WESTERN BUREAU:
National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang and Dr Kevin Brown, the president of the University of Technology (UTech), are supportive of the view that Jamaica cannot afford to be left behind in the global development and application of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI).
Chang and Brown were speaking at Wednesday’s launch of UTech’s second annual science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) summer camp, which was launched at UTech’s Montego Bay campus.
The camp, which will held at the Montego Bay campus from July 7 to 18, and at the Papine, St Andrew campus from July 14 to 25, is being staged under the theme, ‘Think, collaborate, grow, be resilient’.
In his address, Chang pointed to the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s crimefighting effort through data application as an example of how technology is evolving and being integrated into various aspects of national life.
“Science is critical to a lot of things, and science is not just sitting behind a microscope in a lab or trying to write, analyse or input data and numbers together to get a new software,” said Chang. “It has a very universal application, including in policing, because I do not think anybody has any doubt that Police Commissioner Kevin Blake has introduced new strategies in policing that work extremely well.
“Science is what give us the ability to transcend borders and contribute global development. The reality is that we have to look ahead, think big, and think positively.
“I am confident we have the talent and the ability to apply ourselves in science and really grow this country much faster. What we cannot afford to do as a small country is to keep being caught behind others.”
In the meantime, Brown noted that Jamaicans must become willing to develop their own new technology instead of simply accepting technology developed in other jurisdictions.
MISSION
“The STEM camp is very much a part of our mission and vision, and as a small island, Jamaica should not be left behind. We should not just resign ourselves with this consumption history that we have, where other people develop technology and we just consume it, or we just buy the latest iPhone and we are happy with that, because we have people who can create apps on phones here in Jamaica,” said Brown.
“We must not underestimate the minds and the talent of our Jamaican people. What they need is an opportunity, and that is what we try to provide at UTech, by combining the theory with a hands-on education,” Brown continued. “We are proudly hands on, because it is not just a theory of programming that we teach, but you also have to learn how to program. You have to learn how to apply, in practice, what you have learned, and that is a philosophy that we infuse in all disciplines across the institution.”
Both men’s remarks came approximately three weeks after UTech signed a memorandum of understanding with the Amber Group, the Ministry of Education, and the HEART/NSTA Trust on June 6 for the creation of Jamaica’s first AI lab. That facility is expected to be opened at UTech’s St Andrew campus by September 1 this year.
Before that signing ceremony, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness announced during his March 20 contribution to the 2025-26 Budget Debate that the Government would implement an AI workforce-readiness strategy. At that time, Holness said the initiative would include integrating AI and coding into the school curricula at all levels and promoting dedicated AI teacher-training programmes.