Kingston, October 19, 2023

The Planning Institute of Jamaica returns with its public policy consultative tool, the Dialogue for Development Series and Lecture, on November 1 and 2, 2023 as a hybrid event that is open to the public. The series has influenced policy initiatives since 2001, as it provides the government with a direct line to the public’s perception on national development initiatives.

The Dialogue for Development Series was first held in 2001, with a ground-breaking lecture by then Director General, Dr Wesley Hughes, “Jamaica: from Creative Adaptation to Sustainable Transformation,” based on the findings of the first Human Development Report for Jamaica. The lectures are not confined to the lecture hall, but are published, thereby making them widely accessible. The following years saw the series expand its horizons in a number of areas including: education and gender, sustainable rural development, entrepreneurship, globalization, rural development and tourism, and tax reform.

The theme of the 2023 dialogue series, “Beyond 60: Evolving, Innovating, Inspiring,” pays tribute to development accomplishments over the years and compels participants to provide opportunities for future generations. This year’s lecture, will be delivered by Stanford University Fellow and dean emeritus of New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Dr Peter Blair Henry.

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica, Dr Wayne Henry, highly anticipates the lecture, as Dr Peter Henry’s area of specialty is global economic policy. He noted that, “We specially selected our speaker to elaborate on Jamaica’s development journey, particularly the remarkable Economic Reform Programme which has demonstrated the importance of fiscal responsibility in the quest to achieve sustainable development.”

On November 1, the day before the lecture, there will be two panel discussions. For the morning session, the theme, “Sustainable Economic Development: Policy Imperatives for a Better Future” will be discussed by Director, UWI Centre for Marine Science, Professor Dale Webber; Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr Heather Ricketts; and Deputy Dean of the Department of Economics, Dr Christine Clarke.

The afternoon session will be themed “Transforming Health, Education and our Society Through Technology for a Better Future”, with CEO 876 Technology Solutions, Mr Trevor Forrest; CEO of EduFocal, Mr Gordon Swaby; and Directors of HYC Medical, Dr Adrian F.D. Coore and Dr Garrett-Dijan Fairclough.

Senior Director of Corporate Marketing and Communication at the PIOJ, Mrs Marcia Blake-Hall says the series is another platform for Jamaicans to interrogate the policies that will later impact them.

She said, “The PIOJ allows policymaking and development to be participatory and we invite all Jamaicans to join us online, engage with the experts, share your insights, and become a driving force for change. The public can participate through the online platform and submit questions and comments directly to the speakers.”

The online platform will also feature a digital auditorium with some 20 booths that operate in the development sector, including Vision 2030 Jamaica, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Registration is open. 

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