SHASTRI BOODAN
One Opposition Member of Parliament says more women are needed in the field of science, noting that this country is underserved when it comes to the field of mathematics, engineering and science.
The comments were made Mayaro MP Ruston Paray, at the graduation ceremony of the Rio Claro West Secondary School, on Wednesday 6 July 2022.
Angelleah Ragbir, left, gets a STEM award from Mayaro MP Rushton Paray. (Image by SHASTRI BOODAN)
“We are underserved by women,” MP Paray said. “We do not have enough young ladies and young women who pursue science.”
“You can see it every day. Science and innovation have been left up to the boys and what we do, we innovate tools for the girls to do more work at home, so we get a better blender, a better food processor. We give you a faster Hoover vacuum to vacuum the house,” he observed.
“It’s about time the girls get in the state of play and innovate to put us to work,” he asserted.
Rio Claro West Secondary School Principal Preston Kissoon, left, presents two trophies to Adrianna Suraj for making the CSEC Merit List in Agriculture, as well as for the Most Outstanding Form 6 Female Student. (Image by SHASTRI BOODAN)
The Mayaro MP advised all persons to get involved in the field of science to address real-world problems such as crime, climate change, global warming, employment and pollution.
“Why we dump rubbish where we dump it, how it ends up on the beach—we need you to fix that problem for us,” he said.
MP Paray said data and IT can be used to control crime. He also believes as scientific approach could be applied to the granting of bail.
Rio Claro West Secondary School Principal Preston Kissoon, left, presents the Principals Award to Ray Clarke. (Image by SHASTRI BOODAN)
He posited: “How do you, the young scientists, figure out a system where bail can be granted based on some ICT solution to determine if somebody will go back and commit crimes, and whether bail should be granted or not?”
The Mayaro MP noted the arts industry has incorporated science in design such as 3D printing, as well as technology-based entertainment. He predicted the future may not have any place for Members of Parliament since the state may, through technology, get direct feedback from the public to make policy decisions.
Rio Claro West Secondary School Principal Preston Kissoon, left, presents Sharona Mohammed with the award for the Most Outstanding Form 5 Female Student. (Image by SHASTRI BOODAN)
MP Paray recounted the last two years would have been hard for many teachers during the pandemic who had to teach not only their classes but tend to their own children. He revealed his office has a STEM programme where students excel in the areas of Science, Technology Engineering, Mathematics and the Arts.
Meanwhile, Principal of the Rio Claro West Secondary School, Preston Kissoon, said during the pandemic they received assistance via donations of computers from the US Army, through the Presentation College Past Student Association.
Rio Claro West Secondary School Principal Preston Kissoon, left, presents Craig Williams with the award for the Most Outstanding Form 5 Male Student. (Image by SHASTRI BOODAN)
Kissoon also noted the Ministry of Education gave tremendous support to the school through the efforts of Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, under the Adopt-A-School Programme.
The Rio Claro West Secondary School principal also reported that school’s CAPE results were excellent, as he gave special recognition to scholarship winner Akeem De Cianes.