Remarks by Denise E Antonio, UNDP Resident Representative

ACP-EU Development Minerals Progra mme

Launch of B.Sc. Mining and Quarry Management, UTECH

At

UTECH, Hope Road, Kingston

17^th September,2021

Greetings

• Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Robert Montague
• Head of Co-operation, Delegation of European Union, Senor Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz
• Assistant Secretary General, Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, Senor Escipion Oliveira
• Mr. Lacina Pakoun, Officer In Charge representing the Global Programme Manager, UNDP Brussels, Mrs. Uyanga Gankhuyag who just lost her mother and is unavoidably absent today.)
• Acting Deputy President, University of Technology, Dr. Haldane Johnson
• Commissioner of Mines, Mines and Geology Division, Mr Roy Nicholson
• President, Mining and Quarrying Association of Jamaica,, Mr. Anthony Morgan
• Dean, Faculty of the Built Environment, UTECH, Dr. Garfield Young
• Associate Professor, Faculty of the Built Environment, UTECH, Dr. Laurence Neufville
• Members of the public and private sectors, academia, civil society
• Colleagues and partners in development
• Students participating in this course
• Members of the Media
• Ladies and gentlemen

A Good day  to all.

I am delighted to participate in this launch of the Bachelor of Science Programme in Mining and Quarry Management, at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTECH). This course of study is one of the key outputs of the current Phase 2 of the Development Minerals Programme, an initiative led by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, financed by the EU and UNDP, and implemented in Jamaica by the UNDP.

Building on Phase 1 of the Development Minerals Programme, we continue to provide funding to select organisations, for the implementation of initiatives geared at improving the sector. This academic Programme being launched today is therefore one of the successes of this investment in which UTECH has benefited in 2018 and 2021. We commend the University and the Government of Jamaica, for this groundbreaking undergraduate degree programme. We are confident that the programme will strengthen national capacity to advance this industry and enrich the lives and livelihoods of the first cohort of 12 participants, currently enrolled to commence their studies.

Graduates of this programme will considerably strengthen the cohort of highly skilled professionals capable of leading the mining and quarry industry to fulfill its economic growth potential, while also ensuring we maintain our obligations to be stewards of the environment and the resources naturally gifted to Jamaica for the next generations. An adequate and sustainable supply of minerals and other raw materials is an essential component to economic growth and development globally. Jamaica’s significant deposits of these Development Minerals is the reason why the sector remains a key source of foreign exchange earnings for the Government of Jamaica. For example, according to data received from government, in 2019, the sector earned US$818million and employed more than 7,425 Jamaicans.

In recognition of the industry’s capacity to bolster economic performance and poverty reduction, UNDP and donor partners like the EU have provided unwavering support to Jamaica's extractive industries over the past 20 years.  In partnership with the OACPS, European Union, UNDP remains committed to continuing this rich legacy by supporting the Government with strengthening the policy, legal and institutional frameworks and ensuring that exploration and extraction operations are environmentally and socially sustainable.

Our current programme which commenced in 2019, continues to focus on improving the capacity of key public, private and community stakeholders within the sector. For example, the programme seeks to introduce cutting edge technology and innovative solutions to automate the current manual system and develop an online Mining Cadastre.  These initiatives will directly support the achievement of Jamaica’s national development priority of developing internationally competitive industries which is a key outcome of National Development Goal 3- “Jamaica’s Economy is Prosperous” of Vision 2030 Jamaica and is aligned to UNDP’s approach of inclusive growth and localization of the sustainable development goals.

We commend the Government, university and all other partners who continue to work to ensure the sustainable growth of the development minerals industry in Jamaica. We also thank the OACPS and the EU for its long-standing partnership with UNDP which has been productive and rewarding.  

We look forward to the success of this undergraduate degree programme and reaffirm our commitment to make Jamaica the place of choice to “live, work, raise families and of course, do business” ensuring no one is left behind.

Thank you.