The highly anticipated Engineers Week 2024 was officially launched at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Monday under the theme “Engineering: Preserving a Legacy, Embracing Sustainability, and Driving Technology.”

The week-long celebration will focus on engineers’ vital role in shaping Jamaica’s infrastructure, driving sustainable practices, and leveraging technology to create lasting legacies for future generations.

President of the Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE), Oneil Josephs, delivered the opening greetings, highlighting the critical need for Jamaica to boost its engineering capacity to achieve developed country status. Josephs emphasized, “One standard for Jamaica in its quest to become a developed country is to graduate approximately 9,000 engineers per year over the next five years. In previous public engagements, I made mention of the pipeline of supply of engineers in the country. We are talking about schools with physics and chemistry labs, technical workshops, and science, mathematics, and technology teachers at all levels of our system of education.”

Josephs further explained the immense capital investment required to support this goal, especially at the university level. “You are looking at a significant need for capital investment—in sophisticated equipment, computers, software, specialized buildings, and innovative spaces.

On the people side, you need highly qualified and properly compensated human resources in engineering, which is an extremely scarce resource,” he said.

He also underscored the importance of collaboration, adding, “We have to bring together members of the business community, private sector interests, philanthropists, and perhaps government to catalyze the establishment of Engineering Tech Start-ups and to strengthen the capacity of existing engineering firms. The JIE recognizes and takes seriously its role in national development.”

The keynote address was delivered by Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, who emphasized the unprecedented level of public investment in Jamaica’s infrastructure and the essential role of engineers in these efforts.

“The physical road infrastructure has changed. Jamaica is entering a period of the largest and most sustained public investment in its history. The projected Central Government Capital Expenditure for the next 5 years is over 500 billion dollars JMD. Through public and private partnerships, investments have been made for the development of highways, local roads including community and farm roads, as well as public parks, rural water supply and utilities, markets, schools, sewage facilities, irrigation, houses, police stations, and tax offices. Stadiums, courthouses, entertainment zones, sporting facilities, and more are also part of this infrastructure growth. At every step of the way, engineers are involved,” Minister Hill stated.

He further added that the Jamaican government is committed to creating a conducive environment for engineering professionals, recognizing the crucial role they play in the nation’s economic and infrastructural development.

Engineers Week 2024 will feature a series of events including technical seminars, exhibitions, and workshops focusing on sustainability, the impact of engineering on climate change, and the integration of smart technologies.

The week is expected to draw participation from a wide cross-section of professionals in the field, students, and government officials, all aiming to strengthen the engineering sector’s contribution to national development.