Opposition Calls for Jamaica to Prioritize Technology Development
Economist and Opposition spokesperson on science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Dr. Andre Haughton, emphasized the importance of Jamaica placing technology at the forefront of the nation’s development during a speech at the University of Technology’s Western Jamaica Campus. Dr. Haughton highlighted how countries like China, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States quickly embraced technology in the 1950s, while Jamaica focused on industries like sugar and bananas.
Dr. Haughton pointed out that technology now represents over 32 percent of China’s GDP, highlighting the need for Jamaica to measure and prioritize its own technology sector. He also emphasized the importance of expanding internet coverage across the island to ensure more people are able to access and utilize technology.
Dr. Haughton stressed the importance of marketing financial technology solutions, such as fintech, to unbanked individuals and small businesses in Jamaica’s communities. He urged the country to focus on measuring technology’s impact on different industries and to embrace technology to avoid missing out on future opportunities.
While Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared Jamaica as the potential technological and innovation hub of the Caribbean in 2022, the country currently ranks 79th out of 133 countries on the Global Innovation Index. Dr. Haughton’s remarks underscore the need for Jamaica to prioritize technology development and innovation to drive economic growth and sustainability.
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