Technology an engine of future Jamaica

Ingrid Riley

AS WE travel on this economic journey that is undoubtedly causing some unsettling shifts and the displacement of many in the transition, we have to ask the real questions, make the unpopular decisions, take the required actions.

As I've said before Jamaica is such a nation of extremes, while we have such awesome potential and have realised some of that in a few areas, we still seem to be caught up in a two steps forward five steps backward kind of a dance.

When will it be realised that technology - its introduction and use, the business and investment opportunities it creates - can so dramatically transform Jamaica and across all socio-economic lines.

Technology in and by itself will not do much, but the serious and consistent integration of technology into tourism, sports, music and culture, banking and finance, even agriculture and manufacturing, can offer such social and economic benefits that there will be no need to communicate our anger, frustration in the streets, with a gun or a bottle torch or by hopping on a plane to the United States and Canada.

If it's one thing that has always been one of my pet peeves it is the continuous, seemingly deliberate practice of keeping people ignorant. We seem to be guilty in business, government and academia of neglecting to pass on, to show, to share the knowledge, the information on how to do, to succeed, to make money. Being a businesswoman myself, I understand the need to be prudent with your company's ideas and information, but there seems to be an unconscious attitude and practice of taking advantage of the ignorant. Trying to maintain the status quo is somewhat passé in the 21st century, I think.

Which is why relevant education opportunities are crucial - enter the amazing benefits that e-learning can bring as many would be able to access courses, instruction, degrees, that are not available here, online. Which is why cable has been instrumental in enlightening some and why I so strongly advocate policies that will make Internet access as basic a utility as light and water, a (hint to the purveyors of wireless solutions).

I so strongly believe that the access to information and the power that comes from that, is what we need more of and now-quality of life should never be for some at the expense of the many.

It is great too that we have competition in cell phone services and we have call centres opening up like crazy, but what use are cell phones on jobless hips, what use are call centres if they are merely 21st century replacements of garment factories.

How do the multi-millions - in some cases billions- that companies and investors make, truly affect the social lives of the communities in which their customers live ? If we can't get beyond that how better off are we really? I know it takes time to turn around an economy, truly to have changes take effect especially at the roots, but if we're still practising trickle down economics, if we're clinging to only what is familiar instead of truly risking to try new things, we're going to be doing this dance of denial for a while longer. Just the opinion of a Jamaican who's very passionate about her country.

Ingrid Riley is a writer, and chief executive officer of MiND FULL Press a Caribbean Media and Publishing Company, that is the premier source for Caribbean Tech News and Information. She is active in the Caribbean's hi-tech and business communities. Send comments to her at ingridriley@ yahoo.com.

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