Engineers Urged to Take Advantage of Available Global Best Practices

Local engineers are being encouraged to take full advantage of the global best practices that are being made available in Jamaica, through major infrastructure development projects, such as the North South Link of Highway 2000.

“We operate in a global context where the sharing of ideas and technology transfer has become quite important. This exchange will not only redound to your benefit, but ultimately to that of the country,” Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of  Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy, said Thursday, September 4, as he launched  Engineers Week 2014, at the University of Technology (UTech), in Kingston.

He further noted that the introduction of new technologies has become important in providing more cost effective solutions.

“This is seen right across government where there are efforts to provide more cost effective and more efficient products to our citizens,” Dr. Guy said, pointing out that in the  Ministry, alternative avenues are being explored to provide more cost effective means of housing construction, roadwork design and building, bridges, and other forms of infrastructure.

He cited the recent directive issued to the National Works Agency (NWA) that tenders for road construction and rehabilitation should factor alternate bids for concrete pavement design.

Dr. Guy said the role of engineers has become even more important, given the evolution of new environmental concerns, such as the threat of multiple natural and manmade disasters, including hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, and the resulting  instances where there is poor planning and improper engineering techniques.

He also highlighted the importance of engineers in the design and engineering of alternative sources of energy, which is opening up new possibilities  for the energy sector, and which has positive implications for energy cost and usage.

“Your profession plays a defining role in the way we develop both on a rural level as well as in the urban centres. The concern of overcrowding in our cities and the attendant health hazard, are real problems that lay before you as new challenges to be addressed in engineering for the future,” the Minister said.

He told the gathering that this year’s theme: ‘Engineering Change’,  captures and reflects the concepts of the shift that is taking place globally in industrialization, production and trade, as it relates to engineering.

Engineering Week 2014 (September 21-28), which is being spearheaded by the Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JEI), will feature a slate of activities, including a Thanksgiving Service on September 21 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, at 9 Gibbs Avenue off Windward Road in Kingston; a three-day conference at the Knutsford Court Hotel, beginning on September 22; site visit to the Magotty Hydro Power Plant in St. Elizabeth on September 27; and the staging of  the ‘Race for Hope’, proceeds of which will go towards the refurbishing of the Hope Botanical Gardens.