Published: Tuesday | May 26, 2009
Ainsley Henriques is bringing new meaning to the term 'thinking outside the box', and his creativity has been recognised by The Gleaner as he copped the Silver Pen award for March.
In his letter to the editor entitled 'Economic paradigm shift needed', which was published on March 31, Henriques outlined solutions to the country's high oil costs.
He suggested that the Government cut back on this expense by replacing it with renewable energy for electricity generation over time.
"If we can save on the use of oil for electricity, then the sensible alternative to the use of oil in transportation is to switch over to electric cars and trucks. This can be done in a few years given serious policy initiatives being introduced and managed. The savings could exceed a billion United States dollars per year," wrote Henriques.
This was not the only benefit that he cited. He wrote: "These investments will generate jobs at all levels of the society, both trained and untrained. It will encourage more to become trained, as presently, the opportunities are limited and declining."
Appealing to authorities
Henriques used his letter to appeal to the authorities to cooperate to get the economy on a sensible track, one, which he thinks, would be more cost effective and environmentally friendly. "Time is of the essence," he wrote.
With problems, such as decreasing job markets and the shortage of investment opportunities, Henriques sees the transformation from gas to electricity as ultimately achieving prosperity. However, as he pointed out, "We need clear policies that are agreed to by both political parties."
Born and raised in Morant Bay, St Thomas, Henriques attended boarding school at Jamaica College. He would move on to study agriculture at Reading University in England, then start farming in August 1962 when Jamaica gained Independence.
In 1970, he migrated to Kingston and has lived there ever since.
Henriques shared a few words about his love for the environment. But why does he love this field?
"Because we have to eat," he said jokingly. On a serious note, he explained that he likes to see things grow. "Nature is wonderful. Look at just two days of rain, and right now it's just so delightful to look at the grass, just green again," he said of the recent showers in the parish.
Numerous roles
Henriques has donned many hats in his lifetime. He was a member of a number of boards in both the private and public sectors, and was known as a furniture manufacturer, a job that he had for 25 years but had to change with the changing times.
"The market has changed significantly and a lot of furniture has been imported under the globalisation policies, and the hospitality industry is no longer supporting local industries as they used to," he explained.
He is now in estate management. As recently as October last year, Henriques built a farming centre in St Thomas. There, people farm on plots of land, for which they pay a user fee while Henriques provides management and technical services. He sees this as his contribution to society, as the parish has lost many jobs since the global recession.
Even before that, many factories that once operated in the area, have been closed.
At his business place, Henriques is looking at steps to go 'green'.
"Right now, we are looking into putting solar energy into our office building, so I'm doing what I am preaching," he said.
This entrepreneur is deeply involved in thinking outside the box and believes this is critical if the country is to move forward.
Also important to the Silver Pen winner is the need for a change in the approach to education.
"I think we have to change the way we think about education. It's not to learn by rote; it must be to teach us to think. I think if you are taught to think, it's more important than to learn the facts. For me, it's not the degree that you have, but your ability to think."