Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

Government's new national science policy lacks conviction, according to Professor Ishenkumba Kahwa, president of the Jamaican Society for Scientists and Technologists (JSST).

Speaking Tuesday at a JSST-organised workshop to discuss the document at Eden Gardens Wellness Centre in St. Andrew, Prof. Kahwa cited a fall in patents and science graduates as well as other indicators of scientific performance that the policy should address.

"Ladies and gentlemen, make no mistake about it, our outputs are well below what is possible," he told fellow scientists.

He said specific mention should have been made concerning funding, assigning respon-sibilities and implementation dates. He also wants the University of the West Indies, Mona, at which he is head of the Chemistry Department, to lead a national push for science and technology.

"We are not giving guidance to the country as to what we should achieve," he added. "They said the same in previous documents and if they just do the same we are not going to get anywhere."

But Merline Bardowell, executive director of the National Commission on Science and Technology, which oversaw the drafting of the policy, defended the document.

Mrs. Bardowell told The Gleaner there had been adequate consultation and that implementa-tion would follow.

"Policy does not usually involve detailed implementation until after the policy is approved and we have developed a detailed plan of implementation," she said.

The policy has been approved by the Cabinet subcommittee for human resources and is awaiting discussion by the full Cabinet.

ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com