Science driving development

AS A young graduate student in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences (now Faculty of Science and Technology) at the University of the West Indies, my research focused on how the body breaks down carbohydrates found in common Jamaican foods. My work would later go on to contribute to the paradigm shift within the medical community on new nutritional recommendations for diabetic patients.

Although the body of knowledge (science) was sound, and this knowledge could be applied to diabetes management (technology) and resulted in the patenting of four new products (innovation), it wasn’t until I entered the public service as councillor for the Naggo Head division in St Catherine that I truly understood the value of my scientific work. Time and again my constituents, many of whom suffered from diabetes, would mention that their physician advised that they consume more yam and sweet potato instead of rice and flour. They would also add that this dietary shift made tremendous improvements to their health and finances. Nothing made me prouder than to see how my research at the UWI improved the quality of life for everyday Jamaicans.

This story about a part of my life’s work to date is not as unique as some may think. Hundreds of scientists and innovators across Jamaica and the world are engaged in groundbreaking work that can have a real positive impact on our citizenry, communities and country. Governments globally position science, technology and innovation as central to advancing economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Prosperous countries continue to use science and its applications to address national and global problems such as climate change, environmental degradation, human health, energy security, security and corruption. These countries also continue to increase investments for ST&I within their productive sectors such as agriculture, food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and transportation to offer more competitive products and services.

We must embrace the role of ST&I as tools to achieve peace, prosperity and progress in Jamaica. This role will be articulated in the soon-to-belaunched National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy: Catalysing Development.

The policy proposes four major actions to achieve this vision.

Connect the major players: ST&I occurs in a complex multisectoral landscape. Approximately 50 ministries, departments and agencies, a dozen higher educational institutions and several private-sector and non-governmental agencies in the productive sector are engaged in research and innovation activities. These players will be connected systematically using a mechanism called the National Innovation System to transform ideas and results from the research community into products and processes that can be readily absorbed by productive and legislative firms.

Foster a culture of innovation: All Jamaicans at the personal, public, corporate and political levels must understand the value of ST&I to their own pursuits for prosperity. This will be achieved by raising awareness on the benefits of ST&I as tools to empower people and communities. Knowledge, technology outputs and innovative potential within industry will be increased to expand production, enhance product and service quality, while increasing a firm’s profitability.

Drive development agenda: Jamaica will leapfrog toward its Vision 2030 targets using disruptive innovation, underpinned by sound science. New knowledge and technologies will exploit opportunities, especially in areas where Jamaica has a comparative and competitive advantage. This will be

MOST RECENTLY, students of constitutional law in the Commonwealth had a teaching moment. I make specific reference to the resignation on April 29, 2018, of British Home Secretary Amber Rudd following the exposures surrounding the Windrush-era individuals who had travelled with their parents/guardians to Britain.

Up to 1973, the provisions of the relevant immigration law were such that persons who entered the UK from the Commonwealth were granted the right of abode, which meant that they could stay in the UK for an indefinite period. These persons have worked and paid their taxes. Some did not bother to get passports over the years, as a great many had travelled to the UK on the passports of their parents or guardians.

Enter the government’s policy of making life hard for illegal immigrants and so those Windrush era citizens (who are not illegal immigrants) were asked to prove that they had lived in the UK for as long as, in some cases, the late 1960s. A great many were not able to demonstrate this and so were denied access to healthcare and employment. There was a public outcry and both the British PM and Amber Rudd, as members of the executive, apologised to Parliament.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Amber Rudd was equally asked to appear before the House Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, which is chaired by Labour MP Yvette Cooper. In response to a question on the issue of deportation targets, Ms Rudd said, in effect, that there were no such targets. Wrong answer. A leaked memo, which was actually sent to Rudd, revealed that there were targets. She tendered her resignation and she took responsibility for the incorrect answer that she furnished to the Home Affairs Select Committee.

Robert Montague, in his tenure as national security minister, presided over a most disgraceful motor-vehicle purchase car crash. Despite the fact that the full number of cars is yet to surface, in a country where every open lot is occupied by second-hand car-sale outlets, and notwithstanding the billions of taxpayers dollars spent, Mr Montague still gets a salary each month as a minister.

Then, of course, we have Dr Christopher Tufton, a man seen by many as having done well as agriculture minister. He is now Jamaica’s minister of health, and there is an ongoing issue with regard to health and safety at Cornwall Regional Hospital, which is located in the island’s Second City, Montego Bay.

Initially, and for a considerable period, the official word from the ministry was that the problem was caused by a defective ventilator system, but employees and service users and visitors were still being exposed to all types of pollutants. The fact that persons were being exposed to pollutants was something that the minister should have known, as a group of experts from the University of Technology, Jamaica, had outlined this in their report of March 2017. He still has a job, and no one has discredited the report.

I have mentioned these two Jamaican examples as I would be shocked if they did not all agree that the British government was wrong to have treated its citizens or permanent residents in such a manner. I hold this view as during his most recent visit to the UK, the Jamaican prime minister had a meeting with his British equivalent and expressed his