VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica | May - August 2021 14 The morning session of the Conference also included presentations from Mr. Marlon Mahon, Senior Director, Occupational Health and Safety, MOLSS, Ms. Mikhail-Ann Urquhart, Senior Director, Research and Measurement, Jamaica Productivity Centre and Dr. Vanessa White-Barrow, Head, School of Allied Health and Wellness. The panel discussion featured Senator Kavan Gayle, Member of Parliament, Mr. David Wan, President, Jamaica Employers Federation, Mrs. Helene Davis-Whyte, Head, Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions and Mr. Ed Wallace, Occupational Health and Safety Consultant, who discussed the benefits of occupational health and safety to both employers and employees and emphasized safety as an investment, with greater yields in productivity and profit. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sport Productivity in Jamaica The keynote speaker of the afternoon session, Dr. Carl Bruce, Chief Medical Officer, University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in detailing the significant cost the pandemic has had on various industries in the country, specifically the health and sporting sector, noted that the wide availability of effective vaccines could mean that the disruption will soon be at an end. His presentation also included valuable information on the production, distribution, safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, and he advocated for public education programmes to sensitize public on vaccines and the need for exemptions to quarantines for fully vaccinated groups, including athletes. The afternoon session also included a panel discussion featuring sports industry experts; Mrs. Carole Beckford, President and CEO, The Business of Sports; Mr. Orville Byfield, Director of Sport, UTech, Jamaica, Mr. Michael Ricketts, President, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Mr. Christopher Samuda, President, Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), Mr. Ludlow Watt, Treasurer, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) who discussed the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sport in Jamaica, and highlighted sportsmen and women as employees and employers who are grappling with the loss of capital and productivity, with the assistance of various international and local sporting associations and organizations. The Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies (FELS) hosted its 4th International Conference on Education and The Humanities virtually from June 1- 3, 2021, under the theme “Revisioning, Retooling and Repositioning: Building Capacity in Developing Economics”. The Faculty’s biennial flagship conference has contributed significantly to research and development in the areas of education, social and natural sciences, and engineering and computing over the past eight years. The Conference opened with a panel discussion titled “Pivoting education: Charting the way forward in the new normal”. Conference Chair, Dr. Nola Hill-Berry, Lecturer, COHS, noted that “the current dynamic brings challenges for us as academics, health practitioners, clients, and all other stakeholders,” as well as for policy makers who are required to “identify appropriate and effective means of protecting the integrity of sensitive (health) information.” In this context, she noted that several of the Conference’s presentations would “explore the vulnerable nature of health data and how we navigate this COVID-19 era.” Dr. Nicole Cameron, Lecturer, FELS, and Conference Chair, in her introduction, indicated that the pandemic has highlighted such issues as climate change, national security threats, deepening inequities and government corruption as dangers to the viability of regional states, which emphasizes the need for “evidence-based research and solutions in crafting public policy.” The panel discussion “Pivoting Education: Charting the way forward in the new normal” comprised Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, UTech, Jamaica, Dr. Grace McLean, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI); Dr. Lorna Gow-Morrison, Principal, Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College; Dr. Harold McDermott, Vice Dean, FELS and Miss Robyn Murray, President, UTech, Jamaica Students’ Union, with moderator Professor Shermaine Barrett, Dean, FELS who posed thought-provoking questions to the panel on the opportunities and challenges inherent in the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Nicole Cameron Dr. Carl Bruce 4th International Conference on Education and The Humanities Cont’d from page 13...COBAM Hosts Virtual Conference on Workplace Safety, Wellness and Sport...
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