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Jamaican minister gets teen-age aide 'Whiz kid' to brief government on technology Kingston, Jamaica -- Jamaica has appointed a 13-year-old computer whiz kid with an illustrious family history as a consultant on technology. Minister of Commerce & Technology Phillip Paulwell this week named Makonnen David Blake Hannah as youth technology consultant to his ministry, making him the youngest government adviser in the country's history. Mr. Paulwell said Makonnen will be "responsible for putting forward the valued perspectives of the new generation" and will inform the minister on new trends in computer technology. He will receive an honorarium for his efforts. Makonnen follows in the tradition of his trailblazing grandfather, Evon Blake, a journalist and author who broke the colour barrier in Jamaica during the 1940s when he jumped into the "whites only" swimming pool at Myrtle Bank Hotel in Kingston. It was an unheard-of act of defiance and resonated through the years. Makonnen will keep the ministry abreast of Web sites and software to help the government make computers and computer-based education available to Jamaican children, Mr. Paulwell said. Makonnen's mother, Barbara Blake Hannah, a journalist and former senator, said her son had been using computers for a decade. Makonnen said he planned to give the minister daily updates on "what's happening worldwide in technology. "I can do almost everything. I can program a little bit, I'm good at system design, advanced Windows and DOS usage, stuff mainly like that," Makonnen said. "You could call me an expert." http://globetechnology.com/gam/News/19980725/UWHIZM.htmlYou've reached the end of this story... There are currently no more articles on Makonnen. Please check out the next success story! [ Next Success Story ] . about us . thanx . contact . awards . guestbook . site map . Copyright (C) 1999 (email link outdated) |