Speech to be delivered by the Honourable Dr. David Estwick, Minister of Economic Affairs, Empowerment, Innovation, Trade Industry and Commerce at the 2009/2010 National Innovation Competition Awards Ceremony, Hilton Hotel, Needhams Point, St. Michael – April 10^th 

Mr. Chairman, in small developing states such as ours, where competition in all sectors is so fierce, there is the need to maximize our innovation capabilities.  In order to compete effectively globally, we must be very selective in our development priorities and select areas where consideration is given to the sustainability of these activities. In determining our selections, innovation and creativity must be encouraged; not only in the development of new products, processes and services, but also in their improvements.   

Economic advancement for all intents and purposes now hinges more and more on a country’s ability to produce goods and services at competitive prices as well as on its ability to formulate and develop new and or improved production technologies, processes and products.  

The key to our prosperity is increasing productivity, which is producing more with less. Productivity growth is the basis for rising real wages for workers, increasing returns to shareholders, and increasing per capita income for the country. The basis for increasing productivity is innovation. One way to compete and raise our standard of living is to find new and better ways to use natural, human and capital resources to increase productivity. That is, we must innovate.

Innovation is, literally, the act of making changes. It involves new ideas and new ways of doing things.  In short, the ability to adapt and commercialise the results of scientific and technological investigation is essential. In such a situation, it is imperative for countries like Barbados to pay greater attention to the provision of resources, human as well as financial, to give the required support to businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to facilitate the development of innovative business ideas into projects which have the potential to provide a reasonable level of return.  

Mr. Chairman, the supersonic pace of technological change and globalization present unique challenges for developing countries. I wish to suggest however that technological change should be seen as presenting opportunities.  

In this connection, I have to say that it is the duty of each country to develop its own blue print for development, having regards to its culture and its resource endowment. The question of the treatment of innovation should be addressed in this process. 

Our long term growth will not only require capital but an understanding of innovation. Innovation represents a series of processes that link creativity with application. It is the process by which ideas or intangible thoughts, discoveries, processes and products are created, developed and then taken to the market place.  

Focusing only on accumulating capital will not be sufficient to ensure long-term growth rates that can reduce poverty. Latin America as a region is an example where income and capital levels are relatively high, yet growth rates have been persistently low. Experts have suggested that this condition exists due to Latin America’s low levels of innovation.    

In contrast, Finland has transformed its economy from one dependent on natural resources to one at the top of the list of most indices of global competitiveness.  A large measure of Finland’s success has been attributed to its focus on creating and supporting innovation throughout its economy and society. 

What is needed is a system that facilitates and develops strategies for research and technology development and application in the public and private sectors as well as university. There is also the need to build the technical human resources for a knowledge society and to strengthen the technical support systems for quality information flows and new venture creation.  

It is important that as we seek to build our human resource capacity for innovation, we include the teaching of innovation throughout our education system. We must start at the primary level and continue through to tertiary. The school system must be seen an environment which nourishes and encourages creativity and innovative thinking. Innovation must become a way of life for our people.  

Even in our traditional sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing, we must find ways to innovate. In agriculture we must embrace new technologies and use these to improve the efficiency and productivity of our farms. Most of us are aware of climate change and the likely impact it will bring, droughts, floods and heavy rains. These conditions can have an adverse affect on the agricultural sector and hamper food production. As a result, farmers should be trained properly and provided with newer technologies and cropping patterns in order to cope. Clearly these responses will require innovative solutions.  

Our manufacturers will continue to face competition from abroad. Perhaps the only way in which they can survive is through innovation. They must find ways to create new products/ markets as well as innovative ways to serve these markets.  Like all Small Island Developing States, Barbados faces the challenge of mobilizing financial resources in the face of competing needs such as poverty alleviation and the preservation of the environment. Our finances are finite, however a way has to be found to finance and encourage innovative pursuits.  

The critical importance of innovation has not gone unnoticed by my administration, this is evident in the establishment of a ministry of innovation.  My government in its manifesto has signalled its intention to create a new and genuine production enterprise culture in Barbados. This will be marketed behind a holistic policy that will include inter alia:  Consolidation of the various venture capital windows in Barbados into one agency geared towards “incentivizing” production through providing real and targeted support to big and small businesses, which either have or come up with innovative ideas to push industrial engagement in Barbados.  

Offer appropriate tax credits to companies that pursue research and development of innovative projects targeted towards manufacturing or agro-processing activities.  In addition to the above my government continues to support and fund the National Innovation Competition, which was started in 2003. 

We have also maintained the Innovation Fund, which will be expanded to support activities in the area of research and development. In this harsh economic climate where private and public sector organisations will be faced with the reality of staff reductions the importance and urgency of innovation cannot be overlooked.  The harnessing of our innovative spirit and talents will allow our people to create their own opportunities and develop their own businesses.  

Ladies and Gentlemen Innovation flourishes in an environment of encouragement and patronage, atrophies in a climate of criticism and repression. Our government and society should combine their efforts to foster such an innovation-friendly environment. 

Sir Arthur Lewis in his book Theory of Economic Growth written in 1955 stated and I quote “new ideas will be accepted most rapidly in those societies where people are accustomed to a variety of opinion, or to change and are therefore pragmatic in their outlook”.

The main ingredients are political and religious variety and an environment which brings together people of various occupations and backgrounds.  

We must therefore promote openness, networking, learning and community spirit in tandem with a society that is supportive of innovation.  

ADDRESS BY THE HON. GEORGE HUTSON, MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT ON THE OCCASION OF CAREER SHOW CASE CIVIL AVIATION WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2009

Master of Ceremonies

Chief Technical Officer, Ms. Valerie Browne    

Chief Executive Officer (Ag.) of GAIA Inc., Mr. Joseph Johnson

Senior Staff of GAIA Inc.

Deputy Director of Civil Aviation, Mr. Mitchison Beckles

Students

Members of the Media

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Morning,

As the Minister responsible for International Transport, it gives me great pleasure to share these few remarks with you, on the occasion of the opening of this Career Show Case in Aviation.

Monday, December 7^th, was designated ‘International Civil Aviation Day' by the United Nations. The theme for that day was ‘Sixty Five Years of Empowering the Global Community through Aviation'.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) of which Barbados has been a member since 1967, is responsible for promoting and regulating the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation through the formulation of standards for aviation safety, security, efficiency and environmental protection.

Over the years, the Civil Aviation Department has worked diligently to set standards of excellence for which Barbados is known in the Caribbean and further afield.  This ethic fits well with the theme chosen for our week of celebration ‘Civil Aviation: A Pillar in the Barbados Economy‘.  This theme captures the exciting opportunities open to those contemplating careers in aviation. To reach their level of success, the Civil Aviation Department has had to overcome several challenges by dent of sheer professionalism; hard work, and dedication to duty. Consequently they must be congratulated for their contribution over the years to the building of our nation, Barbados. They certainly capture what our Prime Minister, The Honourable David Thompson, in his Independence Message to Barbadians, referred to as the ‘Spirit of Barbados'.  Their journey has been: "a vision of victory, of relentlessly struggling against the odds".

Ladies and Gentlemen.  For me, this career showcase should be the highlight of our week of activities since one of the primary reasons for celebrating civil aviation week, is to increase the awareness of our young people to career opportunities in aviation.

I am therefore heartened to see the keen interest shown by the number of young people present and this certainly augurs well for the future of aviation.  In this competitive world, in order to ensure that we sustain a high standard of service well beyond the immediate future, we have to invest heavily in our youth and provide the necessary training and opportunities for them, so that they too can feel justly proud in contributing to, and carrying forward the development of Barbados.

Ladies and Gentlemen.  This Career Showcase is designed to stimulate interest in the career opportunities available in the Aviation industry. More than twenty organizations are represented here today, to highlight possible employment opportunities in areas such as: air traffic controllers, pilots, flight attendants, engineers, mechanics, security inspectors, ramp operators, and safety oversight inspectors.

Since becoming responsible for International Transport, one of my areas of focus has been on stimulating the interest of young people in careers in the areas of civil aviation and shipping. As you know last September, my ministry highlighted the maritime sector. Today our focus is aviation.

As I said before, I am pleased to see so many students here this morning. Many of you are at the stage where you are not sure what type of career path you want to pursue. This is not a problem at this time but you are at an age where you need to start thinking about it, and positioning yourself in terms of the subjects that you do, or the type of  1^st degree that you select to do.

So when you tour the exhibits this morning, I want you to muse or reflect on the information presented. Ask several questions; do not be rushed; enquire of the qualifications needed for specific jobs; and how you can pursue those qualifications.

Many persons pursue degrees without pondering: ‘how is that degree going to propel them along a particular career path‘.

Government does offer financial assistance in some cases. For instance, the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development offers a National Development Scholarship in Aviation Management.

The Civil Aviation sector is a dynamic industry that provides rewarding, stimulating and long-term career prospects. As Minister with responsibility for civil aviation, I believe it is necessary to put a framework in place to ensure that persons desirous of finding employment in civil aviation are fully cognizant of the opportunities and training possibilities.  We intend to make this week's activity an annual celebration of civil aviation and to expose young people to the exciting careers available in the Civil Aviation industry.

The Ministry has for the last thirty (36) years had a training programme in place for the preparation of air traffic controllers, supervisors and security personnel through the Barbados Civil Aviation Training Centre, which is affiliated to the ICAO's TRAINAIR programme.  TRAINAIR is an ICAO Programme that was established with the goal of improving the safety and efficiency of air transport through the formulation, standardisation and maintenance of high standards of training for aviation personnel on a global basis.

In order to ensure the level of service offered in the industry is of the highest and most acceptable level, we have invested significantly in the training of our mechanics, flight attendants, safety oversight inspectors, aviation security personnel, meteorological officers and all the ancillary service providers.

I would like to thank all the agencies which have contributed so far to making this week a success and especially those organisations which have come today to participate in the Career Showcase.  I urge all of you who are here today to take the time to walk through the showcase and see the exciting career opportunities available.

I Thank You For Your Attention