Montano: Protect TT science and business ideas

LEGAL AFFAIRS Minister Danny Montano yesterday called for legislation to protect the creativity of Trinidad and Tobago’s scientists and businessmen.

Addressing a ceremony at the Ministry’s South Quay headquarters to install a new National Intellectual Property Policy Committee, Montano said: “TT is a country that is not terribly advanced in science and technology and it is not likely that our scientists are going to be at the leading edge of discovery in science and technology. However, the reality is that because of the type of economy we have, the scientists and the businessmen  tend to be very innovative. Innovation in itself tends to be something that needs to be protected as well and can be patented. Many of our businessmen fail to understand exactly how ingenious they are and the fact that many of the processes that they have come up with can be protected with appropriate legislation.”

Montano was replaced as Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister by Colm Imbert during last month’s Cabinet reshuffle. The Minister said while issues concerning intellectual property rights were not new to TT, “the thinking and the way it is being managed is new. “While we have legislation and that legislation is the product of a policy, that policy was never formalised. At this time it is very appropriate that we formalise policy in this area,” Montano stated. He urged the 12-member committee to present him with a working document on intellectual property by March 2004 and said a draft policy should be prepared within six months time.

Montano lamented that locals whose property has been copyrighted do not achieve the recognition they deserve and stressed his Ministry’s commitment to right this wrong. The Minister advised the committee that any new intellectual property policy  must focus on educating the population, and particularly school children, about all the issues relating to intellectual property rights. Committee chairman Phillipa Forde assured Montano that the committee would strive to fulfil its mandate and announced that its deliberations will commence on January 8 at the Ministry.