Remembering Edwin Samuel Jones, OJ, CD

THE SUNDAY GLEANER, MAY 2, 2021 | FEATURE1 I4 i 4 TRIB T TO PROF EDWIN JONES FEATURE PROFESSOR EDWIN JONES ... I FIRST met Edwin Jones one morning in September 1967. I was a young first-year student attending my first tutorial in introduction to politics. Edwin was the tutor: dapper, elegant, deliberate of language, obviously brilliant, and full of confidence. He embodied then, and throughout his life, the earnest commitment to learning; the self- confidence of a newly independent Jamaican citizenry, along with a zealous commitment to decolonisation and the building of a new Jamaica. Edwin was a part of that promising generation of young academics, including Carl Stone, Trevor Munroe, George Beckford, Norman Girvan, Owen Jefferson and many others who were to form the first post-Independence generation of social scientists. An early protégé of Professor GladstoneMills, Edwinmade public administration systems and their role in facilitating development the focus of his academic pursuits. In that regard, he left an impressive and indelible legacy, publishing more than 30 journal articles and a number of books in the field. His contribution to the development of Caribbean scholarship lay not just in his writing, however. He also provided administrative leadership as head of the Department of Government and dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences over many years. Edwinwasn’t amere theoretician. On the contrary, he was very much determined to be more widely involved in the practical tasks of nation building. Most notably, he was chairman of Jamaica’s Public Service Commission and served on numerous boards and task forces during the 1970s. While he could never have been accused of reckless or unthinking activism, nevertheless there was nothing secret or apologetic about Edwin’s commitment to the People’s National Party. A striking, and, indeed, captivating feature of Edwin’s approach to political tasks was the degree to which he could make the tedious tasks of politics enjoyable. His devotion to Jamaica and the development of its people has been properly recognised by the grant of national honours and academic awards. We will forever carry in our memories his deep wellspring of love for Maria and Kashka and his extended family; for his friends, his country, The University of theWest Indies and, indeed, for life itself. Walk good, Edwin. PETER D. PHILLIPS, PHD Former Leader of the Opposition Former President, The People’s National Party ‘Earnest commitment to learning’ DR PETER PHILLIPS T HE MONA School of Business and Management (MSBM) community continues to mourn the passing of Professor Edwin Jones, PhD, CD, OJ, emeritus professor of The University of the West Indies (UWI) and former MSBM board member and colleague. It is hard to find suitable words to describe a truly remarkable friend and supporter. Prof. Jones has had a long and storied history with MSBM beginning in 1990 when he was appointed professorial fellow at Mona Institute of Business (MIOB). His contribution is legendary as in addition to being academic director for the Master in Public Sector Management programme (MPSM), and also director of Academic Studies for the introduction of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme, he served as course coordinator and lecturer for the courses ‘Business Government and Society’ and ‘Managing the Public Organization’ in the EMBA programme, and developed and assisted in the offering of an executive development programme for the public sector. His appointment was very strategic, as it was intended “to help to strengthen the Institute of Business (IOB) while cementing its linkage to the departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences”. Prof Jones was thought to be “fully equipped to help to institutionalise those linkages and promote the expected synergies”. Former executive director of the then Mona Institute of Business, Dr Cezley Sampson reflects, “Professor Jones has provided for students of public and business management at UWI and the younger faculty members a model of outstanding achievement by nature of hard work, integrity, and dedication. The kind of leadership he brought to bear at the Faculty of Social Sciences was transformative and at a time UWI needed to change the tone in the delivery of business and public sector management education to meet the new challenges which face the 21st century. His leadership carried the special feature of tolerance, compassion, and firmness, without inflexibility.” RESEARCH, TEACHING AND PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT In later years, Prof Jones held the positions of Senior Research Fellow at the then Mona School of Business (MSB) and continued as Associate Teaching Fellow at Mona School of Business andManagement (MSBM). In these roles he was involved in research, teaching and programme development. He continued to demonstrate his signature traits of diligence, passion, commitment to excellence while maintaining his public advocacy and commitment to the importance of good public service for which he received several national honours. Prof Jones is specially remembered for his contribution to the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme. His involvement began when the programme was at the ideation stage and from his vast experience and depth of knowledge of the rigours of academia, he helped to craft what has become a well-respected doctoral programme. After the launch of the programme, he continued to offer tremendous support through a number of roles, including being a member of the candidate selection team, facilitator for proposal writing, academic writing and presentation sessions, lead supervisor and discussant on the DBA students’ conference, examiner of the oral section of the DBA comprehensive examination and as a supervisor of candidates. He was never too busy to review a concept paper, a literature review or a proposal in detail and to provide his well thought-out and constructive comments. He leveraged his varied local and international connections to seek colleagues to provide assistance to the candidates for topics outside of his areas of expertise. So reliable and committed he was to the programme that he was always first to arrive and last to leave the candidate interview sessions. Professor Lou Anne Barclay, the current director of the DBA programme, remembers him as “a gentleman and a scholar, a rare breed of intellect without being ego driven, a role model of a true professor”. For her, he will be remembered as a sage, a good listener and a loyal supporter and colleague. In the words of Professor Evan Duggan, former executive director at MSBM, “What a man, what a scholar! Indeed, he was an inspiration to the ‘School’, a wellspring of scholarly energy, and a shining example to many generations of scholars.” We extend our sincere condolences to his family and colleagues and assure them of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. MONA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ANDMANAGEMENT Faculty of Social Sciences The University of the West Indies Mona Campus ‘Truly remarkable friend and supporter’ The Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) community continues to mourn the passing of Professor Edwin Jones, PhD, CD, OJ, Emeritus Professor of The University of the West Indies (UWI) and former MSBM Board member and colleague. Prof. Jones has had a long and storied history with MSBM beginning in 1990 when he was appointed Professorial Fellow at Mona Institute of Business (MIOB). His contribution is legendary as in addition to being Academic Director for the Master in Public Sector Management programme (MPSM), and also Director of Academic Studies for the introduction of the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) programme, he served as course coordinator and lecturer for the courses “Business Government and Society” and “Managing the Public Organization” in the Executive Master in Business Administration (EMBA) programme and developed and assisted in the offering of an Executive development programme for the Public Sector. His appointment was very strategic as it was intended “to help to strengthen the Institute of Business (IOB) while cementing its linkage to the departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences.” Prof Jones was thought to be “fully equipped to help to institutionalize those linkages and promote the expected synergies.” Prof. Jones is specially remembered for his contribution to the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) programme. His involvement began when the Programme was at the ideation stage and from his vast experience and depth of knowledge of the rigours of academia he helped to craft what has become a well-respected doctoral programme. After the launch of the Programme, he continued to offer tremendous support through a number of roles, including, being a member of the candidate selection team, facilitator for proposal writing, academic writing and presentation sessions, lead supervisor and discussant on the DBA students’ conference, examiner of the oral section of the DBA comprehensive examination and as a supervisor of candidates. He was never too busy to review a concept paper, a literature review or a proposal in detail and to provide his well thought out and constructive comments. He leveraged his varied local and international connections to seek colleagues to provide assistance to the candidates for topics outside of his areas of expertise. He will be remembered as a sage, a good listener, a loyal supporter and colleague. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and colleagues and assure them of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. From Mona School of Business and Management to Profess Edwin Jones, PhD, CD, OJ