In the public interest

Dr Christopher Tufton, Jamaica's likeable agriculture minister, has spent most of his life in service to Jamaica. Today, he is being touted as a possible successor to Bruce Golding as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). But long before he took control of one of the country's most important sectors, Dr Tufton was focused on making life better for his countrymen.

"I've always liked the challenge of public service. I think it demands a lot from you and forces you to draw on all your skills," he said.

"I see it as the ultimate challenge, and I love seeing development at the community and national levels," he added.

In a 2006 Gleaner interview, close friend and fellow Manchester High past student, Marlon Grant, reflected on how Dr Tufton would take on positions of all kinds to help improve the school.

"Anything to make the environment a better place, he would do. He has kept it from high school to this day. He has always tried to motivate people - the constant leader who puts himself on the line all the times," said Grant.

This year, with considerable weight on his shoulders, Dr Tufton has managed to keep his ministry afloat, spearheading some groundbreaking initiatives and winning the confidence of many. This, in a year that has been full of challenges.

'Cassava initiative'

No Jamaican will soon forget the so-called 'cassava initiative' (Dr Tufton, early in his tenure as minister, suggested that local farmers diversify the crops they grow in order to combat rising food prices, singling out cassava as an underutilised staple) for which the minister received some amount of ridicule. It was flak which the minister took in stride.

He has also been leading a rice-growing project, which he insists will be a viable sector in a few years.

In addition to being Jamaica's minister of agriculture, Dr Tufton is a scholar and a business strategist. He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, Mona, and Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA, where he received degrees in management studies and marketing, respectively. He completed his doctorate in business administration at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2002.

Dr Tufton, whose area of expertise is international business and marketing strategy, specialising in foreign-direct investments and the impact of public policy on industry, has lectured and conducted business consultancy in Jamaica, the UK and the USA in a number of areas, including international marketing, business strategy and entrepreneurship. He has also served on several company boards.

Dr Tufton has written numerous research papers on marketing strategy, international competitiveness, foreign-direct investment, and public policy. In addition, he has had experience as a newspaper columnist, talk show host and in business. His experience in politics is also noteworthy.

Dr Tufton was a member of the JLP's youth arm, Young Jamaica, in the 1990s. Later, he became president of Generation 2000, then senator, member of parliament before his current role as minister of government.

Good family man

Married since 1994 to Neadene, Dr Tufton and his wife are parents of three.

Described as a good family man by his friends, the politician and academic is also known for enjoying a good lime.

"My interest in politics and public policy is born out of a strong belief that we can transform society. As a country, we have not optimised our potential," said Dr Tufton. His interest, he says, is in playing whatever role he can to transform communities into places worth living in.

The minister is this year's recipient of The Gleaner Honour Award for Excellence in Public Service. In response, Dr Tufton was modest.

"While I'm honoured for the recognition, the achievements are the result of the hard work of the team at the ministry and the responsiveness of the farmers and stakeholders," he said.