On behalf of the team at the Mona GeoInformatics Institute (MGI), The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, I extend heartfelt thanks for your support throughout 2024. Like 2023, this year presented challenges within the current economic climate, yet our dedicated team rose to the occasion, achieving remarkable progress.
As part of my leadership philosophy, I strive to empower all team members to make decisions and cultivate a sense of autonomy. I deeply value their insights and ensure their opinions are considered in shaping our collective direction. To the MGI team, your commitment in 2024 has been the backbone of our accomplishments. I am proud of all we have achieved and I am excited about the opportunities for growth in 2025.
Special thanks to our Board Chairman, Mr. Earl Jarrett, for your guidance throughout the year, and to our entire Board of Directors for your dedication and expertise, which have been instrumental in our progress and future plans. We also extend our gratitude to UWI Principal, Professor Densil A. Williams, for his steadfast support. We look forward to pursuing innovative ideas in 2025 that will positively impact the university as well as MGI. To the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at UWI Mona, thank you for our fruitful collaborations in 2024, and we look forward to strengthening these partnerships in the coming year.
To our valued clients, thank you for making our work possible. This year, we engaged several project partners across Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Sint Maarten, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, the United Kingdom, Ghana, Italy, Canada, and Mexico. Looking ahead, we aim to expand international partnerships while continuing to strengthen our base here in Jamaica.
In 2024, we introduced our Social Surveys & Market Research Services and our Geospatial Competitor Analysis Service, while increasing our focus on Environmental Equipment Installations and Monitoring. Our Drone Training and Services saw notable growth, and the IGT Coding and Robotics Camp was a massive success, despite the challenges brought by Hurricane Beryl. A highlight of the year was winning the Google Impact International Award for our exceptional work on the “Implementation of Eco-System Adaptation Measures for Kingston Harbour Communities (KHEAM)” project.
In 2025, we plan to emphasize key offerings, including software development, web mapping, address cleansing & mapping, social surveys & market research, climate change analysis, geospatial and environmental data management systems, mobile data collection, drone services, environmental equipment installation, GIS training and monitoring, and business and site suitability analysis. Additionally, we aim to secure private investment to enhance our turn-key products, expand marketing and licensing, and grow our online and hybrid training services.
As we prepare for a positive and productive 2025, I sincerely thank you for your partnership and support. We look forward to ongoing collaborations in the future. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a happy, healthy New Year to you and your family.
Warm Regards,
Luke Buchanan
Executive Director, Mona GeoInformatics Institute (MGI), UWI Mona
December 2024
