11 April – June 2022 | VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica The current state of the moral and social ethics of Jamaica, and its impact on Jamaica’s present and future development, were the main focus of the 9th UTech, Jamaica/JMMB Joan Duncan Memorial Lecture, which was broadcast live on TVJ on Sunday, May 15, 2022. The annual Joan Duncan Memorial Lecture, is hosted by the University of Technology, Jamaica’s Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership (JDSEEL), in partnership with the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation. The memorial lecture honors the vision, mission and passion of the late corporate leader and JMMB co-founder, Joan Duncan. Themed “A Suh De Ting Set”: The Urgent Need to Bring Back Moral and Social Ethics to our Public and Private Priorities, the lecture featured panelists Professor Paul Golding, Professor of Management and Information Systems, UTech, Jamaica; Mrs. Donna Duncan-Scott, Chief Culture and Human Development Officer, JMMB Group; Reverend Dr. Devon Dick, Pastor, Boulevard Baptist Church and Mr. Karl Graham, Senior Research Officer, Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP), who tackled the theme from their respective perspectives and experiences, with moderator Mr. Prince Graham-Haynes, Lecturer, Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership (JDSEEL), College of Business and Management (COBAM). In his welcome, Acting President, UTech, Jamaica, Professor Colin Gyles noted that the longstanding relationship with the JMMB Group dates back twenty-two years, when the Joan Duncan Chair in Research and Finance was established at the University. He noted that in 2011 the School of Entrepreneurship at the University was renamed the Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership, and is the first business entrepreneur incubator of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean. Mrs. Donna Duncan-Scott expressed that the lecture provides the opportunity to remember her mother’s leadership and contribution to society. Addressing questions posed by the moderator, the panelists weighed in on the problem of the pervasive mindset or way of thinking in our society, which accepts unethical practices as part of a normalized culture of “A Suh De Ting Set”. Mrs. Duncan-Scott noted that the issue of doing what is right and what is wrong is not clear cut, when there is a culture of corruption. Giving the example of purchasing drivers’ licenses, instead of sitting and passing the examination, Mrs. Duncan-Scott pointed out that people, particularly young people, are more likely to go the illegal route, than contending with the rigours of the driving examination, in which the examiner “fails you for every little thing.” She also emphasized that the conversation about doing what is right needs to be an ongoing one. Professor Golding, who has led research into areas of societal concerns, indicated that data shows that 80 per cent of Jamaicans believe that corruption is entrenched in society. He also noted that research showed that central Government in Jamaica, was perceived as the most corrupt entity, with the media being viewed as the entity that is least corrupt. In light of this, Professor Golding recommended that the perception of leadership, particularly those in politics should be reset, with “a fiduciary relationship being established between the leadership and the people,” where greater accountability and consequences for unethical and immoral action are enforced. Rev. Dr. Dick, emphasized that if “we are asking ourselves the question, if is ‘so de ting set’, how will we analyse it and how will we reset it?” In responding, Rev. Dr. Dick argued that for a values-and-attitudes campaign to work best, it has to have a wide buy-in among the private sector, civil society, church and political parties. Mr. Graham offering his perspective, indicated “when you hear a Jamaican say ‘so de ting set’, the inference is as though there is a bit of hopelessness, that it is set in this particular paradigm, that it is set in this way, and that it is unchangeable.” He suggested “what we really want to do is to change that mindset, so that we can now shift the focus.” Mr. Graham also pointed to the work of the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP), which is engaging the public to improve governance in Jamaica and to increase the level of accountability in public institutions. The broadcast also featured a short documentary that underscored the contributions of pioneer money market broker Mrs. Joan Duncan, co-founder of JMMB Group, who through her own life’s example sought to establish “love and honesty” at the heart of social, professional and financial relationships. 9th UTech, Jamaica/JMMB Joan Duncan Memorial Lecture Examines Moral and Social Ethics in Jamaica (From l-r) Reverend Dr. Devon Dick, Pastor, Boulevard Baptist Church, Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, University of Technology, Jamaica, Mrs. Donna Duncan-Scott, Chief Culture and Human Development Officer, JMMB Group, Professor Paul Golding, Professor of Management and Information Systems, UTech, Jamaica, Mr. Prince Graham-Haynes, Lecturer, Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership (JDSEEL), College of Business and Management (COBAM), UTech, Jamaica and Mr. Karl Graham, Senior Research Officer, Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) display gifts presented by Mrs. Duncan-Scott at the 9th UTech, Jamaica/JMMB Joan Duncan Memorial Lecture, broadcast live on TVJ on Sunday, May 15, 2022.
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