Kingston, 23 April 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has expressed sadness at the passing of Professor Tara Dasgupta, the recipient of the Silver Musgrave Medal in 2019.

In her tribute, Minister Grange said “Professor Dasgupta had served Jamaica well” and that his contribution in the area of science had been “immense”.

Minister Grange recalled Professor Dasgupta’s role in the development of the Pesticide Research Laboratory at the University of the West Indies, Mona which has been analysing and monitoring pesticide levels in agricultural products and organic pollutants in the Jamaican environment.

She also lauded him for establishing the Jamaica Chapter of the Caribbean Academy of Science which promotes science and technology in the country.

The Minister has expressed condolences to Professor Dasgupta’s family and friends and to the numerous students that he guided and inspired.

Minister Grange had presented Professor Dasgupta with the Musgrave Silver Medal in October 2019 for outstanding merit in the field of Science.

The Musgrave Medals are awarded by the Institute of Jamaica, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

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