Howard Reid is a member of the academic staff in the Department of Government, UWI Mona. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with minors in both Management Studies and Criminology from the University of the West Indies. Immediately after completing his first degree, he went on to pursue and complete his Master of Science in Government with a specialization in International Public and Development Management (IPDM).

Verlene Hall-Smith is a part time MPhil/PhD student at the University of the West Indies.  She is currently employed as a Senior Research Officer at the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.  She is also a certified Assessor working as a part-time Educational Assessor at the Vocational Training Development Institute. Her research area of interest is Injustice in the workplace, with a focus on Exploring into the Existence and outcome of Workplace Discrimination in the Jamaica Public Sector.



Mrs Hall-Smith holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Leicester, Post Graduate Diploma in Education and Training, an Associate Degree in Assessment (Level 4) from the Vocational Training Development Institute (VTDI), and a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) from the University of the West Indies.

Glenville McLeod is an assistant lecturer in the Department of Government, UWI Mona Campus. He was born in Port Antonio, Portland but he later moved to St. Mary in the late 1990s. He attended the St Mary High School and entered the University of the West Indies in 2008. He graduated in 2011 with a BSc (Hons) in International Relations with a minor in Public Sector Management. After finishing his first degree he immediately went on to pursue his Masters in Government with a specialization in International Relations which he completed in 2013. 
His MSc research paper focused on ‘Jamaica’s adaptability to a Green Economy’ where he highlighted land conservation, electrical consumption and reduction in pollution as possible areas in which a transition to a Green Economy should begin in Jamaica. 

For his work in the aforementioned area, he received the departmental award for best research of 2013. While undertaking his Masters he was a graduate assistant in the department of government. This further facilitated his growth in academia and led to the attainment of his current position in the department.
His love and enthusiasm for research in the areas of climate change, sustainable development and the Green Economy sees him currently enrolled in the Masters of Philosophy programme in the Department of Government. Outside of his research focus, his other areas of academic interests include the global political economy and International Law.  Somewhat distant of academia, Glenville enjoys travelling, photography, music production, volunteering, and sports. 

Abstract

Towards a Green Economy: Exploring the feasibility of the Green as the catalyst for Sustainable Development in Jamaica’s tourism sector.
Jamaica, like many other Caribbean countries is susceptible to the effects of climate change. This susceptibility has increased over the years, evident in disastrous hurricanes and changes in rainfall patterns. Much of this is due to the fact that during the last two decades much capital was poured into property, fossil fuels and structured financial assets. However, in comparison relatively little was invested in renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture and ecosystem and biodiversity protection. The faults with such thinking were highlighted in 2008 with the global economic recession, importantly though, it provided an avenue for us to see the way forward. As a response to the multiple global crises the green economy is deemed as the change to combat the aforementioned problems, but it also represents an approach to development that would reduce Jamaica’s vulnerabilities. As such, this research explores the feasibility of the green economy to not only reduce Jamaica’s vulnerabilities but to enhance the transition towards sustainable development within the tourism sector.

Elroy Anthony Perrin is part time M.Phil./Ph.D. student and a Senior Procurement Specialist at eGov Jamaica Limited.

His research interest is in Public Procurement Reform. For his thesis Elroy is currently conducting a research project on the “Evolution of Public Procurement Reform in the Caribbean” with a focus on Public Procurement Reform in Jamaica’s Public Sector Entities.

He holds a M.Sc. in International Public and Development Management (IPDM) and a B.Sc. in Public Sector Management, with a minor in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies, Mona. He also had Post Graduate Diploma Training at the Vocational Training Development Institute (VTDI) in Education and Training, specialised in Business.

Nigel Christopher Wright is PhD student the University of the West Indies.  His Mphil/PhD research investigates citizens’ adherence to building regulations in deep-rural constituencies with focus on local governance and national physical infrastructure initiatives for sustainable development. 

He holds a master’s degree in International Public and Development Management at the University of the West Indies and has expertise in military intelligence and security.

He served as the president of the Luna, Mount Charles, Jobs Hill Benevolent society and is currently on the board of directors for the Luna Compassionate Association.

Miss Gleasia Reid, is a doctoral student in the Department of Government. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a Minor in International Relations and was the recipient of "Rupert Lewis Prize for Excellence in Caribbean Political Thought”. She is currently the MPhil/PhD Scholarship recipient and is a Graduate Student Envoy working together with the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. 

She is an adjunct tutor in the Department of Government and assists in research endeavors at the Hugh Lawson Shearer Labour Institute. She has written several journal articles and a book chapter on Election Forecasting. Her main research interests are in Political Forecasting, Social Media usage, Political Psychology, Political Philosophy, Caribbean Political Thought and African Politics.

The Hon Robert Montague is a proud son of St Mary with an outstanding record of service at the local, regional and international levels. 

His leadership qualities emerged as student at St Mary High School where he was active in student life and had the distinction of serving as President of the Key Club and Head Boy.

He was later to serve as Distinguished Lieutenant Governor of the Kiwanis Movement.

He continued his education at the College of Agriculture, now the College of Agriculture Science and Education, graduating as a trained agronomist.  As the island’s Chief Agro-Consultant for Bayer Company, he was able to help farmers across Jamaica improve their productivity and economic welfare.

Growing up in a farming community it was natural for his love of the land and the rich farming tradition of his native St Mary to become a banana farmer himself.  He has continued in his involvement with farming with interests in forestry and agro processing.

Minister Montague has been very active in public service and community development for all his adult life. 

He has been a champion for the cause of golden age homes and is passionately committed to strengthening local government and its role in improving the lives of citizens and communities.

His deep commitment to his community and the people of St Mary has led him into representational politics starting with serving as a councillor in the St Mary Parish Council, then Mayor and Chairman of the St Mary Parish Council and Member of Parliament for Western St Mary.

His experience at the local and constituency level prepared him for political service at the national level as the Chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party. 

He has provided leadership in Government as Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of National Security and currently as Minister of Transport and Mining.

At the regional and international levels he served as the Chairman of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Chairman of the Caribbean Forum of Local Government Ministers, and President of the Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities.

Minister Montague brings to the Transport and Mining portfolio a collaborative approach to leadership that is essential to building partnerships between the Ministry, its departments and agencies and the citizens of Jamaica. 

He is an action-oriented leader who is committed to working with his team to find practical and innovative ways to overcome the serious challenges and explore the unique opportunities that exist in the Transport and Mining sector to create a more prosperous Jamaica.