Dear Editor,

Clovis’s cartoon in the Sunday Observer of last week depicting Jamaican scientist, Professor Henry Lowe, getting an award from the United States of America while a puzzled Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller looks at a long national honours list filled with political people as she wonders why no scientists are represented, left me in a state of deep thought.

I for one am impressed by Dr Lowe’s achievements in cancer research, his contribution to the sciences as well as academia, business, public service and so on. In fairness to the Prime Minister and her government, he was recognised with the conferment of the Order of Jamaica on National Heroes Day last year and to the best of my knowledge, holds a CD from before. Beyond that, Professor Terrence Forrester was also conferred with the Order of Jamaica for his work in medical research. Quite fitting, I think, for Jamaica 50.

In addition, the cartoon does raise a very true point: we must address with alacrity and review the number of annual national awards. I was in attendance at the honours ceremony last year and was shocked to see that 157 Jamaicans were being conferred with honours and awards.

Like many others, I spoke to several persons about the cartoon and each one had a different interpretation of it. My own view is that Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was amazed to see the number of political types and cronies being recommended for national awards, yet no scientists were included.

We have a lot of good people doing good things, but 157 honours and awards sounds a bit over the top to me. We need to adopt and improve on the quality and reduce the quantity.

Dr Jared Jackson

Atlanta, Georgia