Appropriate Technology a Must for Sustainable Development – Paulwell

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says the application of appropriate technology has proven to be the catalyst for sustainable development.

“It is for this reason that I remain an unrepentant advocate of ICT for development. My Ministry is therefore focused on making technology accessible to the broadest cross section of Jamaica,” the Minister said.

Mr. Paulwell was addressing Moneague College’s inaugural Technology Expo 2015, held at the campus, in St. Ann, on April 30.

“We are also trying to facilitate broad band penetration, we are trying to promote e-government, we are implementing e-learning initiatives and we are facilitating the efficient management and judicious use of spectrum, and of course, we want to see jobs created, thereby enabling us to have growth and development in our economy,” the Minister asserted.

Mr. Paulwell said that increasingly, the investment climate of countries is now being indexed on what is commonly referred to as E-readiness, access to the Internet, broadband penetration, computer literacy, E-governance and in general, the social and economic infrastructure, conducive to a digital business environment.

He commended members of Managing System and Electronics Computing (MSEC) Technology Club of Moneague College, for staging the expo, which attracted some 15 exhibitors and 400 participants. The event was held under the theme: ‘Innovation, sustainability and self reliance through technology’.

The Minister said that the MSEC Technology Club has come a far way and is “on the same wave length as his Ministry.”

Fresh from winning the recently staged ‘Software Development Competition’ by the Council of Community Colleges in Jamaica, the club sought to expose modern technology trends to students and the other participants.

Meanwhile, Principal of Moneague College, Howard Isaacs, in commending the student body for their constant desire to be on the cutting edge of technological advancement, told them that they represent the “bright future” of Jamaica.

“You students represent the future of this country, therefore you have to use these opportunities you are exposed to today … to reflect significantly on the strategies that you will have to adopt and most importantly, the attitudes you will have to take on, to ensure that this little rock we call Jamaica, will continue to be developed,” he said.