Activities leading to the formation of an IEEE Jamaica Section
started in 1971. A group of engineers decided it was
necessary to continuously upgrade their technical knowledge by
interacting with and subscribing to an established professional
engineering organization. The choice was IEEE, hence Jamaica and the
rest of the West Indies were deemed to be potential members of IEEE
Region 9, due to their geographical location.
In August of 1972 publications in Spanish were sent to IEEE
members in the West Indies by the Region 9 secretariat. Mr. Wilfred
(Robbie) Roberts a member, wrote a letter to Ernesto Obregan, the then
Region 9 Director stating that Jamaica’s national language was
English and therefore publications and correspondence sent
to members should be in English. This request received a very favourable
response, in a letter dated September 22, 1972.
The formation of an IEEE Section in the West Indies was also strongly
recommended by Region 9. The first meeting to discuss the matter was
held November 27, 1972 at the Sheraton Kingston Hotel with local engineers
and the director of Region 9 in attendance. At this meeting a local steering
committee was formed primarily to plan for the proposed IEEE West Indies
Section. The members of the steering committee were Wilfred A. Roberts,
Ruel Samuels and S. A. Mullings. At a later date, H. Al Hall joined the
committee.
A decision was taken to establish an IEEE Jamaica Section,
instead of an IEEE West Indies Section by the steering committee because
of difficulties experienced in attracting engineers from other parts of
the West Indies as members. The steering committee also formed a
Programmes and Planning Committee to facilitate the establishment of the
Section. These decisions as well as other planned activities were
incorporated in a press release on July 9, 1975.
On October 11, 1977, the steering committee submitted a petition
to IEEE to establish IEEE Jamaica Section which was approved on October
24, 1977, by Luis R. Jimenez, who was the director of Region 9. On
November 23, 1977, a Charter was granted and the Regional Activities Board
approved the establishment of IEEE Jamaica Section on November 28, 1977.
Al Hall was appointed as the Interim Charter Chair, and later appointed
a Nominations Committee that recommended him as the first Chair of the
Jamaica Section. The other Charter Officers were S.A Mullings, Vice Chair
and Wilfred A. Roberts, Secretary/Treasurer. The grand inaugural meeting
of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Jamaica Section was
held on May 10, 1978.
Jamaica, now a member of Region 9, primarily because of its
geographical location, was required to attend regional meetings in Spanish
speaking countries, such as Chile and Argentina. This and the initial
problem of the Jamaican membership receiving all IEEE correspondence in
Spanish had to be addressed for effective communication. To resolve the
problem, a request was made to change Jamaica from Region 9 to Region 3,
which was the closest English-speaking Region.
Contributed by-Wilfred A. Roberts and Dennis Hartley
