Jamaica Archives and Records Department

Bridge to the Future

While the Government Records Centre is temporarily closed, the Audio-Visual Unit located at 36-38 Red Hills Road and Jamaica Archives Unit located at 27 King Street, Spanish Town, remain open to the public.

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NOTICE OF TEMPORARY CLOSURE

Government Records Centre

Please be advised that the Government Records Centre, located at 59-63 Church Street, Kingston, will be temporarily closed for renovation effective January 2, 2025, until further notice.

This closure is necessary to facilitate essential upgrades to our facilities, ensuring improved service delivery and the secure management of government records.

During this period:

  • Regular access to records and services, including record transfers and accession reviews provided by the Government Records Centre, will be temporarily unavailable.
  • Emergency requests or urgent inquiries should be directed to:

Please note that mail may still be delivered to 59-63 Church Street, Kingston.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to enhance our services and improve our facilities. Updates regarding the reopening date will be provided in due course.

For further information or clarifications, please contact:

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Objectives

In accordance with the Archives Act (1982) and the Archives Regulations (1988), the Objectives of the Department are to: 

  • Serve as the main repository in the country for the preservation of government records relating to the country's history and heritage in paper, audiovisual and electronic formats.
  • Provide a research and reference service to the public, and disseminate information in the collections to promote knowledge and interest in the nation's history and culture.
  • Collect archival materials relating to Jamaica produced by non-government institutions and private persons to ensure that primary materials of value to Jamaica are preserved.
  • Establish standards and procedures for the efficient and effective management of official records in public sector entities at all stages of their life cycle.
  • Provide consulting services and training in records and information management to government ministries and departments.
  • Provide storage facilities for non-current government records awaiting final disposition in keeping with their retention schedules.
  • Provide administrative support to the Archives Advisory Committee.