You Can Make A Difference
You Can Make A Difference
You Can Make A Difference
You Can Make A Difference
You Can Make A Difference
You Can Make A Difference
Malaka Parker
As we begin this new decade, our ideas and concepts of developing our tiny micro-state must undergo hurried transition. Development is an action word! One in which when thought, ideas, creativity and innovation, and planning for the strategic use of scarce resources like finance, human capital, and natural resources are absent, often is substituted for political tribalism which results in the unequitable distribution of wealth. The results inevitably breed contempt among and within society, and feeds other divisions which both serve primarily as useful distractions. Sustainability is also a critically important element in the development of any country yet is often missing from our local political and macroeconomic discourse, as government continues to champion a development model of “project “by project” economic growth. This model requires the continual outsourcing of our own development to foreign investors, to lending agencies and to countries like China on which we rely for giveaways, technology and labour. How can we truly build this nation without investing in and creating a nation of builders? Simply, and quite frankly, we can’t!
Though my assessment is unscientific, it has often been said that Antigua and Barbuda has more lawyers per capita than any other Caribbean country! During the recent global economic downturn, the lamentation seemed to indicate that there may be an over saturation of tradesmen, carpenters and contractors. It is therefore true that there is some relativity inherent in any national skill needs assessment particularly when there is no development plan and our economy remains so open to exogenous shocks. Meaningful sustainable national development demands a purposeful education system to produce a critical mass of “builders”. This article does not discuss our education architecture, as that is for another day. Instead, it submits plainly that we cannot and will not find the shortest and most successful path to developing our country without producing our own nation of builders. In essence, we need to become an engineering powerhouse!
Engineering, although not directly one of the three components of sustainability (economic, social and environmental sustainability), is however indirectly linked to each one. Engineers plan, design and create the physical structures in which members of society live, work and play and make an indispensable contribution to the shaping of a functional and progressive public service network which, in turn, provides a diverse range of public services activities to include electricity, public housing, transportation infrastructure and waste management. The delivery of these key functions of government must never be used as election fodder and when the people accept the universal truth that politicians do not make ‘the world go round’ then enlightened possibilities are immense.
We are often reminded that more than 80% of the nation’s wealth is owned by less than 20% of our population yet we are told that our rate of poverty is shrinking. While we may quibble on either side of the numbers, we can all agree that poverty is much more than lack of wealth in monetary terms. It includes the denial of various choices and opportunities basic to human development which facilitates the ability to lead a long, creative and healthy life, to acquire knowledge, to have access to services, to claim dignity, self-respect and respect for others, and to have access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living. Hence, achieving zero poverty means delivering good quality infrastructure and services in order to create inclusive economic growth, improving livelihoods and diminishing the effects of climate change. It is uncontroverted that poverty reduction is connected to engineering intervention in which basic infrastructure is a precondition to economic and social development.
The quality of life within communities is enhanced through building and maintaining of infrastructure facilities, such as water supply, schools, hospitals, community centers, parks, sporting facilities etc. For example, to develop and sustain the socio-economic situation of farmers and foster a food and nutritionally secure Antigua and Barbuda, it is necessary to implement irrigation systems, properly networked roads, and strong transportation links to include a functional and efficient port to facilitate national and international trade.
As we witness joblessness among the youth, the increase in seasonal work in the tourism sector, and the increase in importation of labour in technical fields, it is time for us to speak of sustained poverty eradication. This can only be achieved through strong, inclusive, sustainable and resilient economic and industrial growth. No, I do not think the CIP can deliver this for us! We must focus on building a more dynamic and diverse human resource sector and begin to think in a circular fashion, making the important link between a country’s engineering capacity and its economic development.
This is because engineers are ubiquitous throughout real economic activity and can be found in almost every field and industry required to drive, develop and underpin a sound economic landscape. This includes manufacturing, healthcare, construction, tourism, the high-tech industrial sectors (chemical, pharmaceutical, electronics, and ICT). Engineers can also have an impact on many non-communicable diseases or risk factors such as obesity and physical inactivity by providing mobility options to communities when accessing services or infrastructures by, for example, providing apposite path for walking or biking. Connected to the viability is the necessity of improving road safety, especially since the number one cause of death for persons between 15-29 years is road accidents. Engineers can improve the shape of road network for road injury prevention, which includes planning lanes for facilitating overtaking and turning, safety lanes, median barriers to prevent overtaking and eliminate head-on crashes, road lightning, etc.
It is engineers who make possible the thrust of the agenda of safeguarding the environment by delivering products and helping to shape and enforce policy which ensure environmentally sustainable growth. This is achieved by utilizing cleaner industrial technologies and production methods and by shifting from control of nature to participation with nature; an awareness of ecosystems, ecosystems services, and the preservation and restoration of natural capital; and the development of a new mindset. Additionally, their expertise in the designs and treatments for climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience can determine our country’s ability to withstand climate change effects and rebound from natural disasters quickly thus averting spiraling economic downturn due to climatic events.
I do not intend to discount all other professions but IF we are to dream of modernizing and a truly developing Antigua and Barbuda, there is need to undertake and invest in proper infrastructure upgrades and retrofitting existing and new industries to be efficient in use of energy and natural resources. We are neither too small nor financially unable to begin the process of incorporating clean technologies into construction plans, rather than continuing to operate in a “business-as-usual” manner that is unsustainable and resource intensive. There are already a few examples of schools without classrooms or internal walls to incentivize students’ active role in their education. Moreover, schools can be designed in a sustainable way by, for example, self-producing electricity through solar panels.
I must punctuate this by stating that even if we produced a critical mass of engineers, without the right people wielding the right policy prescriptions, development is not guaranteed. Sustained economic growth requires the structural transformation of the economy to activities with higher levels of productivity, a process that is extremely complex and largely dependent on factors external to the field. A lot depends on government’s ability and commitment to providing the policy and regulatory frameworks, the finance and resources required for infrastructure projects, the environment to facilitate improved capacity for technological transfer and the cultivation of a favourable business environment. To date, we cannot say that the current administration has delivered well in these areas.
