America recognises Jamaica's efforts to tackle lottery scam - Robinson
Published:Thursday | May 30, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter
FRESH ATTEMPTS are under way to convince United States authorities and stakeholders in the diaspora that Jamaica is making progress in tackling the scourge of the multimillion-dollar lottery scam.
National Security Minister Peter Bunting was in Miami on Tuesday and will be meeting with stake-holders in New York and also in Toronto, Canada, next week to provide an update on Jamaica's efforts to significantly reduce the activities of the scammers.
This was disclosed yesterday by Julian Robinson, state minister for science, technology, energy and mining, during a post-Sectoral Debate press conference at the ministry's offices in New Kingston.
"The Americans appreciate what we have done and are currently doing," Robinson told reporters.
KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE
However, he said that until there was a significant reduction in the number of calls made by lottery scammers in Jamaica to the United States, the Americans would continue to keep up the pressure because their citizens are being affected.
"We were able to meet with critical stakeholders, some of the congresspersons, and we presented what we were doing, and I would say, they recognise that we are taking concrete steps to address the problem," said Robinson.
He argued that while the lottery scam has severely affected Americans, the worst impact of this illegal activity has been on Jamaicans.
"The police will tell you the vast majority of the violent criminal activities in the western section of the country are the result of the lottery scams."
He said it was a difficult task to try and dissuade persons from getting involved in the scam because of the financial impact it has had on the economy of many of the areas in western Jamaica.
Tracing the genesis of the lottery scam, Robinson said it arose out of a positive thrust the Government had introduced years ago to promote the information and communication technologies industry.
"We trained thousands of persons in telemarketing how to convince people to sell them a product or service that they don't want. It is the same skills that are being used in the lottery scam," he said.