Relevance of technology in a developing country like Jamaica

[Willi]

AAhhh, yuh get it now grasshoppah. LoL

[Karl]

Jamaica's economic development in the long-run will, in my opinion, be greatly tied to her agricultural development. The sooner we come to that reality, will be the faster we get on the road to true, sustainable growth, and development. The haberdashers, the liquor importers, and the government don't seem to understand that fact. Grow food for local consumption and export and we have a win win situation. The question is, why would anyone want to invest in agriculture, when he stands the chance of losing 300 heads of livestock in one night?. Not very encouraging, but this is where technology and it's relevance to our local situation might be applicable.

I recall reading about the roll-out, with much fanfare, of a GPS navigation system in Jamaica, with the mapping done by the Geography or geology dept of the UWI. Do we really need(not want) that in Jamaica, or would the energy and resources be better spent in developing a trackable, implatable device for livestock, so that suffering farmers across the island can recover stolen animals, and thieves can be brought to book?. Isn't it the same basic technology, only that it might be more relevant to our overall development and a less of a conversation piece on the numerous, useless cocktail circuits
uptown?.

Generally speaking - Why do we always want a 'dis or dat' solution. Can we not have both 'dis' and 'dat'?!

Surely it must always be some working on 'dis' and some on 'dat'?
...hey we do not live using our hearts and disregarding other organs or even other seemingly less than vital part of the body! So it is with our various 'workers'...we need all of them! ...we need each and every one!

[Reggaedoc]

Generally speaking - Why do we always want a 'dis or dat' solution. Can we not have both 'dis' and 'dat'?!

Surely it must always be some working on 'dis' and some on 'dat'?
...hey we do not live using our hearts and disregarding other organs or even other seemingly less than vital part of the body! So it is with our various 'workers'...we need all of them! ...we need each and every one!

In a tight economy in a poor country, we might not be able to afford everything, and things that add limited value to economic growth and development should give way to more important economic contributors. Our priorities and choices do matter.