation of government communications.

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, made the disclosure during yesterday’s (November 28) sitting of the House of Representatives.

“One of the major components of a consolidation of government communications is the fast-tracking of the transfer of Kool FM. Details are being worked out, as an MOU is to be signed between AEROTEL and the Office of the Prime Minister as we ensure the proper and transparent transfer of assets and people,” the Minister said.

“We are currently renovating space at the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) and procurement is now taking place to acquire equipment to totally retool and modernise Kool FM. We anticipate that the physical move should be complete by the end of the financial year,” he added.

The Minister pointed out that the arrangement will not disrupt the current culture of the radio station.

“I want to assure the public that it is not the intention of the Government to interfere with the DNA of Kool FM… . Our intention is to maintain the DNA of Kool FM [which] has approximately six per cent of the listening market, and we do not want to lose that,” he said.

He said the consolidation of government communications to effect a more robust and responsive State apparatus is a key objective of the Prime Minister.

“The vision is a 360-degree Information and communications machinery that works together as one entity, with various departments and units executing major functions. It’s joined-up or cursive media, instead of the block and script that has defined the State landscape,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the Cabinet is increasing its efforts to support communications and public relations departments through government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), through increased engagement, training, and providing a collaborative environment for information sharing and strategic direction.

“To that end, we met with and trained Communications and public relations managers from all ministries and from select departments and agencies in September. We also met with the Permanent Secretaries and Heads of agencies to advise of the need to adapt to new methods of public relations and information sharing,” the Minister said.

The Information Minister also revealed that the implementation of improvements identified through these consultations will ensure that the Government of Jamaica can create a robust, responsive, and innovative communication infrastructure, fostering transparency, public engagement and trust.

“We live in a world where there are no more gatekeepers to information, and persons with ill-intent are able to manufacture lies that look like truths and to thwart factual data with colourful propaganda and misinformation,” he noted.