DR. CARLTON DAVIS, 1990

Outstanding contribution to public life

DR. CARLTON DAVIS, Cabinet Secretary in the P.J. Patterson administration and Chairman of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), is from a family of high achievers.

Although he works in a more low-keyed position than his high profile younger brother, Dr. Omar Davies who is the Finance and Planning Minister, he has made his own outstanding contribution to public life since his days at the Jamaica School of Agriculture in the 1950s.

His other high profile sibling is Dr. Rae Davis, University of Technology President.

The JBI Chairman has won numerous awards over the years. He was the 1990 recipient of the Gleaner Honour Award for his contribution to the improvement of the quality of life in Jamaica. His contribution as a scientist did not go unrecognised as that same year he won the Jamaican Society of Scientists and Technologists award. At that time, he was also chairman of the National Housing Trust (NHT).

For his distinguished career in the bauxite-alumina industry, Dr. Carlton Davis was awarded the Institute of Jamaica's Centenary Medal in 1980; in 1976 he was awarded the national honour of the Order of Distinction, Commander Class; in 1990 he was awarded the Order of Jamaica (O.J).

As JBI head, he is now at the centre of a negotiating team looking to remove the 27-year-old bauxite levy that was implemented in 1974 under the Michael Manley administration when bauxite production hit a record 15 million tonnes.