JAMAICA | Daryl Vaz to Assume Chairmanship of Inter-American Committee of Science and Technology

WASHINGTON, DC,  April 5, 2022 - Jamaica’s Minister of Science and Technology, Daryl Vaz, is to assume the chairmanship of the  Inter-American Committee of Science and Technology (COMCYT) at the end of April for a period of three years.

The Inter-American Committee of Science and Technology (COMCYT) is designed to define and execute the Organization of American States (OAS) policy on scientific, technological and innovative partnership for development within the Latin American and Caribbean region.

“At the end of April, I will take over as chairman of the Committee of Science and Technology, and I Look Forward to working with all member states, to see how we can create a holistic plan to help member states going forward,” Minister Vaz said during a courtesy call on Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro, at the OAS headquarters in Washington DC on Monday April 4.

Minister Vaz accompanied by the Principal Director in the Ministry, Dr. Natwine Gardener and the Deputy permanent representative of Jamaica to the OAS, Mr. Deon Williams, met with the OAS Secretary General. They held discussions on OAS and Jamaica Collaboration on renewable energies, connectivity, and the Minister’s impending chairmanship of the  COMCYT. 

He also held meetings with officials of the United States Agency for International Development USAID, regarding assistance with technology and renewable energies for Jamaica,  of which USAID has been very helpful, he said.

He advised that one of the projects which has been slated for Jamaica, is a solar rooftop project which was successfully undertaken in Puerto Rico and which USAID is looking to implement in Jamaica.

The Science, Energy and Technology minister  also met with representatives of  Starlink in relation to smart cities expansion as well as satellite services across Jamaica which he said “was positioned to help us as we are coming out of COVID especially our schools”.

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX providing satellite Internet access coverage to 28 countries on Earth with ambition to extend coverage to the whole world. 2,335 Starlinks have been launched, with 2,110 still in orbit.

Minister Vaz expressed gratitude to Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the OAS Her Excellency Audrey Marks for arranging the numerous meetings which he said were very successful and will redound to Jamaica’s benefit.

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