Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, third right, poses with the awardees of the National Medals for Science and Technology, Professor Gerald Lalor, right, and Dr. Arnoldo Ventura, third left, during the 10th anniversary and awards luncheon of the National Commission on Science and Technology at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, yesterday. Three awards were presented posthumously to Dr. T.P Lecky, Austin Thomas, and Dr. Cicely Williams, represented at the function by Dr. Hazel Bennett, second right, Darcy Shephard, second left, and Peter Williams, left, respectively.
-Norman Grindley photoPROFESSOR GERALD Lalor and Dr. Arnold Ventura were presented with national medals for their contribution in the field of science and technology at the 10th anniversary and awards luncheon of the National Commission on Science and Technology (NCST) held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel Thursday.
There were also three posthumous awardees, Dr. T.P Lecky, Austin Thomas, and Dr. Cicely Williams, who were represented at the function by Dr. Hazel Bennett, Darcy Shephard and Peter Williams respectively.
The awards were being presented for the first time.
The function got off to a late start, but soon gained momentum with Prime Minister P.J Patterson's address during which he called for an acceleration of science and technology initiatives and spending.
"A survey of the national expenditure on science and technology has revealed that the country spends about $3.1 billion on science and technology with research and development accounting for about 10 per cent of this amount," said Mr. Patterson who is also NCST chairman. "Most successful countries have set a target for research and development spending somewhere in the order of oneper cent. We are nowhere near there. Jamaica must not only speed up to reach this target but we also need to make better use of the funds that are invested."
Pointing to the objectives of the NCST which include identifying and filling the gaps in Jamaica's knowledge, production and social systems, Mr. Patterson said: "Our biotechnological competence has been identified as an area which is in need of improvement to address the importance of these technologies in global economy and trade."
He noted that the nation was grateful to the Organisation of American States for its support in improving the biotechnological capacity in agriculture and food production.
The Prime Minister also announced that legislation was being drafted to protect the island from the possible harmful effects of international gene flows and other invasive species which may harm one' shealth and the environment.
The NCST was created by the Prime Minister a decade ago during his first year as head of the Government.
Thursday's function was also attended by Minister of Techno-logy, Phillip Paulwell, and Robert Levy, chairman of the National Foundation for Development of Science and Technology.
