BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (GIS) – The Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST) is “critical” to the efficiency of government, prime minister Mia Amor Mottley underscored after witnessing the brief swearing-in ceremony for the new minister of industry, innovation, science and technology, senator Jonathan Reid, at State House. He was sworn in by the president of Barbados, Her Excellency, Dame Sandra Mason.
Prime Minister Mottley told the media that people’s expectations had changed because of technology. When people’s expectations become too far from what was capable of being delivered, then they lose faith in the governance of the country and the systems of governance.
“One of the challenges, therefore, that we have had, is to be able to bring the country from an analogue environment into a digital environment. We have started the process. I’d like to see us move much quicker…. “But essentially, if we’re going to keep faith in democracy, then we have to keep faith with our citizens, whose expectations are being expanded, in some cases, beyond what we could ever hope for, and in some cases, where we can meet them. And this Ministry, therefore, … is intended to be able to bridge that gap and to ensure that we can digitise and innovate,” the prime minister stated.
In the areas of science and technology, prime minister Mottley noted that many young people were not performing above par, in relation to Mathematics and Science; and disclosed that the CARICOM heads of government recently agreed to the establishment of an Educational Transformation Commission, with the hope that there would be greater improvement in these areas.
Mottley continued: “Industry is another key component to this ministry…. If you look around Barbados, you basically see the same industrial infrastructure that we inherited over the course of the last few decades…. We’ve gotten to the stage now where we have to renew and energise that industrial infrastructure.”
Senator Reid described his ministry as one of “incredible opportunities”.
“It is a ministry of collaboration, where it can sow the seeds for the work that the other ministries do. When we speak of digital transformation and technologies these are really backbones of a body…. So, I believe the Ministry is one that will be a great collaborator; one that will bring to the fore a lot of the amazing work that the other ministries and the cabinet are doing…. “So, I think being fully collaborative and really understanding the power of technology to be able to drive efficiency gains [and] allow people to do things that they couldn’t do before is a powerful tool that we must embrace. I think we have an amazing opportunity, despite the difficulties, if we can rally together and drive to see a transformative Barbados….”
Senator Reid served as an advisor to prime minister Mottley during government’s first term, and then chief of staff from 2022. He was educated at Christ Church Foundation School, the Barbados Community College, and The University of the West Indies.
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