Caribbean News

More Calls for Females to Pursue Careers in Science and Technology

Published

6 years ago

March 15, 2018

#Jamaica, March 15, 2018 – Kingston – Chief Policy Analyst in the Office of the Cabinet, Coleen White, is calling for more females to pursue studies and careers in the fields of science and technology, which, she noted, continue to be dominated by men. Her call follows a recent appeal from Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, for greater female representation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Ms. White, in her address at a function hosted by the Gender Committee for the Offices of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet at Jamaica House on Friday (March 9), pointed out that, traditionally, women and girls have been under-represented in those fields.

“I think there is evidence to suggest that there are opportunities to improve women’s participation in these areas,” she said.

The function was held as part of the body’s awareness-raising activities on gender issues and in recognition of International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 under the local theme ‘Empowering Women and Girls in Science, Technology and Business’.

Ms. White said the event also sought to acknowledge and celebrate women, who are currently in the fields and present opportunities “so others may be motivated to pursue careers in these areas”.

Quoting statistics from a study done by the United Nations (UN) in 14 countries, she noted that the probability of female students graduating with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate in a science-related field are 18 per cent, eight per cent and two per cent respectively; compared to 37 per cent, 18 per cent and six per cent for male students.

Locally, the number of females enrolled in engineering at the University of the West Indies (UWI) stood at 10 per cent in 2015/16, while 18 per cent were enrolled at the University of Technology (UTech) for the same period.

During the event, female students from the Mona School of Engineering, UWI, demonstrated their skills in electronics, agriculture, and civil engineering.

Teams made interesting presentations on projects they are undertaking, including the development of technology and geotechnical solutions for soil problems; a flood-risk assessment of 138 Student Living Phase 2 at UWI; designing a transportation hub for the UWI Irvine entrance; and a robot demonstration.

Students from Jamaica College also participated in a debate on the moot ‘Be it resolved that the low level of representation of females in the fields of science and technology is a result of self-exclusion and not social or institutional barriers’.

The debate sparked robust discussion from audience members, which included students from Holy Childhood and Mona high schools.

Release: JIS

Caribbean News

Nearly 250,000 meals delivered to displaced Haitians by World Food Programme, UN reports

Published

4 mins ago

April 19, 2024

Shanieka

Garfield Ekon
Staff Writer

Close to 90,000 people displaced across 87 sites in the Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, are in desperate needs, according to the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

It said more than half of those displaced are women, and a third of them are children, and as the rainy season underway in Haiti, the risk of flooding is another threat to displaced people and those in the most disadvantaged areas. Despite the challenges, the humanitarian response continues.

Yesterday, the World Food Programme (WFP) delivered more than 14,000 hot meals to displaced people in the capital area, as well as 226,000 school lunches across the country.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme, through logistics partners and the UN Humanitarian Response Depot has facilitated air transport of humanitarian supplies into the country, through Cap-Haïtien, in northern Haiti.

The operation began last Friday, with supplies from the Pan American Health Organization/WHO in Panama, as well as the International Organization for Migration.

Chaos engulfing the country has been bubbling for more than a year, as Haiti’s ability to govern itself continues to grow, particularly after a series of natural disasters and an increasingly dire humanitarian emergency.

Ongoing conflicts and natural disasters have displaced approximately 362,000 people within the country, pushed Haiti’s health system to the brink of collapse, forced the closure of three major hospitals, while armed attacks and shortages of medicine and staff have led to scaling back or the shutdown of many health centers.

Caribbean News

Work Continues for Implementation of Free Movement of Caricom Nationals

Published

11 mins ago

April 19, 2024

Shanieka

KINGSTON, April 17 (JIS):

Work continues towards the implementation of the free movement of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals in Member countries.

During the 45th regular meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government, the leaders agreed to amend the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas by March 31, 2024, to guarantee all CARICOM nationals the right to unrestricted travel to live and work in the Member countries of the Community. The free movement applies to member states that are also part of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

The new agreement will, among other things, move beyond the free movement of skills to freedom of movement of people.

Providing an update at today’s (April 17) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to the principle of full free movement, noting that a significant amount of technical work continues, to achieve the goal.

“I had signalled that it had always been Jamaica’s assessment that there was a significant amount of technical work that would have to be done in order to achieve this goal. So, while I reaffirm Jamaica’s commitment to the principle of full free movement, we have always said this is the best way for all CARICOM nationals to experience and believe in the region, the fact is, there is still a lot of work to do, and that has been recognised. There is an intergovernmental task force (IGTF); Jamaica is a part of that,” she said.

“We’re working through matters like the definitions of healthcare at the emergency level and at the primary level, which means different things in different countries and has implications for not only capacity but for cost… . Similarly for education, we’ve been working on this as well because access to primary and secondary education would be a part of what is considered, and of course, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and Ministry of Finance we engage with very closely because… there would be the right to work,” she said.

Senator Johnson Smith informed that further updates will be provided prior to, or during the next full regular meeting of Heads, which will be held in July in Grenada.

“So, there will be a transitional period, but work does continue towards the next full regular meeting of Heads… where we will, undoubtedly, have a significant update if we don’t have one before then. But the IGTF continues to work and Jamaica continues to work as well,” she said.

CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON

Caribbean News

Paid internship opportunity in Energy Data Collection, Application DEADLINE is April 19

Published

9 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

April 19, 2024 – The Caribbean Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) in cooperation with the Energy and Utilities Department (EUD), Ministry of Public Safety and Utilities (MPSU), is looking for a motivated intern to work in close collaboration with regional and national institutions to survey and collect energy-related data that will be used to create the Energy Report Cards (ERCs) for the Turks and Caicos Islands. A stipend for the intern will be provided by CCREEE.

The intern will be based at the EUD/MPSU. The internship program will provide students and/or young professionals with a unique opportunity to work with the energy sector institutions and stakeholders in TCI, gain practical experience in the energy sector, and contribute to the knowledge management functions of the Regional Energy Information System within the CARICOM Energy Knowledge Hub (CEKH).

SCOPE OF WORK

The CCREEE in collaboration with the EUD/MPSU will collect specified data and information that will be used to develop the TCI Energy Report Cards which will be made accessible through the CARICOM Energy Knowledge Hub (CEKH). The hub may be accessed by registering at https://cekh.ccreee.org. The Energy Report Cards will also offer important support to the CCREEE work program, including support for energy planning and the development of sustainable energy projects.

DESIRED PROFILE

Bachelor’s degree or on course for completion of one by December 2024.
Interest in the energy sector and willingness to learn about the socio-economic, technical and environmental aspects of the energy landscape; studies in sustainable energy, environmental sciences or related fields are an asset but not a National or resident of one of the relevant countries.
Proficiency in English.

INTERNSHIP TIMEFRAME

The internship will run for a period of eight (8) weeks from May 27 to July 19, 2024.

APPLICATION

The intern applicant should send their application (motivation letter and CV) on or before April 19, 2024 to recruitment@ccreee.org and copy eud@gov.tc.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.