ECONOMIST Dr Andre Haughton is anxious to take up his new role as Senator in the Upper House of Parliament.

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) announced yesterday that Haughton will replace Noel Sloley as Opposition senator. Sloley tendered his resignation recently.

The University of the West Indies lecturer-turned-PNP caretaker for St James West Central, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer yesterday, said he is aiming to advance Senate discussions when officially appointed.

“It feels great that the People’s National Party has given me the opportunity to participate in the Senate. I have been very vocal in economic discourse over the last seven to eight years. My responsibility now is really to be clinical and to bring accuracy to the discussions,” said Haughton.

He stated that the country is currently in an unfavourable position as it relates to productivity, which, he said, has been on the decline for several decades.

“Now is the time for us to reassess the industries that we have been putting attention or placing much emphasis on, to see how best we can re-strategise to achieve efficiency. We are moving into the fourth Industrial Revolution, where technology is playing an important role. As a result, it is my intention to see if we can develop a technology enhancement fund, similar to the Tourism Enhancement Fund, so that companies that use technology as a part of their production process can benefit and use this as a way of increasing labour productivity,” he said.

“Young people should now feel motivated and revitalised that the political process is embracing and endorsing us, and endorsing our ideas and now putting us in the position to really contribute to national policy and nation-building. The country stands to benefit from our appointment and I thank the People’s National Party for having confidence in me,” Haughton added.