Fayval Williams, Jamaica’s science, energy and technology minister, says the government remains committed to empowering the nation’s youth through technology.
Williams said that as countries prepare for the global onset of the technology-driven fourth industrial revolution, “it is absolutely imperative that our youth are prepared and possess the skills needed to participate.”
“In a digital world filled with endless possibilities, opportunities which provide training, support and access in the area of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for our youth are significant and augur well for our transition to a digital and knowledge-based society,” she said.
Williams was speaking at the Huawei “Seeds for the Future 2019” internship program departure ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 22, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. Ten students will be embarking on a two-week internship at technology company, Huawei, in China from Sept. 4 -21
Williams reiterated that the government and its stakeholder partners are undertaking several initiatives intended to strengthen the ICT competencies of the nation’s young people. These include $200 million to be provided during the current fiscal year by the Universal Service Fund (USF), an agency of the Technology Ministry, to finance ICT projects.
Williams explained that this undertaking, being done in collaboration with ICT experts in the public and private sectors, “will provide funding for young entrepreneurs who seek to solve real life problems through technology”.
Additionally, she said, come September, 600 unattached youth will commence ICT training under the USF’s Technology Advancement Programme (TAP).
