February 16, 2021

The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, in partnership with Field Trip Health, has launched a new laboratory dedicated to the study of psilocybin, which aims to conduct research that will better offer medical treatments for persons in need. The facility, called the Field Trip Natural Products Lab, was launched at the Faculty of Science and Technology at UWI, Mona, on Tuesday (February 9). Field Trip is a Canadian-based company that focuses on the advancement of medical health science and psychedelic-assisted therapy. In his address at the ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said he is pleased to join UWI, Mona, and partners for the launch of the laboratory. “As far as we are aware, this lab is the first of its kind, not just in Jamaica but also in the world, so this is a historic moment for the advancement of science and scientific research in Jamaica,” Minister Vaz said. He said the launch of this lab comes at a time when the world is battling fierce and infectious diseases, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19). “I am pleased that this facility will employ Jamaican scientists, researchers, doctoral students and leading science experts to guide the research that will ultimately produce extracts that may be used for the treatment of mental health-related issues,” he said. “Under our Vision 2030 plan, a healthy and stable population is an important national outcome. Our vision is to create a country with a healthcare system that is well-equipped and fully staffed with highly trained individuals, thus increasing our abilities to fight infectious diseases,” he added. Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of the UWI, Professor Dale Webber, gave an overview of the partnership. “What we are marking and what we are opening is about research. It is first and foremost about basic scientific fundamental research, which is always necessary to underpin the pursuance of solutions to problems that we face as a society,” Professor Webber said. “In this particular case, if you stop to think of the numbers diagnosed with forms of mental illness each year, those numbers are staggering, and perhaps staggering even in a time like this which we are going through, a pandemic, which drives up the numbers of those diagnosed,” he added. He also noted that there has long been a recognition of the need for alternative treatment options to the drug Jamaica currently has, especially treatment options that rely on natural treatment substances. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Field Trip Health, Joseph del Moral, acknowledged the support from the Government of Jamaica for this initiative. “It is the visionary leadership of the Government that the important work we are doing here can advance. The groundbreaking work we are doing has the potential to ripple out and affect the lives and mental health of people around the world, so in fostering innovation, science and research, I’d like to specifically thank the Hon. Minister for Science and Technology, Daryl Vaz, and the Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton,” he said. He also thanked UWI, Mona, for partnering. “We’re fortunate to be able to partner with an institution that is well respected around the world to do this research,” he said.

Major construction work is in progress on the third phase of the Highway 2000 programme, which is the May Pen to Williamsfield leg. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on Thursday (January 11), Managing Director of the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC), Ivan Anderson, explained that this leg of the highway is a significant part of the road network. “This will see us reducing the travel time from Kingston to Williamsfield to about 40 minutes, once completed. This is a 28-kilometre section of roadway. It starts at the Rio Minho Bridge going all the way into Williamsfield,” he noted. The Managing Director added that at the beginning of the highway, at Rio Minho, the largest four-lane bridge in Jamaica is to be constructed. He pointed out that major construction activities are now taking place at the site, with approximately 134 persons working and 72 pieces of equipment currently in operation. “We expect those numbers to grow over the next few months up to about 400 people working on site, and that labour is primarily from the surrounding communities,” the Managing Director informed. Mr. Anderson also pointed out that materials for the construction are being taken from quarries in the vicinity of the highway. He indicated that a significant amount of work has been done by the NROCC team in preparation for the contractor to begin major construction. “There are about 183 parcels of land that we’ve already acquired for the construction of the roadway, including about 60 houses and structures. We have also relocated about 75 graves to cemeteries,” he said. “We’ve compensated maybe 80 farmers along the route and all of that has allowed us now to hand over the roadway. As at the end of December, we handed over the entire length of roadway to the contractor for him to proceed,” Mr. Andersosn said. The Managing Director said that the construction period is estimated to take three years (to include the design phase) from October 2019 to October 2022. He said that the first year was primarily the design phase and that once the designs were completed late last year, the necessary work was done to facilitate the start of major construction works this year. This, he noted, is expected to be completed in a little under two years. The May Pen to Williamsfield leg is being carried out under the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project. In the first phase of Highway 2000, approximately 50 km of highway was built along the legs from Kingston to May Pen, including the Portmore Causeway. In phase two, the North-South Highway from Caymanas to Ocho Rios was built, comprising another 67 km of roadway. To date, NROCC has overseen the construction of approximately 117 km of four-lane highway toll roads across Jamaica.

As the Government continues to diversify and transform the energy sector to include liquefied natural gas (LNG), The University of the West Indies, Mona has announced a milestone partnership with New Fortress Energy to introduce a cryogenics engineering course in the Faculty of Engineering. This course, said the UWI, is testament to the natural gas provider’s long-standing commitment to developing a sustainable future for Jamaica’s economy and society through LNG. Cryogenics engineering involves the design and development of systems and components which produce, maintain, or utilise low temperatures. Ever since the first liquefaction of air around the turn of the 20th century, the interest of engineers and scientists on cryogenics have significantly broadened. Some of the uses of cryogenic systems include the research and development around the cure of diseases, liquid fuels (hydrogen) for space flights and liquefied natural gas. The primary aim of the course, therefore, is to introduce students to the engineering aspects and challenges of cryogenics, with special emphasis on the design and analysis systems used to produce, maintain and utilise low temperatures, including liquid natural gas technologies and their applications. MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT Professor Dale Webber, pro-vice-chancellor and principal of the UWI, Mona, said the partnership is a milestone achievement for the university being the first to offer cryogenics engineering at the tertiary level in the Caribbean. “With LNG being the future of energy, this is no doubt a milestone achievement for the UWI Mona in being the first tertiary institution in the Caribbean to offer a cryogenics engineering course for BSc engineering students.” Webber added, “We have enjoyed a great partnership with NFE since their inception in Jamaica. In addition to scholarships and bursaries for more than 50 engineering students over the past three years, we have been able to upgrade our existing combined heat and power plant through an agreement with NFE to provide LNG for the plant. This has seen us reducing our energy cost by some J$52 million annually and improving our environmental footprint with a 16 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, while allowing us to become energy independent. We commend New Fortress Energy for its vision and commitment to Jamaica’s energy sector. Importantly, we applaud them for their unwavering commitment to building an energy sector that is fit for purpose and fit for the future, and we’re delighted to be part of this journey.” The curriculum is fully funded by New Fortress Energy, including all prescribed texts, lab equipment, simulation software tools and licenses plus laptops, which the natural gas company donated to the Faculty of Engineering to ensure that all cryogenics students can fully access their online classes. Students will also benefit from guest lectures by NFE experts, as well as summer internship programmes at the company’s LNG plants in St Catherine, Clarendon, and St James. “We are proud of the long-standing strategic partnership that we have shared with The University of the West Indies, Mona since our inception in Jamaica. For the LNG sector to be successful and sustainable, it is not enough to simply supply LNG to any market. Educating and upskilling the next generation of LNG engineering professionals play an integral role in this journey,” said Wes Edens, chairman and CEO of New Fortress Energy. He continues: “The introduction of this cryogenic course at the UWI also aligns with our long-term interest in creating and sustaining a cryogenic centre in Jamaica. The UWI plays a critical role in providing world-class education in Jamaica and the Caribbean, and we are delighted to expand our partnership with them to ensure Jamaica is well positioned to compete in the global LNG marketplace.”