Dear Editor,

Who says nothing good can come from St Thomas? Well, I certainly admired

Robert Lightbourne and was pleased to read about him in the article, “West St Thomas and Robert Lightbourne”, in the Observer of December 29, 2010.

Sometime ago I read a paper describing Mr Lightbourne as a “philosopher/industrialist” and I thought that description was remarkable. I agree with the idea that he has a “creative and innovative” mind, and if he had become prime minister of Jamaica after the death of Sir Donald Sangster, things may have turned out so differently that Michael Manley would have had a challenge to defeat him in 1972.

Given the nature of his contribution to this country and his characteristics of “creativity and innovativeness”, I am suggesting that the University of Technology name a department of engineering after this great Jamaican. I saw young men from St Thomas in the late 1960s who were sent abroad on scholarships on a sort of apprenticeship/engineering programme. It was the first time I witnessed young men from this parish going abroad on scholarships. Mr Lightbourne did well for St Thomas, especially West St Thomas where we are hoping that such “creative and innovative” leadership may emerge one day. The idea of building a cadre of engineers for this developing country was a profound vision that could have laid the foundation for a modern and industrialised Jamaica.

Trevor Williams

Albion

St Thomas