The Jamaica Archives and Records Department has statutory responsibility for the disposition of government records and for providing guidelines for the organization of official records. Provision for this is contained in the Archives Act (1982) and the Archives (Official Regulations), 1988. Official records should not be disposed of without the prior approval of the Archives Advisory Committee.   All requests for the disposal of official records should be sent to the Government Archivist for consideration by the Committee. SEE OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK FOR MORE DETAILS

Details of the procedures to be followed are contained in a government circular entitled Disposition of Government Records, (MPS. Circular No 2 Ref. MSD 19/7) issued by the then Ministry of Labour and the Public Service in March 1981.

Guidelines for the disposition of official records are contained in the Records Management Handbook, published by the Jamaica Archives & Records Department, 1981.  The Handbook is presently being updated.
 
It is very important that before the disposition process begins, the Government Records Centre be contacted at grecords@jard.gov.jm or at (876) 922-3705-6. The Manager and Record Analysts will be available and willing to guide your organization through the steps of this process.

An effective Records Management programme is essential for efficient and effective government.  The Access to Information Act, which is being implemented on a phased basis between January 2004 and June 2005 has made the subject of records management very relevant, as unless records are organized and listed, they cannot be retrieved when requested by members of the public.  Records Management therefore underpins access to information.