This country’s Minister of Telecommunications, Dr. Jerrol Thompson, has been elected Vice President of the OAS Inter-American Committee on Science and Technology (COMCYT).{{more}}

He is expected to serve a two-year term.

Thompson’s election to the prestigious body was done in Washington, United States at the Third Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation on Wednesday and Thursday of last week.

Thompson and Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made the announcement of his appointment at a press conference on Monday, September 13.

He said prior to his election, no Caribbean country had been elected to this body.

“The lack of participation I would say, would have also resounded in our Caribbean countries not being able to derive many of the benefits that can be derived from this body,” said Thompson.

The Telecommunications Minister said that a Panamanian heads the committee, while this country was nominated by Trinidad and Tobago and seconded by Argentina.

“I am truly honoured, and I think St.Vincent and the Grenadines certainly is being recognized that in this hemisphere, being small doesn’t mean that you cannot take on leadership, you cannot take on challenges,” said Thompson, adding that the Committee will ensure that the Caribbean is a lot more engaged in hemispheric affairs relating to Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation.

Prime Minister Gonsalves described Thompson as “one of the brightest men, not just in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but in the Caribbean.”

“They have elected him on the basis of his knowledge and scholarship in this area, but more importantly on the tremendous work that St.Vincent and the Grenadines under his leadership has done in relation to Information Communication Technology in the area of elaborating a relevant and modern energy policy,” said Gonsalves.

The Prime Minister also expressed thanks to Thompson for his selflessness in his medical profession.

Thompson does one free clinic in his constituency of North Leeward each week.(HN)