Month: September 2023

Renewables boost

Marubeni says old power plants to be replaced by renewables

Executives from JPS shareholder Marubeni commit to replacing its aging power plants with renewable energy plants in the next two years. The Marubeni executives made the commitment in a recent meeting with Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Marubeni Power International has now confirmed that renewables have been chosen to replace old fossil fuel-fired power plants at Rockfort and Hunt’s Bay in Kingston. The company made the revelation about the choice after making the commitment to the Government to align the company with the objective of having 50 per cent of power generated in Jamaica coming from renewable sources by 2030, during a recent visit.

The two power plants are expected to be shutdown starting in the next two years, and the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), based on its licence, has the right to replace generating capacity it already owns and will be spending US$500 million to replace those plants with renewable energy. It will be looking to develop projects which together will replace 171 megawatt entirely with solar and wind energy.

“In the next two years or less, some of the plants are going to be shutting down and have to be replaced, and the replacement the Government indicates to us has to be renewables,” Damian Obiglio, senior vice-president, Marubeni Power International and chairman of JPS, told the Jamaica Observer in an interview Tuesday. He added that the investment will also include battery storage to ensure power remains available when the sun is not shining or when the wind dies down.

The confirmation comes long after it was first indicated that the JPS would be replacing the old power plants with renewable energy. Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s energy minister, earlier this year told the parliamentary committee reviewing the Electricity Act that renewables would be the replacement power source, but a check with the JPS then revealed that the issue was not finalised as yet.

Marubeni says it will be working with its partners to spend US$500 million to replace 171MW of fossil fuel-generated electricity with solar and wind solutions in the next two to three years.

“JPS is in the final stages with the Government about how much battery, wind and solar power,” Obiglio added in the interview with the Business Observer. He said it is expected that 60 per cent of the investment, or US$300 million, will be spent on batteries to store power for future use. Of the US$200 million left to build the farms, he said US$160 million will go to solar farms while the other US$40 million will be invested in wind energy solutions.

“These are different investments from the other renewable investments the Government is seeking. This is the JPS just replacing existing capacity which is about to come off line with renewables,” Obiglio stressed. He said the Government indicates that it would prefer the battery farm to be somewhere in the Corporate Area where demand is greatest, either on Spanish Town Road or at its old plant at Hunt’s Bay.

“In the case of renewables, the Government have indicated a strong preference for the farms to be in the eastern end of Jamaica — the St Thomas area and the Portland area — while some of the plants may be set up in Clarendon.”

The company added that it is awaiting further directives and stand ready to cooperate as soon as the plans are agreed upon.

Just recently, executives from Marubeni Corporation and Marubeni Power International visited Jamaica in demonstration of their ongoing commitment to the country and to being an investment partner in the nation’s growth.

In the island for a one-day visit were Satoru Harada, Chief operating officer, Power Division of Marubeni Corporation and Yukio Konishi, senior vice-president, Marubeni Power International.

They paid a courtesy visit on Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the prime minister’s office, where Harada spoke to the significance of Marubeni’s investment in Jamaica and pledged to continue to partner with the Government in supporting economic growth through efficient and sustainable energy generation.

Marubeni, a major shareholder in JPS, also has interests in the 194-MW capacity power plant operated by South Jamaica Power Company, located in St Catherine.

Currently, JPS has two major investors: Marubeni Corporation and Korea East-West Power, and each holds 40 per cent of shares in JPS. The Government of Jamaica, through the Development Bank of Jamaica, holds the remaining 19.9 per cent while the remaining less than 1 per cent is held by private shareholders.

This article was published in the Jamaica Observer https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/renewables-boost/

Digicel Foundation and Early Childhood Commission Handover Inclusive Classroom to St. Thomas School

Digicel Foundation Chair, Jean Lowrie-Chin, speaks during the handover ceremony for an inclusive classroom at the Jamaica China Goodwill Infant School in St. Thomas on Tuesday (September 19). The facility’s construction stemmed from a partnership between the Foundation and the Early Childhood Commission (ECC).

Students with mild to moderate physical and intellectual disabilities at the Jamaica China Goodwill Infant School in St. Thomas now have an inclusive classroom to further support their educational journey.

‘The facility, which was handed over by the Digicel Foundation on Tuesday (September 19), stemmed from a partnership with the Early Childhood Commission (ECC).

Speaking at the handover ceremony at the school, Foundation Chair, Jean Lowrie-Chin, informed that the room will cater to children aged three to six.

“Within the classroom, you will find a state-of-the-art sensory room, which includes panel mats, sensory lights, fibre-optic bean bags, a fibre-optic curtain kit, LED strip lights and noise-cancelling earphones,” she detailed.

Additionally, Mrs. Lowrie-Chin disclosed that the existing bathroom for the students has been retrofitted, a raft has been constructed, and a “bright and fun” outdoor play area has been renovated.

“The purpose of the classroom is at the heart of everything we do at the Digicel Foundation to promote inclusiveness. It means that no one is left behind; it means togetherness, including the little ones with special needs who need to feel loved and secure in their school environment,” the Chair said.

For her part, ECC Chair, Trisha Williams-Singh, applauded the Digicel Foundation for having “changed the landscape in Jamaica for special needs”.

“The Early Childhood Commission would like to thank you so much, and we encourage you to not only do more but I use this platform to ask other corporate Jamaica [stakeholders] to come on board,” she said.

Chair, Early Childhood Commission (ECC), Trisha Williams-Singh, speaks during the handover of an inclusive classroom at the Jamaica China Goodwill Infant School in St. Thomas on Tuesday (September 19). The facility stemmed from a partnership between the Digicel Foundation and the ECC.

Acting Regional Director (Region 2) at the Ministry of Education and Youth, Yashieka Blackwood-Grant, speaking on behalf of Acting Permanent Secretary, Maureen Dwyer, similarly hailed the Digicel Foundation for “rising to the occasion, especially when special education needs are in the conversation”.

“We commit, every time we receive a gift, to taking the best care of it because we receive it as an investment. We know that there are countless children who must benefit from this investment, and so… this investment is going to bring returns for years to come,” Mrs. Blackwood-Grant said.

This is the second inclusive classroom to be established under the ECC’s Jamaica 60 Legacy Project.

The first was established at the Bethabara Infant School in Manchester.

Digicel Foundation Chair, Jean Lowrie-Chin (left), and Chair, Early Childhood Commission (ECC), Trisha Williams-Singh (second left), enjoy play time with students at the Jamaica China Goodwill Infant School in St. Thomas, Amanda McKay (third left) and Travon Shaw, inside a new inclusive classroom at the institution. The space was handed over on Tuesday (September 19).

Source: Jamaica Information Service https://jis.gov.jm/features/digicel-foundation-and-early-childhood-commission-handover-inclusive-classroom-to-st-thomas-school/

Environmental sustainability begins with you

Beach clean-ups are one of the ways we can positively impact the environment.

Dear Editor,

Our natural environment is facing unprecedented threats. Phenomena such as climate change, deforestation, and pollution threaten the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystems.

More than ever the importance of environmental sustainability cannot be overstated. It is our moral responsibility to protect and preserve our fragile ecosystems. While large-scale initiatives and policy changes are vital, it’s essential to recognise that everyday actions can collectively create significant change.

Here are a few ways we can each play our part in ending environmental neglect:

*Reduce, reuse, recycle: Reducing, reusing, and recycling can be one of the most effective ways we can save natural resources, protect the environment, and save money. One way to reduce is to reuse. Instead of using plastic bags, bring reusable bags when shopping or packing food. Recently, the Digicel Foundation, under its environmental campaign called Good Energy, Clean Environment, revamped its staff initiative to collect and recycle plastic bottles. You too can reduce plastic and waste by improving recycling habits at home, school, and work.

*Conserve energy: There are small habits in our daily lives that can help to conserve energy. These acts include turning off lights, appliances, and electronics when not in use.

Earlier this year, the Government began the phasing out of the importation, export, manufacture, distribution, and sale or purchase of incandescent light bulbs. Jamaicans will soon have to switch to light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The switch to more energy-efficient bulbs can significantly lower electricity consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

*Beach clean-ups: Digicel Foundation’s annual beach clean-ups on International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day, which will be celebrated on September 16 this year, are not just about removing debris from shorelines, they are symbolic acts of care for our oceans and a reminder of the urgent need to reduce our plastic consumption. These clean-ups educate volunteers to reduce single-use plastics, promote responsible waste disposal, and raise awareness about the devastating impacts of pollution on marine ecosystems. Persons can visit the Jamaica Environment Trust’s (JET) website to learn how they can participate in ICC Day.

*Educate yourself and others: I cannot stress enough the importance of staying informed about environmental issues, sharing your knowledge with friends and family, encouraging conversations about sustainability, and advocating for informed decisions.

Simple, everyday actions can create a more sustainable world. Ultimately, these actions will not only improve the environment but also inspire others to join in the effort, leading to a brighter and greener future for all.

Miguel “Steppa” Williams

Director of strategic planning and community development

Digicel Jamaica Foundation

Source: The Jamaica Observer https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/environmental-sustainability-begins-with-you/

Fun at FFP band camp!

Ali McNab (left), representing the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Entertainment, and Sport, and band camp instructor Jeffrey Brown (right) pose with Le-anna Smith and Ethan Clayton, two of the students who participated in this year’s edition of Food For the Poor Jamaica’s Band Camp programme at the organisation’s head office in St Catherine.

Food For the Poor Jamaica’s recent band camp project, which provides musical instruction for children age six through 16 on a variety of instruments was yet another success in engaging children for the summer holidays.

Attendees got the opportunity to be exposed to professional guidance and teaching on the various musical instruments and stylings on offer.

The children, and their parents, expression appreciation as talents were unearth and horizons expanded.

The intention is that programme will continue to be an annual event serving the community.

At the end of the programme a graduation exercise was held to recognise the achievements of attendees in tribute to the hard work they had put in towards developing competence.

See share scenes:

Drumming student Chozen Bailey (right) poses with his mother and brother after the recent graduation exercise for the band camp music training programme which concluded at Food For the Poor headquarters. Some 60 youngsters, aged six through 16 years, learned to perform on various instruments.

Source: Jamaica Observer https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/fun-at-ffp-band-camp/

Bluefields Bay Villas expands

Finance minister, Dr Nigel Clarke (left); CEO of Bluefields Villas, Debbie Moncure (centre) and Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett cut the ribbon to officially mark the opening of four new suites at the villas. (Photos: Kimberley Peddie).

BLUEFIELDS, Westmoreland — Bluefields Bay Villas has raised the bar in luxury accommodations, adding four new suites to the property, a move the tourism minister says will take marketing to another dimension.

The all-inclusive collection of six villas nestled on Jamaica’s south coast has now grown to 27 suites. The new one-bedroom suites each have a private veranda and access to a shared infinity edge pool that overlooks the ocean.

The target is the higher end of the market.

“We have been pushing an up-market, high-dollar tourism in Jamaica and we’re continuing to do so. We are hoping that this first expansion is just one of the many phases in what we are hoping to do here in Bluefields,” said Managing Director Houston Moncure.

He was speaking with the Jamaica Observer at the official opening of the suites on Sunday. Guests included minister of finance, Dr Nigel Clarke; Minster of tourism, Edmund Bartlett; US ambassador to Jamaica, Nick Perry; Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks; and senior strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright.

Bluefields Bay Villas CEO Debbie Moncure and her husband Braxton said their son Houston was the conceptualiser of the suites.

“Houston came up with [the] concept and so he went to the architect — otherwise known as me — and we developed the suites,” she said with a chuckle.

Debbie, who was born in New York and holds a BA in Art History from Tufts University and a Masters of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, moved to Washington, DC, immediately upon finishing her graduate studies. She met her husband Braxton in DC and they began coming to Jamaica together in the late 1970s. They were married in Bluefields in 1983. The couple celebrated their 40-year anniversary during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new suites.

Speaking at the ceremony, the tourism minister lauded the Moncures for their contribution to the industry.

“Tourists have come and they have really become a part of Bluefields. When you come to this area people talk about it and I get messages, I get calls — some are wonderful calls Houston, and some are about the development and the joy it brings,” Bartlett said.

“The addition of this innovation is going to mean a lot more to us than you. No other country has the hosting capacity that we have. For all the pain and suffering that tourism offers to this country, we are the only industry that has grown every quarter for the last 35 years,” he boasted.

Bartlett added that growth has spiralled over the years.

“In the last nine quarters the growth has been spectacular, absolutely phenomenal but that growth has happened now because of people like Houston who have come up with ideas and have brought innovations and have enabled more people to come to us. What you are doing is going to enable me to take marketing to another dimension,” the minister said.

Houston stressed that the Villa supports the local community.

“We believe our model of tourism is really good for Jamaica,” he said.

Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke (left); Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett (second left), and senior strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright (third left) tour the newly opened suites at Bluefields Bay Villas. They are joined by villa operators, Braxton (third right), Debbie (second right) and Houston Moncure.
Bluefields Bay Villas CEO Braxton Moncure walks to one of the newly added suites.
A bathtub on the private veranda overlooking the ocean is one of the features of the new suites at Bluefields Bay Villas.

Source: Jamaica Observer https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/bluefields-bay-villas-expands/

SIA named Caribbean’s Leading Airport for 15th year in row at World Travel Awards

Shane Munroe (left), CEO, MBJ Airports Ltd, receives the prestigious World Travel Award (WTA) from Graham Cooke, founder of World Travel Awards. Sangster International was again named the Caribbean’s Leading Airport at the WTA event hosted at Sandals Grande St Lucian, St Lucia last Saturday.

Sangster International Airport (SIA), operated by MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ), has again been name the Caribbean’s Leading Airport at the World Travel Awards (WTA) hosted at Sandals Grande St Lucian, St Lucia, last Saturday.

SIA emerged as the winner from a pool of 13 Caribbean competitors nominated for the prestigious award. The accolade was first bestowed on SIA in 2005, again in 2009 and each year to date.

“We are honoured to be named the Caribbean’s Leading Airport for the 15th consecutive year. This award is a testament to the dedication and tireless efforts of our entire airport team, and spans all agencies and team members who work diligently to ensure consistently high standards and service excellence. We remain steadfast in our efforts to transform Sangster International Airport to ensure a passenger-centric, sustainable, efficient and safe airport operation,” said Shane Munroe, chief executive officer of MBJ Airports Limited.

While enjoying the win for Sangster International, MBJ is also celebrating its 20th anniversary operating the airport. Over those 20 years, MBJ has made considerable investment in the development and transformation of the airport to improve the overall infrastructure and passenger experience.

The WTA was attended by travel industry leaders from across the Caribbean and The Americas, in acknowledgement of organisations spearheading the growth of the region’s travel and tourism sector.

Graham Cooke, founder of the WTA, said: “World Travel Awards has maintained its position as the industry leader for the past 30 years, consistently proving its value as the global benchmark for recognising excellence in travel and tourism.”

Source: Jamaica Gleaner https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20230829/sia-named-caribbeans-leading-airport-15th-year-row-world-travel-awards

NMIA development pivotal to Gov’t’s strategic plan – Vaz

The Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

The Norman Manley International Airport’s (NMIA) development is pivotal to the Government’s broader strategic plan to reposition Kingston as a regional business centre and Jamaica as a logistics hub.

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz said crucial improvements to the facility by PACKAL, projected between the last and current fiscal years, are critical to protecting the NMIA’s reputation as one of Jamaica’s most valuable assets.

“The NMIA is, therefore, not just a place for departures and arrivals. It is a symbol of progress, a hub of opportunities, and has tremendous potential for growth,” he maintained.

The minister was addressing the PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL) NMIA Airport Forum on Friday, August 25, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Vaz emphasised that the NMIA’s future rests in the facility’s untapped potential, and urged that more development be done to enhance the airport’s capabilities.

“The Government’s vision for the airport’s development is rooted in the need of the present and promise of the future. We look forward for the upgrades to be undertaken in a timely manner by PACKAL to serve the immediate needs of the travellers, stakeholders, and long term [survival] of the industry,” he outlined.

Vaz said close collaboration among regulatory bodies, airlines, airport operators, and technology providers is necessary to maintain a higher standard of safety, security, and superior customer service.

The NMIA is the second-largest airport in Jamaica. It provides an essential service as Kingston’s gateway to the world.

On October 10, 2018, the Airports Authority of Jamaica and PAC Kingston Airport Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, entered into a 25-year concession greement for the operation of the Norman Manley International Airport.

On October 10, 2019, PACKAL officially began operating and maintaining the facility.

Statistics from the NMIA Ltd website indicate that the airport caters to over 1.7 million passengers and handles over 70 per cent (17 million kilogrammes) of the island’s airfreight.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20230829/growth-jobs-nmia-development-pivotal-govts-strategic-plan-vaz

Kingston airport to resume heavy expansion projects

Fernando Vistrain Lorence, CEO of PAC Kingston Airport Limited, speaks at PAC Kingston’s airport forum on the NMIA on Friday, August 25, 2023, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

The capital expansion programme for Norman Manley International Airport, NMIA, led by the upgrade of the runway and terminal store space, will resume following an agreement reached between operator PAC Kingston Airport Limited and the Jamaican government.

“The main thing that will change is the timeline, but the costs are going to increase. Many of the projects will be executed soon, meaning the runway extension will start next year in the first quarter. And other [projects] are going to be executed before that,” said Fernando Vistrain Lorence, CEO of PACKAL.

Lorence said that the capital programmes will be fast-tracked, including the runway repavement and extension; expansion of the commercial stores in the terminal lounge; expansion of its solar power plant from 2.0 megawatts to 5.0 MW, which aims to reduce its reliance on the national electricity grid by 75 per cent; and wastewater treatment rehabilitation. Additionally, the airport will add concession agreements with third-party store operators, with plans to open a service station by the airport roundabout, and an airport taxi service this year.

The original capital programme totalled US$213 million for NMIA, based on terms set in the concession agreement some five years earlier.

The airport welcomed 1.0 million total passengers between January and July, or 25 per cent higher than the 807,000 total passengers a year earlier. The airline JetBlue holds the largest market share at 34 per cent, followed by American Airlines with 18 per cent. From a cargo perspective, the top providers are Caribbean Airlines with 35 per cent, British Airways with 26 per cent, and Amerijet, also with 26 per cent.

At a forum on Friday, the airport was described as an old operating plant, but one which could be modernised. PACKAL started managing the airport under a 30-year agreement in October 2018.

Minister of Transport Daryl Vaz said feedback was expected from Cabinet on the capital agreement with PACKAL.

“There has been a sign-off, with tweaking from the original agreement, and I am hoping to get comments back from Cabinet within the next week,” he said on Friday. “Once that is done and signed, that will pave the way for PACKAL to do and live by that agreement. It will include timelines and when things need to be done. And that template will be non-negotiable. You have lost enough time due to COVID-19, and lost enough time with the issues of the plant.”

Vaz added that more needs to be done to address regulatory and consumer issues at the airport.

President of the Airports Authority of Jamaica Audley Deidrick said the new agreement was not a renegotiation of the concession but rather, an adjustment due to reductions in travel arising from the COVID-19. The reduction in travel would impact on PACKAL’s revenue, and, therefore, its return on investment and ability to fund its capital expenditure.

“It was a focused matter of the impairment which the airport suffered as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, and sought to rebalance their affairs … . That is the only focus of this process,” said Deidrick. “It was not a process of renegotiation; that was never accommodated by the Government of Jamaica.”

PAC Kingston is a subsidiary of Mexico-based Pacific Airport Group. The company also holds the concession for the Jamaica’s largest airport, Sangster International, in Montego Bay through MBJ Airport Limited.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20230830/kingston-airport-resume-heavy-expansion-projects

On your marks! MBJ Airports/Team Sangster ready to run again for education

Image: Montego Bay Airport

Come out in your thousands!

Following on the tremendous success of its 2022 staging, MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ)/Team Sangster is inviting the community and corporate Jamaica to join them for their 2023 Run/Walk on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at 6:00 a.m. (Warm up at 5:30 a.m.) 

The event will once again underline the commitment of MBJ, operators of Sangster International Airport, to supporting the education of our most vulnerable students. 

Last year, the team raised over J$4.5 million, thanks to the generous contributions of sponsors, donors, and over 1,400 participants. All proceeds from the event went directly towards enabling students at the Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary levels to access much-needed academic grants. The recipients included airport employees, their children and dependents, individuals from the surrounding communities, as well as four (4) community-based organizations targeting the growth and development of persons with special needs. Over 50 students benefited directly from the proceeds of the event in 2022 and the goal this year is to impact the lives of more students.

Prizes to be won by participating in the event include airline tickets from JetBlue, Spirit and Virgin Airlines, as well as weekend stays at Couples, Hyatt, Hilton, Zoetry, and S Hotel and day passes at Royalton. Additional prizes include Chukka Adventure Tour excursions; tablets from Digicel; gift baskets from Tortuga, Reggae Mart, and CPJ; and gifts from the Airports Authority of Jamaica and MBJ Airports Limited. Participants will be refreshed after the race with breakfast, courtesy of Express Catering Limited, Goddard Catering Group, VIP Attractions Limited, and CPJ Beverage Station and will also be able to enjoy an after race massage.

The fee is J$2,000 for adults and J$1,500 for children. Participants will have the option to register for a 5/10K Run or 5K Walk, which will run from the Commercial Pick-up Area at the Sangster International Airport to Flanker/Whitehouse. Registration closes on Wednesday, September 6. For further information, go to http://www.runningeventsja.com/

Grant Applications are now open for submission. https://www.mbjairport.com/mbj-charity-run/walk-grant-guidelines-application-

MBJ/Team Sangster wishes to thank all its generous sponsors and donors and looks forward to an even bigger Run/Walk on September 10.

Parking will be available at the Cargo Terminal on the airport but participants are encouraged to carpool and a shuttle will be provided to transport participants to the event area. Come out and participate for your health, and fun and to contribute to a worthy cause.  

Source: Our Today https://our.today/on-your-marks-mbj-airports-team-sangster-ready-to-run-again-for-education/#:~:text=MBJ%20Airports%2FTeam%20Sangster%20ready%20to%20run%20again%20for%20education&text=Come%20out%20in%20your%20thousands,2023%2C%20at%206%3A00%20a.m.

Towards prioritizing tech in education

The 2023/2024 academic year starts on September 4. Joseph wellington

Technology has been a godsend for parents and children. Toddlers can be seen reading, singing along, and doing simple arithmetic via games before they even begin preschool.

As we hear parents complaining about the expensive booklists to get their children ready for “September morning”, we believe that more textbooks should be available online, although we understand that some workbooks may still have to be bought.

We welcome the news from Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams that her ministry will be holding sensitisation sessions to promote greater use of e-books. She posted on social media, “The biggest advantage of e-textbooks is the ability to include videos, animations, and simulations to help students understand complex concepts and make learning more fun.”

This sent me back to a lecture in 2017 by Edie Weiner, founder and CEO of Future Hunters. I share here revised excerpts from my column in April 2017 on her look at education.

Weiner turned to the hot topic of education, reminding us that the brain grows fastest before the age of three and that it is ridiculous that after being exposed to iPads and smartphones children are then taken to schools that are still using the same system that was designed for their grandparents. This was actually quoted at the finale of the Education Enrichment Programme, which, with the support of the then Ministry of Education, Youth and Information; USAID; and the Digicel Foundation, covered 104 schools, improving the literacy and numeracy of 43,000 primary school students.

The enrichment centres in 43 schools, which are heavy on information technology and bright visuals, particularly attractive to boys, have turned unenthusiastic students into high achievers. This was reinforced by Weiner as she demonstrated the difference between the way that male and female brains develop and what stimulates this development.

Weiner predicted a dramatic transformation in the delivery of education. According to her, information technology will make education available to millions in experiential forms. Therefore, she says, “critical thinking is the most important thing we can teach our young people”.

She says that all of this recent technology is creating disruption. “In future,” she says, “no one will be paying for ‘smart’, only ‘intelligent’. This is the kind of intelligence that will enable you to figure out things that you have never seen before.”

She suggested that university students should not major in any one thing but take multi-disciplinary courses and challenge themselves to see the connection. The Antiguan student who sat all 26 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects seems to have been on the right track.

While we need to limit the time our children spend on gaming, we should note that there is a brand new category of sports called e-sports. Wiener said that video games are evolving into competitive events, one of which was held in California, attracting 35 million online viewers. She said that universities will shortly be recruiting students who excel at e-sports for their teams.

IGT’s After School Advantage Programme, Digicel Foundation, and NCB Foundation this summer sponsored coding and robotics camps, gearing our children to make the best use of technology, learning how to create websites and apps that can create a better planet.

Let us allow our children to transition to the new school term, making use of technology to give them the best chance at navigating this Fourth Industrial Revolution described thus by the World Economic Forum (WEF): “The Fourth Industrial Revolution represents a fundamental change in the way we live, work, and relate to one another. It is a new chapter in human development, enabled by extraordinary technology advances commensurate with those of the first, second, and third industrial revolutions. These advances are merging the physical, digital, and biological worlds in ways that create both huge promise and potential peril.”

“The speed, breadth, and depth of this revolution is forcing us to rethink how countries develop, how organisations create value, and even what it means to be human. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is about more than just technology-driven change; it is an opportunity to help everyone, including leaders, policymakers, and people from all income groups and nations, to harness converging technologies in order to create an inclusive, human-centred future. The real opportunity is to look beyond technology and find ways to give the greatest number of people the ability to positively impact their families, organisations, and communities.”

The gift of technology is that regardless of the size of one’s country, the tools are there to help us stand shoulder-to-shoulder with leading professionals anywhere in the world. Let us seize the day.

Running for worthy causes

MBJ/TEAMSANGSTER 2022 5K winners Brandon Kerr (left) and Danielle Terrier

MBJ Airports Limited/Team Sangster raised $4.5 million last year from their run-walk, which went in entirety to academic grants for primary, secondary, and tertiary students. They are back again on Sunday, September 10, with generous sponsors stepping up to give great prizes: airline tickets from JetBlue, Spirit, and Virgin airlines; as well as weekend stays at Couples Resorts, Hyatt, Hilton, Zoetry, and S Hotel; and day passes at Royalton Luxury Resorts. Additional prizes include Chukka Adventure Tour excursions; tablets from Digicel; gift baskets from Tortuga, Reggae Mart, and CPJ; and gifts from the Airports Authority of Jamaica and MBJ Airports Limited. Participants will be refreshed after the race with breakfast, courtesy of Express Catering Limited, Goddard Catering Group, VIP Attractions Limited, and CPJ beverage station and will also be able to enjoy an after-race massage.

Deadline for registration is this Wednesday, September 6. The fee is $2,000 for adults and $1,500 for children. Participants will have the option to register for a 5/10K run or 5K walk, which will run from the commercial pickup area at the Sangster International Airport to Flanker/Whitehouse.

Meanwhile, Bert’s Auto Parts has partnered with Food For the Poor Jamaica in its 4oth anniversary Build Back the Love house-building programme. The Build with Bert’s 5K will be held on Sunday, October 1 at Emancipation Park, with the target of US$49,000, the cost of building 10 houses.

Marketing Manager Waynette Strachan noted that the company has been giving back over the years in appreciation of the support from their fellow Jamaicans. I can attest to that as Bert’s is a kind discount partner of CCRP.

Andrea Williams-McKenzie honoured with CBE

King Charles converses with Andrea Williams-McKenzie, CBE after her investiture.

Our family was delighted to learn that Andrea Williams-McKenzie was invested with the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by King Charles III earlier this year at Windsor Castle.

A human resource development specialist, Williams-McKenzie has led significant projects for the Government. One of the most challenging was leading the workforce planning, resourcing, and training to support all UK borders for the 2012 Olympics, an unqualified success.

Williams-McKenzie volunteers widely. She was a school foundation governor for her church parish, chair of governors for the parish Roman Catholic primary school, and a Eucharistic minister. She has been volunteering at the winter homeless shelter and in other community activities.

Williams-McKenzie has joined the ranks of famous individuals who have been invested with the CBE, such as Stephen Hawking, Harold Pinter, Hugh Laurie, Jonny Wilkinson, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Heartiest congratulations to you, Andrea!

Source: Jamaica Observer: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/towards-prioritising-tech-in-education/