UWI Connect March 2020

Global Focus The UWI’s First Ever Quality Day!

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2019 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards 13 Pelican Perks Advantage Programme Enhanced With Soft & Life Skills Series

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UWI STAT Advocates Climate Action at Columbia University Conference

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April 2019 - March 2020

CONTENTS Global Focus

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Alumni Retreat 2019

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UWIAA News

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UWI STAT News

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Very Important Pelican

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Pelicans Soaring

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Faculty Focus - Regional and Campus News

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AFUWI Legacy Awards Gala

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Campus Happenings

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Publications

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Climate Science and Action

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In Celebration of Their Lives

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EDITORIAL TEAM Celia Davidson Francis (Editor-in-Chief), Allison Fung, Marcia Erskine, Yvonne Graham and Nicole Nation.

SOURCES IAD - The UWI Regional Headquarters, Campus and University Marketing and Communications Offices,

Establishment of the new Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts was approved when The UWI’s Senate, the regional institution’s highest decision-making body, met at its Regional Headquarters in Jamaica. The Faculty will begin operations from August 1, 2020 and will offer multidisciplinary and cross-faculty teachings.

FIVE ISLAnDS CAMPUS

The establishment of the fifth campus of The UWI in Antigua and Barbuda provides a development platform for countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and expands The UWI’s regional capacity to deliver higher education for the 21st century.

UWI Connect is The University of the West Indies magazine, published for Alumni, Parents and Friends of The UWI by the Institutional Advancement Division, The UWI Regional Headquarters.

Faculties, Departments, UWIAA, UWIMAA, Office of Administration, UWI STAT Corps, alumni and others.

PHOTOGRAPHY Campus photographers PUBLISHInG Stratcom Marketing Services Ltd.

Reproduction, republication or redistribution of content

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is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the Editor.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The University of the West Indies.

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Editorial Fellow UWI Pelicans, The year 2020 has changed immensely with the advent of COVID-19. This issue will as usual give a historic glimpse of various significant moments in the life of your University and the lives of some fellow graduates over the past year.

The UWI ended the year 2019 in the top 4% of the word’s universities, a fact about which you may be justifiably proud. The evidence of The UWI’s enhanced global visibility was in key areas such as its leadership and participation in international projects. Additionally, its concerted efforts to expand and deepen industry-academic partnerships was noted. Collectively, these outputs showed that the University had made significant strategic strides, with enhanced excellence, reflected in a surge in reputation recognition. Not only has The UWI retained its position as the number one ranked university in the Latin America and Caribbean region, it moved from the top 3% to the top 2%. We are confident that despite the unprecedented pandemic your Alma Mater will continue to thrive and be of great relevance and assistance to the Caribbean region as it deals with the post COVID-19 era.

Quality Day was held for the first time in 2019 and as a graduate you can be proud of the stellar reputation that your Alma Mater enjoys, because of the excellent education given to students, as well as the achievements and accomplishments of its graduate population overall. As the Director of the Regional Vice-Chancellor’s UWI STAT Ambassadorial Corps, I am pleased to share with you some stories that demonstrate them executing their mandates with excellence and invite you as well to note the wonderful contributions of our graduates in the Pelicans Soaring section.

Celia Davidson Francis Director of Alumni Relations for The UWI Editor-in-Chief

The UWI continues to receive global recognition for its world class research and activism regarding strengthening the Caribbean’s resilience to climate change impacts which are underscored in the Climate Change Science and Action section and I am proud to highlight in this issue that The UWI’s Professor Michael Taylor, along with an internationally respected group of scientists, urgently called on world leaders to accelerate efforts to tackle climate change in a co-authored article published in Science. The UWI continues to promote ethical leadership and social responsibility regarding increased global challenges, as well as how the institution plays a critical role in promoting societal transformations which in turn will assist in creating balance between people and the planet Earth. We are UWI Global!

The UWI family with its strong network of academics, professional staff and alumni will, I am sure, come together to ensure the continued success of our students and the Caribbean region.

Sincere good wishes always.

Celia

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Global Focus

The UWI Preparing for the Capital Market reputation as the number one university in the Caribbean, ranked among the top 4% of the world’s best. Currently, the governments of the region contribute 48% of The UWI’s total operational budget, down from 75% just 25 years ago.

“Its future growth and modernisation will require access to the private investment option,” the Vice-Chancellor noted.

The group considered the relative merits of debt and equity financing, and looked at the short-term capital injection and long-term sustainability options. The idea of a dedicated UWI alumni bond was also considered. Vice-Chancellor Beckles concluded that, “A select strategy committee, guided

by The UWI’s Schools of Business, will begin the task of preparing the institution for investment readiness and carving the path to the private market.” The first venture is likely to be rolled out during the summer, with others coming on stream for 2021/2022.

On March 10, 2020 regional finance leaders in the private sector, including companies like Sagicor, Jamaica National, National Commercial Bank and ANSA, went into retreat with the leadership of The UWI, to discuss how best to bring the institution to market with investment instruments. The meeting, which was held at its Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, was a historic one for The UWI. The meeting was convened

by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who gave a strategy presentation. Pro Vice-Chancellor for IndustryAcademic Partnerships, Professor Denzil Williams presented a private sector investment road map into The UWI. In addition, The UWI’s five Campus Principals presented a roster of projects being prepared for private investments using bonds and Initial Public Offering (IPO) options. The UWI is seeking sustainable revenue streams from nongovernment sources in order to sustain its growth and

CARIBBEAn UnITY OR PLURALITY The Forum “Caribbean Unity or Plurality” which featured regional experts discussing the implementation and impact of various national policies across the region in dealing with the COVID-19 virus pandemic was welcomed by alumni, particularly those of the Caribbean diaspora who were anxious to have more information from their region.

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Global Focus

UWI-Coventry Institute for Industry-Academic Partnership Launched The UWI and the University of Coventry in England have launched a UWI-Coventry Institute for Industry-Academic Partnership, dedicated to the promotion of an innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem across the Caribbean region. The new Institute will complement The UWI’s leadership role in promoting innovation as a key driver of economic growth. It also supports the University’s quest to become more entrepreneurial by fostering and increasing partnerships between The UWI and industry, among other strategies. It will also aid the enhancement of international competitiveness in the Caribbean private sector through research and economic partnerships, entrepreneurship and commercialisation, and university and industry collaboration. At the launch on December 19, 2019, UWI Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles noted that The UWI was putting increased emphasis on strategies which place high priority on entrepreneurial activity, building bonds and bridges between capital and organised knowledge.

The UWI and University of Miami Formalise Partnership The University of the West Indies and the University of Miami (UM) have agreed to partner for mutually strategic purposes. On October 22, 2019, The UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles and UM President, Dr Julio Frenk agreed on an MoU which commits the two universities to a bilateral partnership which focuses on collaboration in areas such as public health, access to global technology, poverty reduction, innovation and youth entrepreneurship. Vice-Chancellor Beckles noted, “President Frenk and I see the South Florida-Miami and Caribbean spaces as one extended ‘domestic zone’ in which our respective communities have an intense daily experience. Indeed, our universities have been called into this alliance because it would be irresponsible of us to ignore the perception of our stakeholders, that Miami and the Caribbean might be separated by

water, but they are integrated by pretty much everything else.” He also noted, “Caribbean people are very serious about sustainable development - there is a demand, a thirst for it - so everything we do must be relevant, impactful and sustaining of our developmental energies.” Dr Frenk stated that, “UM was founded with the ideal of being a Pan-American university. Now it is being transformed into a hemispheric university and it is vital that we establish the kinds of collaborations that this MoU represents.”

COLLABORATIOn On GLOBAL REPARATIOnS The UWI, in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, has broken the global reparations glass ceiling. By signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding on August 23, 2019 in Glasgow, the two universities’ ViceChancellors, Sir Hilary and Sir Anton, opened a new era in the global reparations movement.

universities funded by the cash injection. It will select and guide reparatory research projects and initiatives intended to promote social and economic justice and growth in the Caribbean.

The purpose of the agreement - the first of its kind for a British university - is to enable the University of Glasgow to formally apologise for its engagement in chattel slavery, defined by the United nations, as a Crime Against Humanity, and commit to redress. The University of Glasgow, established in 1451, by its own published research, successfully extracted millions of pounds from the African-Caribbean slavery enterprise in order to enhance its academic prestige, fund its expansion, and sustain its overall development. Sir Hilary and Sir Aston made provision for a 20-year commitment to invest £20 million pounds.

The objective is to assist with confronting and correcting the corrosive legacies of race-based slavery that continue to inhibit post-colonial Caribbean development. The purpose-built Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research - a jointly managed institute - will operate in both

Describing the signing event as a “moral moment”, Sir Hilary concluded that, “It’s a first small but bold step into what can be humanity’s finest future. It’s a ray rather than a beam of light that has already illuminated the greatest Global-Europe’s racial enslavement of Africans. It further validates seven decades of The UWI’s service as a noble institution vested with a mandate to lead in cleaning up the inherited crippling colonial mess and prepare for the Caribbean Enlightenment.”

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Global Focus

The UWI’s Royal Charter Amended to Appoint Justice Rolston nelson as Visitor, Replacing Her Majesty the Queen of England

The UWI CenTre STageS a Un hIgh-LeveL PoLITICaL ForUm The UWI was represented at the July 9 – 18, 2019 Forum which took place under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Established in 2012, the annual Forum is the UN’s main platform on sustainable development with a central role in the follow-up and review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda at the global level.

With effect from May 1, 2019, the Honourable Justice Rolston Fitzherbert Nelson (retired) has been appointed Visitor of The University of the West Indies, a position previously held by Her Majesty the Queen of England. Since 1948, Article 6 of The UWI’s original Royal Charter has stated that Her Majesty the Queen holds the title of “Visitor” of the University, which confers on the holder the right or duty of occasionally inspecting and reporting on a college or other academic institution. The decision to appoint Justice Nelson was finalised during the closed session of the meeting of the University Council on April 26, 2019 hosted at the St Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago. A key role of the Visitor is to settle The UWI’s disputes with staff and/or students. Traditionally, staff and students have had the right to appeal decisions of the University to the Visitor after all other internal remedies had been exhausted. The Visitor has the authority to adjudicate on matters based on the interpretation and application of the University’s Charter, Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations and other governing instruments and his/her decisions on such matters are considered final. The appointment of Justice Nelson allows for any petitions to be heard expeditiously.

On November 7, 2018, Her Majesty endorsed, and the Privy Council approved the amendment to Article 6 of The UWI’s Charter to have its Council name its Visitor. At its meeting on April 26, 2019, the University Council accepted the recommendation to appoint Justice Nelson, eminent jurist, as the first Visitor from the region. Justice Nelson will serve for a period of five years, in the first instance.

Articulating the significance of The UWI’s participation in the Forum, Director of Development, Dr Stacy Richards-Kennedy noted, “Universities play a unique role in advancing the 2030 global development agenda by serving as powerful drivers of knowledge, innovation, development solutions and partnerships. The interconnected social, economic and environmental challenges faced by societies across the globe cannot be overcome without scientific inquiry, data and evidence-informed policies. The UWI, as an activist university, committed to revitalising Caribbean development, is therefore focused on deepening its engagement in the regional and global development agenda.” Both Dr Stacy Richards-Kennedy as well as Coordinator of The UWI’s Institute for Sustainable Development and Director of the Centre for Environmental Management Dr David Smith, spoke at sessions on July 10 and 11. On July 12, The UWI co-hosted a symposium on “Research and Innovation 4 Climate Action”. This event brought together representatives from the Permanent Missions in New York, United Nations agencies, multilateral development banks and other intergovernmental organisations, academia, the private sector and civil society.

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Global Focus

Distinguished Businessman Aziz Hadeed Appointed Chair of The UWI Five Islands Campus Council Mr Aziz Hadeed, CBE, is the Campus Council Chair of its newest campus at Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda. As such he will sit at the helm of the governing and executive body of The UWI Five Islands Campus which officially began operations in August 2019. His appointment is for a period of five years and took effect on August 1, 2019.

He is an Antiguan and Barbudan businessman whose success is well known across the Eastern Caribbean. Described as one of the Chief Architects of the Hadeed Group of Companies, his business acumen has been shaped since his teen years. In 1980, he ascended to the Chair of the Hadeed Group of Companies and, through his vision and sound management, the corporation expanded into a multi-million-dollar enterprise. Under his stewardship, the Group invested in entities such as the regional airline LIAT (1974) Limited, on which board he served as Chairman from 1995 to 1998.

He is credited with leading the Hadeed Group’s decision to establish a power generation facility which became the Antigua Power Company in 1996. He currently serves on the boards of the Antigua Power Company as well as on several businesses within the Hadeed Group.

He enjoyed a distinguished career as an Independent Senator, appointed in 1994 and serving for two terms. He then served as a Cabinet Minister from 2004 to 2006 before resigning from government service.

Ernst & Young named him “Master of the Year for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Awards Scheme” in 1995. In 2016, he received the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Mr Hadeed’s expertise and experience will be instrumental in leading the new Five Islands Campus which was established to serve the specific

development needs of Antigua and Barbuda while providing a hub to enable the greater participation by The UWI in the development agendas of the OECS.

“The UWI’s regional and global reputation has never been higher” noted Professor Sir Hilary Beckles on April 25, 2019 as he presented his report to the University Council at its annual business meeting and highlighted some of the key successes and milestone achievements of the institution for the reporting year 2017-2018. He detailed the advancement of the University’s global reputation and reach across five continents; the hemispheric and international validation demonstrated in the recent World Rankings; and what he describes as the ‘reputation revolution’ of The UWI. A Special Report, UWI Gone Global, featuring the University’s global impact in recent years is available online. The UWI’s globalisation thrust earned recognition in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 for ‘international outlook’, placing the University among the top 10% world-wide in this category.

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Global Focus

Sir Hilary Goes to Congress On June 19, 2019, The UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, as Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, participated in the decades’ long anticipated, historic sitting of Congress on Reparations.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties convened a hearing on H.R. 40, the path to Restorative Justice. Keenan Keller, Senior Counsel to the House Judiciary Subcommittee, advised Sir Hilary, “Given your long-standing interest in H.R. 40 as a model for legislative action that has positively impacted the Reparations movement in the Caribbean, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, lead sponsor on the bill, would be honoured by your attendance at this momentous hearing.”

Sir Hilary noted that it is a special tribute to the leadership of Representative Conyers, as well as CARICOM, and Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves in particular, who five years ago established the path-breaking Regional Commission on Reparations that has inspired the political movement in the USA. Sir Hilary’s participation in the Congress follows his contribution at the British House of Commons in 2014, and his delivery of the keynote address at the sitting of the United Nations General Assembly to Launch the International Decade (2015 to 2025) for People of African Descent.

The UWI Partners with the IDB in Sub-Regional Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation According to The UWI Vice-Chancellor Beckles, “The Caribbean was a principal global victim of the first and second industrial revolutions, which were built upon slavery and colonialism. Though still recuperating from some of their negative economic and social effects, the Caribbean experienced some recovery during the third industrial revolution in the development of competitive services economies, and is now positioned to make significant advancements in the fourth industrial revolution that is upon us.” Active participation, he added, is the only way to ensure that we propel our Caribbean economies to achieve both economic and social growth, with universities playing a leading role, supported by governments and the private sector. He was giving remarks at the opening of the Sub-Regional Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation on June 12, 2019. The conference was organised in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Development Bank of Jamaica to engage Caribbean policy-makers, tertiary level educational institutions and private sector stakeholders in a series of conversations on how to strengthen ecosystems that support dynamic entrepreneurship and innovation in the Caribbean region. This partnership is a follow-on to a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between The UWI and the IDB which formalised a framework of cooperation in programming to promote evidence-based decision making on economic and social policy issues in the Caribbean region through joint initiatives on research, online education, knowledge creation and dissemination. The conference exposed participants to a characterisation of the key elements of effective eco-systems, facilitated discussion on the level of development of Caribbean eco-systems, and mapped ways to strengthen them.

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Global Focus

The UWI Strengthening Canada-Caribbean Relations The establishment of the Canada-Caribbean Institute (CCI) was approved on October 30, 2019. The new Institute, which is a collaboration with Brock University in Canada, will provide multi-disciplinary research and teaching to deepen and improve the relations between Canada and the Caribbean, and serve to examine issues affecting the Caribbean diaspora communities in Canada.

Discussions on the establishment of the Institute began earlier this year following the signing of an agreement between Vice-Chancellor Beckles and President and ViceChancellor of Brock University, Gervan Fearon, (the first Caribbean descendant to head a Canadian University). It is anticipated that The UWI and Brock University will aim to establish the CCI by 2020.

The CCI’s mission seeks to build upon and revitalise existing partnerships, while forging new ones among Canadian and Caribbean tertiary education institutions, government agencies and civil society. Included among examples of planned activities for the Institute are cooperation and exchange among faculty, students and other persons interested in Canada-Caribbean relationships; facilitating the formation of partnerships, the co-production and

sharing of knowledge, development of joint programmes, and hosting of conferences and seminars. The need for an institute dedicated to Canada-Caribbean studies is based upon recognition that despite the importance of CanadaCaribbean relations there has been limited research in this area and no entity dedicated to its study.

The UWI and CARPHA Partner on Caribbean Health Policy During the 30th Inter-sessional Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Meeting an MoU was signed between The UWI and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). This will formalise a partnership towards improved research and training on public health priorities affecting people in the region. Signalling the importance of the partnership, the signing was witnessed by Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, and the Honourable Dr Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, and Chairman of CARICOM. The five-year MoU signals a joint intention to deepen the relationship between The UWI and CARPHA with more efficient use of research evidence to inform clinical and health-related policy and practice in CARICOM. The UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles stated, “The UWI and CARPHA have enjoyed a long relationship. As regional institutions we both take very seriously our responsibility to provide solutions to the region’s public health

challenges, working towards reversing well-documented health inequities that have plagued Caribbean peoples.

Forming the right partnerships is critical to that success so we look forward to continuing our relationship with CARPHA.”

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Global Focus

The UWI and UnIAnDES

Form Alliance to Drive Growth and Development in the Caribbean and Latin America On April 11, 2019 a new regional collaboration embracing continental Latin America and the Caribbean began as The UWI and Universidad de los Andes (UNIANDES) formalised the Strategic Alliance for Hemispheric Development during a signing ceremony held at UNIANDES in Bogota, Colombia.

This Strategic Alliance between UNIANDES and The UWI will impact governance policies for economic growth, social stability and sustainable development in the Caribbean and

Latin America. In addition to the Strategic Alliance, the April 11 ceremony established two other MoUs which outline collaboration between The UWI and UNIANDES for the development of postgraduate degrees, certificates and other training programmes, and also for joint research in areas of mutual interest. Joint initiatives are already being planned for implementation in 2020 in Comparative Global Cultural Studies and Medical Sciences. The Rector (President/Chancellor) of UNIANDES, Dr Pablo Navas Sanz de Santamaria, expressed the commitment of UNIANDES for this to be a lasting and productive relationship.

Military Academy Signs Deal With The UWI The UWI and the Caribbean Military Academy (CMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding that should see the University assisting the academy with programme development. CMA, the academic institutional arm of the Jamaica Defence Force, currently operates six centres of excellence which provide a broad range of training courses to developing militaries and para-military organisations across the region and around the world. This move will allow CMA’s training programmes to secure international accreditation and standards. Vice-Chancellor Beckles noted, “The UWI has a duty to help all of the young and emerging academies, colleges and universities.” Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Rocky Meade noted that it is a “win-win partnership between the CMA and The UWI.” The CMA is aiming to become the training academy of choice for small states with defence and other military forces. The centres of excellence under the banner of the CMA include Caribbean Institute of Professional Military Education, Caribbean Military Aviation School, Caribbean Military Maritime Training Centre, Caribbean Infantry Training Centre, Caribbean Military Technical Training Institute and Caribbean Special Tactics Centre.

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Global Focus

The UWI’s First Ever Quality Day! November 14, 2019 was the University’s inaugural Quality Day and this day will be marked annually going forward, in conjunction with World Quality Day, to underscore the institution’s commitment to excellence. Alumni, as an important stakeholder, took part and shared their UWI “quality” stories in person and virtually. These stories spoke of meeting students and lecturers from across the Caribbean region which resulted in lifelong friendships, the student clubs and societies which expanded their horizons, the varied sports line-up which increased their Pelican Pride and Spirit and of course the outstanding lecturers and academic variety – all of which impacted their lives positively and equipped them to make a positive professional contribution to their region and the world. The UWI has adopted a

more cohesive and systematic approach to quality management through a formal quality policy, which is intended to deepen the culture of quality and ensure that quality is everyone’s business. “The UWI has committed itself to taking quality to the next level where every member of staff perceives the critical importance of her or his role in the institution’s quality culture. These are extremely positive developments for The UWI’s quality culture, the preservation of the institution’s reputation for academic excellence and continuous improvement of service quality. Find out more at: www.uwi.edu/quality

THE UWI PRIORITISES QUALITY AS “EVERYOnE’S BUSInESS” Staff and students across the five campuses of The UWI joined the globe in celebrating World Quality Day on November 14, 2019.

The official UWI Quality Day also forms part of a wider programme by The UWI. For the last two years, the institution has increased attention to quality assurance for administrative processes through its Quality Policy. The Policy recognises the importance of quality assurance for administrative processes and formalises various regulations which previously served as a quality assurance mechanism in the various UWI spaces.

In 2019, cross-campus Quality Day events included a quality exhibition, panel discussion as well as a quality song competition along with other live performances at Mona and an information session at St Augustine. Games and videos and Facebook live seminars were among the activities shared across the Cave Hill and Open campuses as well as at the University’s Regional Headquarters, based in Jamaica. At the new Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda, there was a special

workshop to introduce the staff to The UWI’s governance structure, policies, and regulations governing all aspects of quality. During the month of November, as part of its Quality agenda, the University also conducted a student quality survey to establish students’ perceptions on various dimensions of quality.

Professor Clive Landis, who serves as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the Office of the Board for Undergraduate Studies (OBUS), and Chair of The UWI’s Quality Management Team commented: “We really wanted to share the message that quality is everyone’s business.” He added, “While we have always operated with a commitment to high quality, our University’s Quality Policy represents an important instrument for deepening the quality culture and developing The UWI’s Quality Management System. This will allow us to better serve all our stakeholders.”

Remarking further, Professor Landis expressed his appreciation for all the support for The UWI’s inaugural UWI Quality Day activities, and especially commended the students’ active involvement in the survey exercise, which concluded on November 29. He said, “The survey findings will contribute to continuous quality enhancement in all areas of service to, and relationships with our students.”

The Director of Alumni Relations, Celia Davidson Francis noted that this is important as students are our future alumni and their student experience will affect their interest and affinity to The UWI, so their perspective is invaluable.

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Global Focus

new Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts Coming to The UWI Cave Hill Campus On 2020’s observance of Emancipation Day, the region’s cultural landscape will receive a significant uplift when The UWI at Cave Hill launches a new Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts.

It will be The UWI’s ninth faculty – the seventh at Cave Hill – and is expected to open up a world of opportunities for aspiring cultural artists and performing arts practitioners, and facilitate in-depth study of the Caribbean’s much celebrated culture. The Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts will begin operations from August 1, 2020 and will offer multidisciplinary and cross-faculty teachings.

The creative economy is global in scope and presents an opportunity for the Caribbean to formalise its vast available resources in culture, creative imagination, and the creative sector. The UWI has a pivotal role to transition creative and cultural practitioners from a local or seasonal space, to being major players on the international stage, with a local commercial presence anchored within the region. The new Faculty will be driven by a focus on deepening critical studies of Caribbean culture and identity as well as global economic imperatives that centre the creative industry within the academy. It will, therefore, empower graduates to generate personal and national wealth, local intellectual property rights, new employment opportunities, jobs and businesses regionally. It also opens a new conversation regarding the Caribbean as an owner and rights holder rather than a participant in the global creative economy that today accounts for US$2.225 billion or 3% of the world’s GDP.

The Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles noted that only a small minority of local artistes succeed globally. “The majority” he said “are seasonal artistes dependent on festivals, craft fairs and pop-up shops. Far too few are on the international stage producing outputs and generating revenues from global production, marketing, and distribution from a home-based commercial enterprise that is generating employment opportunities, building new sectors and earning foreign exchange for the domestic economy.”

He continued: “According to an Ernst and Young study, cultural sectors in Europe employ more persons between 1529 than any other sector; including more women. Globally, creatives employ more persons in the United States, Japan and Europe than the entire automotive industry. These are staggering numbers.”

The transformation of creative talent and performance skills into formal commercial entities; opportunities for existing business students or business graduates of The UWI to develop specialist skills in service to the creative industries; development of globally positioned entertainment management companies with newly developed skills to represent Caribbean creatives, are just some of the major outcomes projected by the University.

The Government of Barbados has prioritised the Creative Economy as a key plank in its national development strategy.

On this basis, the Government has expressed overwhelming endorsement for the Cave Hill initiative and pledged full support for collaborations.

The Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination and the Department of Cultural Studies at The UWI Cave Hill Campus will be the centre of the new Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts.

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Global Focus

2019 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence took place at The UWI Cave Hill Campus.

Vice-Chancellor Beckles presided over the event, presenting academic, senior administrative, and professional staff with awards for excellence in teaching, research, service to the University community, and public service, or a combination of areas for 2018/2019 as follows:

PUBLIC SERVICE & SERVICE TO UnIVERSITY

TEACHInG

InTERnATIOnAL COLLABORATIOn

- Dr Aisha Spencer, School of Education, Mona Campus

- Dr O. Peter Adams, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Cave Hill Campus and Professor Rohan G. Maharaj, Faculty of Medical Sciences, St Augustine Campus — Principal Investigators with the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) and the Yale Transdisciplinary Collaborative Centre for Health Disparities Research focused on Precision Medicine (Yale-TCC) and Dr Saran Stewart, School of Education, Mona Campus for her work with the Global Access to Post-Secondary Education (GAPS) Initiative.

RESEARCH - Dr Adesh Ramsubhag, Department of Life Sciences, St Augustine Campus, - Dr Georgiana Gordon-Strachan, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, Mona Campus

- Dr Justin Robinson, Faculty of Social Sciences, Cave Hill Campus RESEARCH & SERVICE TO UnIVERSITY - Professor Ann Marie Bissessar, Faculty of Social Sciences, St Augustine Campus

National Netballer and Hockey Player cop The UWI Vice-Chancellor’s Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year Awards Over 500 student athletes from across The UWI gathered at the Mona Campus in Jamaica for the 2019 UWI Games. The 10-day biennial tradition of inter-campus competitive sports, camaraderie and fun kicked off on May 23, 2019. During the lively opening ceremony, the winners of the 2019 Vice-Chancellor’s Sports Awards were also announced. Club netball captain, Vanessa Bobb of

the Cave Hill Campus received the Vice-Chancellor’s Sportswoman of the Year award, while Jordan Reynos, a national hockey player from the St Augustine Campus was named Vice-Chancellor’s Sportsman of the Year.

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Global Focus

UWItv has its own Channel on the Flow Network

UWItv has its own channel on the Flow Network, allowing it to broadcast to 15 countries, 24 hours a day. This reflects the commitment made by the University to inform, educate, inspire and express the rich cultural and intellectual diversity of our Caribbean people. A tremendous amount of time and effort has been spent ensuring that this move was as seamless as possible, through the dedication and attention to detail of the Managing Director, Ms Janet Caroo and the staff of UWItv. This is a proud moment not just for UWItv but also for the entire UWI family as The University of the West Indies is promoted as a global brand. Through UWItv the institution leverages 21st century technologies to provide a platform for insightful discussion through rich content that touches on common issues, concerns and priorities for the Caribbean and wider world.

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Alumni 2019 The annual Alumni Retreat was successfully held in Antigua and Barbuda in collaboration with The UWI Open Campus and UWIAA Open Campus Chapters, following the Open Campus Graduation on October 12, 2019.

Three Campus Alumni Officers - Sandra Griffith-Carrington (Open Campus), Roseanne Maxwell (Cave Hill) and Carina Dyce (Mona) were able to attend. In addition, the UWIAA Presidents of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis; Past Presidents from Washington DC and Montserrat, as well as alumni and ‘newly minted’ 2019 Open Campus graduates from St Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands – totaling 35 persons - participated in the activities.

Demonstrating their loyalty and commitment all financed their own attendance at the Alumni Retreat.

Alumni outside St. John’s Cathedral after the church service.

Enjoying the tour

of Antigua.

The Retreat was very successful and participants found it “enlightening and enriching”. Friendships and tighter bonds were created, which augers well for the future as operating collectively over such a large geographic regional space (as well as globally) is challenging. The Presidents indicated that they were able to learn and to clarify a lot from the sessions, and they appreciated the opportunity to interact with and get to know the CAOs of their own and the other campuses.

The Pelican Awards Ceremony and Chancellor’s Forum was held at the Governor-General’s residence in Antigua and Barbuda, under the theme, “UWI Embracing and Engaging Alumni”.

The Director of Alumni Relations for The UWI, Celia Davidson Francis (third left) with H.E. Sir Rodney Williams and (from left) the Hon. Minister of Education, Michael Brown, Chapter President – UWIAA Antigua and Barbuda, Ruthlyn Matthias, Open Campus Principal, Luz Longsworth and Campus Alumni Officer, Sandra Griffith-Carrington.

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Alumni Retreat 2019

Sir Rodney Williams graciously hosted the event. The citations were superbly presented

by Dr Phyllis Fleming Banks and three awards were presented as follows: AnTIGUA AnD BARBUDA 1. His Excellency Sir Rodney E.I. Williams - For his sterling contribution to Medicine and Sports in the Caribbean DOMInICA 2. Professor Gerald Alastair Clarence Grell - For his sterling contribution to Medicine and Education in the Caribbean 3. Rev. William Wilberforce Watty - For his sterling contribution to Education and Theology in the Caribbean A musical rendition by Dr George Roberts followed the awards and this led into the Chancellor’s Forum.

Chancellor Bermudez gave an overview of his thoughts on alumni relations and the future of The UWI. Vice-Chancellor Beckles highlighted that the Government of Bermuda was engaging the Open Campus to have Bermudians complete their education at The UWI, and mentioned that the Hon. Minister of Education was present. He also noted that the University had a presence in China, Africa, Asia, the USA and Cuba and was looking to forming other alliances to showcase The UWI brand.

The audience was given an opportunity to ask questions and make recommendations.

There was a mix and mingle session afterwards where delicious refreshments were served. The feedback from alumni about the Chancellor’s Forum was very positive.

Graduates were very pleased to have had the opportunity to see and interact with him, as well as with the Vice-Chancellor.

The Chancellor’s Forum was regarded as an extremely progressive and constructive initiative.

Celebrating the Pelican Awardees

On October 13th, the UWIAA Presidents, the Campus Alumni Officers, the Director of Alumni Relations and graduates from the

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Alumni Retreat 2019

2019 Graduation Class of the Open Campus attended a church service at the St. John the Divine Cathedral. The President of the Antigua and Barbuda Alumni Association did a Bible reading and the Reverend of the Cathedral welcomed the team to the service and acknowledged the alumni along with the congregants. After a lovely lunch provided by Alumni Relations – IAD which gave everyone the opportunity to build camaraderie and to network, the participants went on an island tour, visiting St John’s, Nelson’s Some UWIAA Presidents and Campus Dockyard and other famous sights.

Alumni Officers along with the Director

The UWIAA 2019 Business Meeting of Alumni Relations just before the was held with the Presidents of the graduation ceremony.

Alumni Associations, the Campus Alumni Officers and the Director of Alumni Relations on October 14th. Also in attendance was the Governor-General of Antigua, H.E. Sir Rodney Williams, who participated in the meeting. He noted that as an alumnus of The UWI, he was dedicated to ensuring that the University continues to be the leading institution in the Caribbean.

It was noted that this is the first time that a Governor-General attended an alumni business meeting and the Director of Alumni Relations thanked him sincerely for taking the time out of his busy schedule to attend the entire meeting.

The Principal of the Open Campus and the Director of Alumni Relations gave presentations and the UWIAA Presidents had the opportunity to ask questions and obtain answers. The UWIAA Presidents presented on their various Chapters and upcoming activities. A presentation was made by the Past President of the UWI Alumni Association Washington DC Chapter, Dr Sha-Shana Crichton, who is a professor at Howard University. She spoke about creating a partnership with Howard University. It was also noted that Ms. Minna Israel, the Vice-Chancellor’s Special Advisor on Resource Development, advised that the collective UWIAA is being asked to provide “lead” names of high net worth individuals or companies so that she and her team may then work with Executive Management across The UWI to garner donations for the 75th Anniversary Capital Campaign.

The UWI Five Islands Campus 17

Alumni Retreat 2019

A tour of the Five Islands Campus was a highlight of the Antigua visit. A Five Islands staff member showcased the Campus to the group.

On October 15, 2019, the Campus Alumni Officers’ strategy meeting with the Director of Alumni Relations took place. The Director spoke about the Vision of Alumni Relations and discussed the successes/challenges with the Campus Alumni Officers.

While in Antigua, the Director had the opportunity to meet and pin two UWI STAT Alumni Ambassadors – Travis Benain and Arita Philip. An additional Pelican Perk was confirmed with the Hawksbill Antigua, which is very near the Five Islands Campus and they

now offer a 10% discount to alumni, students, faculty, staff and retirees.

The importance of the UWIAA meeting annually, face-to-face, was again highlighted by the success of the Antigua Retreat and underscored that it is a positive facet of the strategic alumni engagement which Alumni Relations – IAD has put in place to support our alumni volunteers as they assist the University. The 2020 Alumni Retreat is planned for St. Kitts and Nevis.

Pinning Alumni Ambassador Travis Benain, a Jamaican now residing in Antigua.

About to pin Barbadian Alumni Ambassador Arita Philip.

Principal’s Reception The Principal’s Reception was also held the evening before the Open Campus Graduation, to honour the Honorary Graduand, H.E. Sir Tapley Seaton the Governor-General of St Kitts and Nevis. Sir Clare Roberts a 1969 graduate and Lady Roberts, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, Minister of Education of Bermuda and the Hon. Minister of Education of Antigua and Barbuda, Michael Brown who is a UWI graduate, were also there.

Celia Davidson Francis and Daniella Hickling, Five Islands Campus.

Celia Davidson Francis, Minister Michael Brown and Cecille Minott.

Celia Davidson Francis and Open Campus Principal Luz Longsworth.

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NEWS “Conversation with the Chancellor” UWI Chancellor, Mr Robert Bermudez hosted a packed to capacity Chancellor’s Conversation with current alumni and future alumni (students) in The Bahamas with the theme: “One University, A Family of Graduates – Building Nations with Global Impact.”

The Director of Alumni Relations for The UWI, Celia Davidson Francis also visited The Bahamas along with the Chancellor. The interactive discussion was spirited and focused on solutions and recommendations to challenges as well as ways to promote The UWI and its graduates and the betterment of the Caribbean. The alumni were delighted to be able to meet the Chancellor in a more informal setting and to build a strong foundation for further interactions.

Mrs Davidson Francis also accompanied the Chancellor on courtesy calls, including to the Minister of Education and meetings with alumni groups.

The UWI Chancellor and the Director of Alumni Relations with the UWIAA President (The Bahamas), Missouri Sherman Peter and The UWI Medical Alumni President, Dr Robin Roberts, as well as alumni executive members, Directors of the Centre for Hotel and Tourism Management, the Open Campus and The UWI School of Clinical Medicine and Research, faculty representatives and medical and other graduates after dinner at Luciano’s.

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UWIAA News

The 50th anniversary reunion of The UWI Class of 1969, which took place at the Mona Campus from October 9 – 13, 2019, was an unqualified success. The events were inclusive of a Welcome Reception and Registration on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at Alumni House, and an after-Chapel Brunch in Mary Seacole Hall on the Sunday, October 13, 2019. All events were executed flawlessly. The hard-working Planning Committee, comprising Cecile Clayton (Chair – Faculty of Arts), Cecil Aird (Faculty of Medical Sciences), Maureen Vernon and Eileen Felix (Faculty of Social Sciences) as well as John Aarons (Faculty of Arts) and Beverley HallAlleyne (Class of 1968, Faculty of Arts), felt very satisfied that their hard work was well worth the effort in the end.

afforded the Class members the opportunity to celebrate in fine style, as the banquets were ‘black-tie’ events.

On Sunday, the Class of 1969 assembled for worship and thanksgiving at the iconic University Chapel in a service guided by Rev. Verna Cassells, the United Church chaplain and enhanced by the lovely voices of the University Chorale.

The final event was a ‘Last Lap’ brunch held in the Senior Common Room of Mary Seacole Hall following the Chapel Service.

The events proved to be very successful as attendees were involved and very impressed with the 5-day experience! The group is certainly looking forward to staging another reunion in the near future!

The Campus bus tour and lunch ‘al fresco’ afforded an opportunity for long-time graduates, some of whom were visiting the campus for the first time since graduation, to be reacquainted with friends and to see the innovations and new buildings that have been added. At the luncheon, enhanced by the rustic rhythms of the ‘Energy Plus’ mento band, Class members were nostalgic about the fond memories of their student days, and in recounting the paths their lives had taken since leaving The UWI. Many (especially the medics) gave credit to the sound education and grounding they had received at The UWI which set them above their contemporary colleagues in the metropole.

By Cecile Clayton

The Gala Gathering and Roll Call on the Friday, held in the Gold Room of the Mona Visitors’ Lodge with cocktails afterwards on the picturesque ruins, was a major highlight of the reunion. Arnold ‘Scree’ Bertram as emcee skillfully guided the proceedings, which featured an audiovisual presentation with ‘then and now’ photos and brief bionotes of the Class members present. Batchmates who had made their transition were also acknowledged during the roll-call ceremony.

The Economics Group and the Medical Group held separate reunion banquets on the Saturday – the Economics group at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge and the medics at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel – both of which were highly successful and

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UWIAA News

The UWI Class of 1967 Award for Excellence in Leadership and Innovation FACULTY OF EnGInEERInG, MOnA - 2018/19 The Selection Committee for The UWI Class of 1967 Award for Excellence in Leadership and Innovation in the Faculty of Engineering, Mona is extremely pleased to name our second awardee in 2019.

The awardees are identified if their achievements are inspirational and at the forefront of a movement to attract and grow greater participation and enrolment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes and activities.

The final candidate displayed qualities on the two dimensions of: LEADERSHIP – making a positive difference that is felt and recognised by colleagues, faculty and staff, and InnOVATIOn – known by his/her desire and actions to be a player on the cutting edge of technology.

Miss Ashley McPherson, a second-year student in Civil Engineering, was named as the recipient of The UWI Class of 1967 Award for Excellence in Leadership and Innovation for the academic year 2018/2019. Miss McPherson’s leadership credentials are significant and noteworthy, and encompass the elements of vision, motivation, courage and ethics that the committee targeted.

As a Year 1 student, Ashley responded to a vacuum in class leadership by informally assuming the role of Class Representative bringing several outstanding and current

issues to the attention of the faculty and administrative staff and working to have them addressed. As a Year 2 student she was made Class Representative.

Although academic performance is not the major factor considered in making this Award, all nominees for the Award must have a GPA of at least 3.5. So, it should come as no surprise for you to learn that Ashley is the top performing Civil Engineering Level 1 student for 2018/2019 whilst holding the positions of Secretary of the newly formed Mona Engineering Society, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Student Chapter as well as Secretary of the Jamaica Institution of Engineers, Student Chapter here at Mona and as a Student Ambassador of The University of the West Indies, Mona.

Further afield and off the campus, Ashley is the ViceChairman of the Surrey District Youth Board for The Moravian Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. She pays forward the years of excellent instruction that she received at Immaculate Conception High School by tutoring Mathematics for Preliminary Engineering Students in the Faculty of Engineering, Mona, and serving as a tutor of Pure Mathematics, Mathematics and English at her Alma Mater.

The Selection Committee considered academic excellence, leadership and innovation in naming the awardee and was very pleased to present Ashley McPherson with a cheque for J$100,000 representing The UWI Class of 1967 Award for Excellence in Leadership and Innovation for 2018/19.

Dr Judith Robinson (Class of 1967) presenting Miss Ashley McPherson (R) with her prize cheque.

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UWIAA News

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UWIAA News

Chancellor's Medal Conferred on Sir Roy Augier The Chancellor's Medal was conferred on Sir Roy Augier to a packed house at The UWI Regional Headquarters on Friday, January 17, 2020.

The host of the evening, The UWI Chancellor, Robert Bermudez set the tone with his congratulatory remarks. Sir Roy's admirable career trajectory dating from the 1950s and his outstanding contribution to record were highlighted during the evening’s celebrations, after which the Medal was presented with much fanfare.

Taylorites

- do you know about the Fraternity of Roosters?

The Fraternity is an organisation of competent young male students who are affiliated with Block C, Taylor Hall at The UWI, Mona Campus.

The team of young men have served and are currently in various leadership roles at the University and in Jamaica at large. They believe in male empowerment, educational advancement and last but not least at the heart of the Fraternity is philanthropy. Over the past years they have engaged in two core philanthropic projects: 1) The Roosters NEST, and 2) Aiding the Salvation Army School for the Blind.

Roosters NEST is their core project which consists of a partnership between the Fraternity of Roosters and Grove Primary School (which is located in East Rural St. Andrew). The acronym NEST stands for Nurture, Empower, Support and Transform. This initiative was launched back on April 12, 2017 when the Fraternity officiated their sports day activities. Since then, the Fraternity of Roosters has continued to nurture, empower, support and transform the school through areas such as: academic support, co-curricular support, financial support and a mentorship programme. Students from the Fraternity are selected to mentor/tutor Grades 4 and 6 students in the areas of Numeracy and Literacy. These mentors are required to commit to at least one hour per week at the Grove Primary School.

Currently, the Fraternity is seeking to embark on a Mathematics Lab Project at the school with the aim of fostering an appreciation and love for Mathematics.

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UWIAA News

Scholarships & Bursaries Dr Pamela DaCamara and Dr Karl Massiah Scholarship The University of the West Indies received an extraordinary gift through the establishment of the Dr Pamela DaCamara and Dr Karl Massiah Scholarship valued at US$10,000. This scholarship will assist a deserving Year 2 or above student from the Faculty of Medical Sciences at The UWI with the financial burden of tuition expenses. This award is all the more special as it is named in honour of Dr Karl Massiah and Dr Pamela DaCamara Massiah, both UWI graduates who met at Mona over 50 years ago and who have given exemplary service to their communities and patients professionally and to The UWI Medical Alumni Association Toronto Chapter. Karl and Pamela are wonderful human beings and we are privileged to celebrate them through this scholarship.

Missions for Health Dental Scholarship Launched Proud UWI alumni Donat and Cecille Grant presented the Director of Alumni Relations for the Regional UWI, Celia Davidson Francis with a US$8,000 cheque to launch the Missions for Health (M4H) Dental Scholarship, tenable at the Mona Campus, on October 4, 2019. The Grants are the President and Vice-President of M4H and they have, with the full support of the M4H Board of Directors, provided this much needed scholarship. Additionally The UWI Alumni Association (UWIAA) Florida Chapter, of which the Grants are both members, has rallied around this great venture and will also support this scholarship, ensuring that it is given annually. Mrs Davidson Francis noted that, “The Grants are an outstanding example of alumni influencing organisations to assist their Alma Mater to support deserving UWI students.�

L- R: Cecille Grant and Donat Grant with Carmen Nicholas - Florida Chapter President, Celia Davidson Francis - Director of Alumni Relations for the Regional UWI and Miriam White, Florida Chapter Executive member.

Recipients of the UWIAA (Jamaica Chapter) Scholarships and Bursary

Jae Vonae Sterling (Scholarship)

Amanda Melvin (Scholarship)

Tyshona Hewitt (Scholarship)

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Andrea Bailey (Bursary)

UWIAA News

The UWIAA Florida Chapter Brings Graduates Together! gathered and celebrated the season with good music, an abundance of food, fun and conversation. Thanks to all those who attended and to all of you for your invaluable contribution of time, ideas, talent and financial resources.

Because the season of joy and goodwill would not be the same without getting together, The UWI Pelicans in Florida attended a Christmas Social on December 13, 2019. There was no charge to attend, but attendees had the option to support the Chapter’s local outreach and make a donation to support:

Members of the UWIAA Florida Chapter also participated in the 10th Annual Walkathon on December 7, 2019 and in so doing collected funds towards their UWI student scholarships. Pelicans may continue to make donations through Paypal via the Donate button at www.uwiaafl.org

The Coalition of Jamaican Alumni Associations of Florida drive to collect books for elementary schools in Jamaica and/or

This Chapter remains vibrant and active and they will be having several events including their annual soca and reggae party later in 2020.

Supplies for a needy family with preschool age children.

Thanks to the UWIAA Florida team, their Christmas Social was a great success. More than forty Pelicans and friends

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UWIAA News

Pelican Perks Advantage Programme Enhanced With Soft & Life Skills Series The UWI Alumni Relations and Alumni Chapters and the Alumni Relations arm of the Institutional Advancement Division (IAD-AR) launched their partnership with YoPro Global Foundation on the first Soft & Life Skills Series (SLSS) for students and alumni across all campuses Caribbeanwide on September 19, 2019. The first session with the theme “Increase Your Potential & Quality of Life Using Just Your Strengths” took place that same evening. The session introduced the Strengths Finder theory and its mechanics and demonstrated how to use one’s top five (5} dominant strengths and to leverage one’s weaknesses, in order to improve life and to increase performance.

This skills-series is part of the Pelican Perks Advantage Programme, available to The UWI students and alumni, and will be offered through Alumni Relations at The UWI Regional Headquarters. The online sessions will cover relevant topics related to social, professional, and personal development and different sessions will be hosted each semester.

YoPro Global has executed more than 100 such events worldwide in the past 12 years. It will provide speakers and industry experts for each session, coaching them on the audience and delivery, and coordinating the logistics for the presentation. The UWI Alumni Association members will be invited to participate alongside these speakers, to localise the experience and share their own perspectives on the speakers’ topics. The online platform allows for interaction with speakers and presenters.

“Our primary goal in engaging our alumni and students Caribbeanwide through these Soft and Life Skills programmes is to complement their academic knowledge and assist in their continued professional advancement,” said Celia Davidson Francis, Director of Alumni Relations for The UWI. “We will be involving

our alumni E-Mentors and are delighted to work with YoPro who will lead in the delivery. These quality interactive sessions will be offered in the evenings to allow easy access and participants join simply by logging on to an easy link.”

Dr Ty Richardson, Chairman and CEO of YoPro Global Foundation, noted that, “This partnership has been one of our goals for the last four years. We’re excited that on the 5th anniversary of YoPro’s Trinidad and Tobago signature Mentoring Young Professionals (M.Y.P.) Conference, we’re able to announce this partnership with one of the region’s most established and prominent institutions. This partnership will allow us to expand beyond Trinidad and Tobago and to reach the entire region, fostering a larger impact.”

The skill-enhancing sessions are beneficial “Pelican Perks” which will be offered to UWI students and graduates who are UWIAA members at complimentary or special, greatly reduced, affordable prices. In 2021, the SLSS programme will expand to host its first conference, introducing industry experts and graduate professionals to a live audience of UWI students, alumni and community members in Jamaica. In 2022, the programme will further expand to host conferences in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica on a rotation basis.

L-R: Professor Dale Webber, The UWI Mona Principal, Dr Ty Richardson, Chair of YoPro Foundation and Celia Davidson Francis, Director of Alumni Relations for The UWI celebrate the launch of the Soft and Life Skills Series – a part of the Pelican Perks Advantage Programme.

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THE FUTURE OF THE CARIBBEAN IS BLUE A series of virtual workshops on the opportunities of the blue economy The Ocean Oceans cover around 70% of the lands surface and more than 80% of them is unexplored.

With new technologies for ocean exploration, the understanding and discovery of new economic possibilities is possible, that must bring sustainability into the equation.

The Caribbean The Caribbean countries face many challenges derived from their small size and the geographical and logistical challenges related to being surrounded by water. Recent technological changes and innovations are transforming the way we view the ocean space of the countries and the way its resources are used.

The Blue Economy The new concept of Blue Economy includes the simultaneous promotion of economic growth, environmental sustainability and economic inclusion. There is a huge potential for innovation, technological development and exponential growth in the use of marine resources, whether for traditional industries, or novel types of engaging in marine aquaculture, seabed mining, maritime safety and surveillance, marine biotechnology, biodiversity and the use of the ocean for renewable energy.

About the series The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is organizing a series of virtual workshops to learn and discuss about emerging policies, scientific research, technologies, innovations and trends towards a sustainable Blue Economy.

World-renowned experts will share their views and discuss their experiences and perspectives with current and aspiring Caribbean leaders about different topics related with the blue economy. The outputs of these workshops will help the IDB and Caribbean countries to define and prioritize strategies, policies and action plans towards the Blue Economy.

Starting on October 2019, these topics will be covered in each workshop (dates to be announced soon) • The Imperative of Ocean Exploration • Entrepreneurship in the Blue Economy I (entrepreneurs) • Emerging Technologies for the Blue Economy • Entrepreneurship in the Blue Economy II (incubators and accelerators) • Rethinking Ocean Policies for Promoting a Sustainable Blue Economy • Realizing the Potential of Marine Energy • Approaches to Measuring the Blue Economy

Join us to be part of the new wave of innovators of the blue economy

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NEWS UWI STAT Advocates Climate Action at Columbia University Conference Clayton Mitchell, the Faculty of Science and Technology Representative to the Guild of Undergraduate Students, recently represented The University of the West Indies and the UWI STAT (Students Today Alumni Tomorrow) Vice Chancellor’s Ambassador Corps at the 6th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development. The conference was staged by the Global Association of the Master’s in Development Practice programmes in partnership with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network from September 24-25, 2019. The venue was Lerner Hall, Columbia University, New York. The Regional Director for the UWI STAT Corps, Mrs Celia Davidson Francis, Asha-Gaye Cowell a UWI STAT Alumni Ambassador, postgraduate student and a Past President of the UWI STAT Mona Corps and Clayton highlighted the work of the Corps by presenting a poster entitled: Climate Change and the SDGs in the Caribbean: Youth led virtual Forums advocate for unified regional action. Clayton is the current Vice President for UWI STAT with responsibility for Disaster Mitigation and Climate Change.

UWI STAT MOnA AMBASSADORS TAKE On FInAnCIAL ADVISInG The Victoria Mutual Financial Education to Empower (VM FETE) programme seeks to empower young people to make better financial choices. Through UWI STAT, opportunities are created for the VM team to lead financial education sessions on the Mona campus for the benefit of students. The members of the inaugural cohort of VM FETE Youth Ambassadors from the UWI STAT Mona Corps were announced on Dec 2, 2019. The Victoria Mutual Building Society’s selection panel was impressed by Renaldo Ramsay, ShanaKay Patrick, Jovaine Brown, Shenel Graham, Tanajh Howard, Monique Powell and Lakeisha Locke. The VM Group is confident that these students are poised for greatness and look forward to a great and fruitful relationship.

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UWI STAT News

UWI STAT Participates in the 6th Caribbean Youth Leaders’ Summit UWI STAT was invited by the Caribbean Regional Youth Council (CRYC) to participate in the 6th Caribbean Youth Leaders’ Summit. Ambassadors from the Mona and St Augustine UWI STAT Corps participated, as well as Alumni Ambassadors.

The summit, held from January 21 – 23, 2020, at the Hyatt Regency and Conference Centre in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago had the theme “Promoting Economic Empowerment - Building Synergies Towards Sustainable Development”. The summit focused on the development of a framework for active youth participation and accentuated the role of young people as strategic development partners in creating sustainable solutions to development challenges, especially through digitization and technological innovation, and active participation in the labour market.

Celia Davidson Francis is delighted that the UWI STAT Corps was involved in working towards crafting a youth-centred action and advocacy agenda.

The President of the Mona Corps, Shamar Wedderburn and the Vice President of CARICOM and Regional Integration, James Peart represented Mona at the summit. They also paid a courtesy call on the Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States, H.E. Ambassador June Soomer, as well as other distinguished alumni and had meetings with the St Augustine Corps which is led by President Ruth Bethel, while in Trinidad.

UWI STAT MOnA FULFILLS nATIOnAL VISIT MAnDATE Members of the UWI STAT Mona Corps Executive, as well as Ambassadors Designate, as a part of their National Visit mandate, were hosted by the Jamaican Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Information, the Hon. Alando Terrelonge. These visits aim to highlight this Corps of young leaders to the regional governments and the role of UWI STAT in enhancing the Mission of The UWI, through national and regional mandates, as well as to promote the Climate Change Advocacy network and to seek synergies with various government ministries.

This important meeting took place on November 4, 2019. Mona Ambassadors and Ambassadors Designate informed the State Minister about the Mission, Vision and Mandates of the Corps and each member was able to speak with him thereafter. He noted how well each Ambassador spoke and lauded the selection process of the Corps.

The Minister then spoke about Climate Action and he believes that UWI STAT Mona could play a large role in a major project being undertaken currently with UNICEF, which entails speaking to youth at various schools and making them aware of the dangers of Climate Change. The Minister pledged to liaise with the Corps and we were then able to outline how the Corps had already hosted two regional Youth Climate Change Conferences and that we are seeking to bring Climate Change advocates and groups

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together through our advocacy network. We also noted the acceptance of our poster presentation at the International Conference on Sustainable Development at Columbia University in New York in September 2019.

Minister Terrelonge also discussed the plastic ban and personal responsibility vis-à-vis environmental preservation and he challenged the Mona Corps to take our advocacy efforts further. We took the opportunity to outline some of the current programmes of The UWI through the Alumni Relations Arm of the Institutional Advancement Division (IAD) such as: E-Mentorship and the virtual Soft & Life Skills Series.

As the session concluded, I am proud to say that Minister Terrelonge praised the Mona Corps and stated that he was impressed with our insight and with our leadership qualities.

Report by the UWI STAT Mona President – Shamar Wedderburn

V.I.P. Very Important Pelican

V.I.P.

Professor V. Eudine Barriteau, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus has been awarded Barbados’ highest national honour – the Order of the Freedom of Barbados. She was among three who headed this year’s list of National Honourees to mark the 53rd anniversary of independence of Barbados. She was conferred with the Order of the Freedom of Barbados for her outstanding contribution to tertiary education and pioneering leadership in the development of gender studies and the promotion of gender equality, and now may be addressed and referenced as Professor The Most Honourable V. Eudine Barriteau.

“It is an overwhelming feeling of appreciation to have my work and my commitment recognised in my lifetime.” thrilled to make history as one of the first recipients of the Order of the Freedom of Barbados. I have enjoyed the contributions I have made and have a deep sense of loyalty to Barbados which has embraced me and enabled my flourishing as a scholar and leader. Thank you, Barbados.”

She migrated from Grenada as a child in 1966, attended St. Matthias Girls’ School, Ellerslie Secondary in Barbados and gained a BSc Honours degree from The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in 1980. Professor Barriteau holds an MPA in Public Sector Financial Management from New York University (1984), and a PhD in Political Science from Howard University (1994). She has published thirtyseven book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles, including her first book, The Political Economy of Gender in the Twentieth Century Caribbean (Palgrave, 2001).

She is an educator, a Caribbean feminist, scholar and activist with considerable experience in executive administration and coordination of regional projects. She also has extensive research interests that encompass transformational educational leadership, feminist theorising and investigations of the Caribbean political economy, and gender and public policy. She said, “I am simply overjoyed, humbled and deeply honoured to have been awarded the inaugural Order of Freedom of Barbados. It is an overwhelming feeling of appreciation to have my work and my commitment recognised in my lifetime. I am even more

She was a Latin American Scholarship Programme of American Universities (LASPAU) Fellowship scholar at New York University 1982-1984, and the first Caribbean woman awarded the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund Scholarship in 1991. She was an American Association of University Women scholar, 1992, and was awarded a Howard University Doctoral Fellowship, 1992. In 1997, she was the Inaugural Fellow of the Dame Nita Barrow Distinguished Women in Development Visitor Programme at the University of Toronto. She was an inaugural International Research Fellow at the Centre for Excellence in Gender Research (GEXCEL), Orebro, Sweden, April 2008, and was invited to return in November 2010 and March 2013. In 2018, on its 70th Anniversary, The University of the West Indies recognised Professor Barriteau for Outstanding Academic Achievement and Leadership, as one of 70 outstanding Cave Hill alumni. In February 2016, she was bestowed The Order of Grenada Gold Award for Excellence for 2015, at Grenada’s 42nd Independence Anniversary celebrations. At The UWI, she recommended in 2016, the creation of a Faculty of Sport, which was established in July 2017 and in October 2019, The UWI approved the proposal developed by Professor Barriteau for the establishment of a Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts which comes into effect from August 1, 2020.

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S

Pelicans Soaring Director of Tourism, Marketing at the Jamaica Tourist Board. She recently served as Regional Senior Manager at Scotiabank with responsibility for International Marketing within the Caribbean Region. She is an experienced digital marketer and led the regional marketing team in the development, implementation and execution of a variety of integrated, multi-channel mass marketing and digital campaigns to support growth and loyalty objectives in 17 countries.

Prior to that, she served as Scotiabank’s Regional Senior Manager, with responsibility for the marketing of credit and debit cards and everyday banking. During that period, she maximised partner relationships and led the communication strategy to deliver strong results, optimising media budgets and exposure. She is a UWI alumna with an MBA in General Management, specialising in Marketing and International Business Management. She holds a Certificate in Digital Marketing from Harvard University.

UWI alumnus, the Most Hon PJ Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, will be Statesman in Residence at The UWI Mona Campus. Since his official retirement from politics, Mr Patterson has emerged as a prominent figure in The UWI alumni matters and serves as patron of the University’s Global Giving Programme—an initiative created four years ago to raise money regionally and globally for financially distressed but deserving students. In addition, Mr Patterson’s donation of US$100,000 established The PJ Patterson Endowment Fund to provide scholarships for students to spend up to a year at another UWI campus, to re-create the spirit of regional integration. The UWI, in line with many elite global universities, approved the creation of a new category for nonstaff members, entitled “Statesman in Residence.” This honorary title is reserved for very distinguished and prominent regional and international retired leaders who are willing to carry out a scope of work within the University’s strategic plan and brings to the task the necessary budget and support system so as to be independent in their functions. In line with the diplomatic objectives of CARICOM to strengthen and promote closer functional relations with the African Union, and the declared intention to create an Africa-Brazil-Caribbean Diaspora (ABCD) Commission to give greater effect to SouthSouth economic development strategies, the University created a Centre for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy. The new Centre will be called the ‘PJ Patterson Centre for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy’. Mr Patterson who serves as Trustee of the African Foundation, will direct the research and advocacy of the Centre, working in close collaboration with former and current presidents of African states, the African Union that has designated the diaspora the 6th region of Africa, the regional private sector, relevant international organisations, and CARICOM.

UWI Alumnus Richard Byles is the new Governor of the Bank of Jamaica. Byles, the former CEO of Sagicor Jamaica, officially began his new role as Governor on August 19, 2019. He heads the Bank’s Board of Directors and acts in the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. He is no stranger to CEO and Chairman positions, having spearheaded several corporate business and finance companies in Jamaica. His 40-year academic and professional career has focused on nation building and finance.

He holds a BSc in Economics (The UWI) and a Master’s degree in National Development (University of Bradford). Byles has served on boards of both private and public companies and organisations, building a reputation as one of the most outstanding corporate leaders in Jamaica.

Mrs Camile Glenister, a veteran marketing communications professional with 20 years of product, campaign and strategy development and digital media execution is now the Deputy

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Pelicans Soaring Asha-Gaye Cowell, Alumni Ambassador of the UWI STAT Mona Corps received the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Leadership for 2019 in December.

It is Chevening Time!

UWI STAT Alumni Ambassador and UWI graduate Jeffrey Foreman serves as crown counsel in the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers. In this capacity he provides legal advice on matters relating to the drafting and enactment of legislation, which has included work in areas ranging from data privacy and protection to occupational safety and health, and national security. He also provides advice concerning the interpretation of the Constitution of Jamaica. In addition to this role, he is a tutor at The University of the West Indies, primarily in constitutional law, human rights law, and legal systems, and coaches Kingston College’s Schools’ Challenge Quiz team.

Jeffrey holds degrees in economics and in law from The University of the West Indies. He will pursue the Master of Laws at the University College London.

Executive Director of the AFUWI honoured The Executive Director of the American Foundation for The UWI, Ms Ann Marie Grant was recognised by the Mustard Seed Communities on Sept 29, 2019 at the New York Hilton Hotel at their Annual Benefit Luncheon.

She received an award for her commitment to scholarship excellence, her dedication to the advancement of the Caribbean diaspora and her lifelong service as a community volunteer.

Congratulations Ann Marie!

The Hon. Mr Justice Peter Jamadar is a new judge at the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Generations of Pelicans Soaring Dr Shazeeda Ali, who graduated from The UWI Law Faculty, shares that her father and four older brothers are graduates of the Medical Faculty at Mona.

Dr Emran Ali CCH, AA, FRCS - Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Principal Surgeon, Ministry of Health, Guyana (retired) - MBBS (UCWI, 1958) Taylor Hall Dr Amza Ali, FRCP, MBA, Consultant Neurologist, Jamaica - MBBS, (The UWI, 1984), DM Internal Medicine, (The UWI 1993) - Taylor Hall Dr Fazal Ali FRCS (Eng) 1993; FRCS (Tr&Orth) 2003 - Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Sheffield, UK - MBBS (The UWI, 1985) - Taylor Hall

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Judge Renatha Francis to the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court. The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit serves Palm Beach County. Renatha

Dr Altaf Ali JCPTGP (2000 ) UK - Owner, Manager and Senior GP Partner of a Family Practice, United Kingdom - MBBS (The UWI, 1990) - Taylor Hall Professor Sayed Ali - Professor of Radiology, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, USA, MBBS (The UWI, 1988), DM (The UWI, 1997), FRCR (UK, 1996), Diplomate of the American Board of Radiology 2002, FACR 2019 - Taylor Hall

Francis, of Miami, has served as an Eleventh Circuit Court Judge since 2017. She previously served as an attorney at Shutts and Bowen LLP. She received her Bachelor’s degree from The University of the West Indies and her Law degree from Florida Coastal Law School.

Dr Shazeeda Ali - LLB (The UWI, 1991), LLM (Cantab.), PhD (Lond) Attorney-at-Law, Dean, Faculty of Law, The UWI, Mona - Mary Seacole Hall

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Faculty Focus

– Regional and Campus news

On October 2, 2019, Dr C. Justin Robinson became the newest Professor at The UWI Cave Hill Campus. His research areas include Corporate Finance in Developing Countries; Capital Markets and Market Efficiency in Developing Countries; and National Culture and Organisational Management.

Professor is the highest academic rank at the institution and is only made after endorsements from external assessors who review the candidates’ original works in addition to a rigorous assessment process involving consultation with the Dean of the applicants and the Faculty Assessment Committees. Dr Robinson has served at The UWI for 22 years, joining the Cave Hill Campus as a Lecturer in the Department of Management Studies in 1997. In 2003 he was promoted to Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, serving in that capacity until 2007. Following that stint, he returned to teaching in Management as Senior Lecturer and then served as Head of the Department of Management for five years. In 2012, he became Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, a position he currently holds alongside lecturing at

the campus. In addition, he has held several other responsibilities at Cave Hill, including campus representative on the University Council and the Board of Undergraduate Studies. He also served as a member of the task force, ‘Creation of an Entrepreneurial University’ in 2016, and a member of the task force for the establishment of a Faculty of Sports in 2017. He has written almost 30 journal articles and book chapters as well as three technical reports on Finance in Barbados. He has had several invitations to present at prestigious conferences around the world. His service to national, regional, and international public and scholarly bodies is also noteworthy.

In addition, 10 more experts were promoted to the rank of Professor across The UWI. They are: CAVE HILL CAMPUS Dr Donna-Maria Maynard - Professor of Psychology MOnA CAMPUS Dr Lawrence Bamikole - Professor of Philosophy Dr Rachael Irving - Professor of Biochemistry and Sport Science Dr Mehmet Orhan - Professor in the Department of Economics Dr Eris Schoburgh - Professor of Public Policy and Management Dr Lloyd Waller - Professor of Digital Transformation Policy and Governance ST AUGUSTInE CAMPUS Dr Wayne Ganpat - Professor of Agricultural Extension

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Dr Rohan Maharaj - Professor in the Faculty of Medical Sciences Dr Michelle Mycoo - Professor of Urban and Regional Planning Dr Laura Roberts-Nkrumah - Professor of Crop Science and Production

Dr Maurice D. Smith became the University Registrar based at The UWI Regional Headquarters on August 1, 2019. He will serve as Head of The UWI’s Office of Administration, overseeing myriad administrative duties across the entire regional institution. He is the custodian of the University’s records and will act as Secretary for a number of bodies across the University system including the University Council, the Senate and any standing, special or advisory committees set up by the Council or Senate. Dr Smith holds a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Policy (with high commendation) from Howard University and was a 2010 Fulbright Scholar.

Faculty Focus

Professor Clive Landis became the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies on August 1, 2019. He was previously Deputy Principal of the Cave Hill Campus and thus has great experience about student matters. His track record of teaching, research, and outreach is also outstanding. In 2004, he joined the staff of The UWI upon relocating from Imperial College London to take up a post as Senior Lecturer in the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre (CDRC) at Cave Hill. He earned a promotion to a Professorship in Cardiovascular Research in 2009.

He has published over 150 scientific papers and conference presentations, the majority arising from research conducted at the Edmund Cohen Vascular Research Laboratory that he founded as an annexe to the CDRC. He will remain based at Cave Hill in Barbados during his tenure as Pro Vice-Chancellor.

Dr Donovan Stanberry OD JP, is the new UWI Mona Campus Registrar.

As such, he is the most senior administrator on the campus, serving as Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Operating Officer and as Secretary to all campus committees. He has oversight for Admissions; Campus Records Management; Examinations; Human

Resource Management; International Students Office; Marketing, Recruitment and Communications; Office of Graduate Studies and Research; Registry Information Systems; and the Secretariat.

He was formerly Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries. During his long career in the civil service, Dr Stanberry played a major and sometimes pioneering role in the formulation of policies and legislation in the subject areas under his various ministries’ portfolios. He has also negotiated numerous loans and grants with international development partners for a plethora of projects and programmes and overseen the successful implementation of said projects and programmes. He has also served on a number of public sector boards throughout his career. He completed a Master of Business Administration at the Mona School of Business and Management, with distinction, in 2002, and a doctorate in Environmental Management at The UWI, Mona in 2018.

He is also a certified teacher of the Russian language.

Professor Hariharan Seetharaman became Director of Graduate Studies and Research on August 1, 2019 at The UWI, St Augustine Campus. He is a Professor of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine. In addition to his medical qualifications, he also holds a PhD in Health Economics. Previously, he held positions as the Head of the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care and Director of Operating Theatres at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

He has published more than 120 papers in peer-reviewed international journals – including flagship critical care and healthcare management journals.

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He is the Editor-in-Charge of the Caribbean Medical Journal. He received The UWI Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in the Outstanding Research Accomplishments category in 2015.

Professor Verene Shepherd OD is the first Jamaican and CARICOM member to be elected to the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the first woman to be appointed to Chair the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. She is a historian, gender specialist, lecturer, author, radio show host and reparatory justice campaigner. She is an alumna of The UWI having earned her MPhil and BA degrees here and then her PhD from the University of Cambridge. She has six, single-authored books, five co-authored; ten edited/co-edited; over thirty referenced academic journal articles and over thirty-five book chapters as well as hundreds of papers, speeches and presentations delivered at various fora around the world. She is internationally renowned giving speeches at academic conferences and became a full Professor in the Department of History at The UWI Mona, only the second woman to achieve that distinction, some 40 years after the legendary Elsa Goveia. She received the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service (2016). She now heads the recently created Institute for Reparations Research at The UWI Regional Headquarters and before that was University Director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies. She is also Deputy Chair of the CARICOM Commission on Reparations and Co-Chair of the Jamaican Commission on Reparations. Internationally, she works as an elected member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

new Professors of Practice at The UWI

HIGHLIGHTS

American Foundation for The University of the West Indies Twenty-third Annual

Legacy Awards Gala July 1, 2019 - Mr Dodridge Miller, President and CEO, Sagicor Financial is a practicing subject matter expert and will serve as Professor of Practice in Finance attached to the Vice Chancellery. He is considered one of the leading finance minds in the Caribbean with more than 30 years’ experience in the banking, insurance and financial services industries. He masterminded the rise of Sagicor Financial conglomerate from the Barbados Mutual Life Assurance Society during the last fifteen years, to the region’s largest global financial conglomerate. His demonstrated brilliance as a finance expert has won him many accolades and awards, including an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from The UWI, his Alma Mater for his contribution to the development of financial services in the Caribbean, in October 2008.

On February 19, 2020 the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) hosted its 23rd Annual Awards Gala at the iconic Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, New York. Lorraine Toussaint received the Bob Marley Award and here celebrates with alumni at the Pre-Gala Cocktail. This year’s event, which is each year attended by the Caribbean diaspora, alumni and Friends of The UWI, corporate USA and executive management of The UWI honoured the following: Jamaica Money Market Brokers Group - The Chanellor’s Award for Excellence in Business Leadership St Lucian Prime Minister, the Hon. Allen Chastanet - The Legacy Award Trinidadian/American Lorraine Toussaint - The Bob Marley Award BRP Companies - The Vice-Chancellor’s Corporate Award Dr Godfrey Gibbison - The Pelican Award The Hon David Paterson, former Governor of New York - The Pinnacle Award for Public Service Leadership.

The AFUWI Gala raises funds to provide scholarships for students with financial need at The UWI.

March 1, 2019 - Dr Sterling Frost, a senior career banker and the Deputy CEO, Operations and Administration, First Citizens Group will serve as a Professor of Practice in Management Studies at the St Augustine Campus. He is a Senior International Management Executive with three decades of Global Corporate career experience in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean region. He has held senior positions in financial services in the areas of Retail and Commercial Banking, Operations, Public Affairs and Human Resources. Passionate about the need to nurture and develop human capital, Dr Frost has for the last 14 years been an Adjunct Lecturer at The UWI, St Augustine Campus and the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Scenes from the glittering AFUWI 2020 Gala.

PHOTOS: Margot Jordan Photography

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Campus Happenings CAVE HILL

Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, Professor Eudine Barriteau has noted that the establishment of the Faculty acknowledges that the Orange Economy represents the business of the region’s immediate future including the creative industries, film, animation, the gaming industry, theatre, dance, painting, sculpture, performance, music industry and video production.

FIVE ISLAnDS CAMPUS

The establishment of The UWI’s fourth landed campus, and the fifth campus of The UWI in Antigua and Barbuda provides a development platform for countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and expands The UWI’s regional capacity to deliver higher education for the 21st century. The Five Islands Campus began operations on August 25, 2019 and offers a suite of programmes across three schools: Health and Behavioural Sciences; Humanities and Education; Management, Sciences and Technology. Students from the Antigua State College, enrolled in The UWI Franchise Programme, are automatically absorbed in this first cohort as continuing students. The Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Five Islands Campus, Professor Stafford Griffith, will hold this position from August 15, 2019 to July 31, 2020. Formal launch activities included a public ecumenical service at the St. John’s Cathedral on September 1, followed by the ceremonial opening of the Five Islands Campus on September 3, 2019.

History made! The UWI Five Islands Campus officially welcomed 147 students at its inaugural Matriculation Ceremony on September 27, 2019. Antiguan scholar and top matriculant for 2019-2020, Kayah M. Ward, signed the academic register on behalf of her class. Having participated in the matriculation ceremony, a longstanding University tradition, the students at the Five Islands Campus are now formally recognised and accepted as members of The UWI. The cohort is currently pursuing studies in the Schools of Humanities and Education; Management, Sciences and Technology, and Health and Behavioural Sciences.

The 14th Annual Caribbean Child Research Conference was held at the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) at The UWI Cave Hill Campus from November 14-15, 2019 with the theme “The CRC @30: What does it mean for Caribbean children?”

The Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts will begin operations on August 1, 2020 and will offer multidisciplinary and cross-faculty teachings. Pro

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal (Interim), Professor Stafford Griffith told the new students, “You have

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Campus Happenings

the opportunity to reap the rewards associated with being graduates of this highly respected institution (The UWI) which is among the finest in the world.” Director of Administration and Finance at the Five Islands Campus, Ms Daniella Hickling chaired the ceremony. She declared, “While we begin with modest numbers and programmes, we celebrate this milestone and look forward with excitement to see this class bloom and to welcome even greater numbers.” Representative of the Guild of Students, Mr Caleb Gardiner led the students in the academic vow.

and Advocating.” The Head of The UWI Open Campus Dominica, Kimone Joseph noted the theme’s relevance to the creole culture to the Dominican identity which is important for national development. In the 2017 to 2022 strategic plan of The UWI, there is a call for the University to provide access, alignment and agility. “The hosting of the Dominica Country Conference is directly related to all three themes as we sought to bring researchers, practitioners and the general public together, to share and participate in the process of examining creole heritage in all its forms and to allow space for ideas on the paths we want its development to take in Dominica,” Joseph noted. She said this ground breaking event which was free and open to the public, brought together cultural leaders, academics, professionals and students to discuss creole cultural heritage issues and exchange ideas.

ST. AUGUSTInE

Alumni and other members of The UWI family participated in the 16th Edition of The UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon that took place on October 20, 2019 at the St Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago.

MOnA

The UWI Mona Campus placed first and third in the recently concluded annual National Business Model Competition, with two out of its five student-entrepreneur teams securing a combined cash prize of J$2.5 million. First place - Team JA Bio Plastics represented by Jordon Freeman (Faculty of Science and Technology) and Samantha Williams (Faculty of Social Sciences) and Third place - Team Pree Labs represented by Yekini Wallen-Bryan, Matthew Stone and Kriston Kong (Faculty of Engineering), made their winning presentations to a panel of private sector judges in the final round of the national competition on March 22, 2019. They competed against 13 other teams across four universities The UWI, Northern Caribbean University, University of Technology Jamaica and Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. Other UWI teams which participated in the competition were Align Technologies, ReRoute and Carib Voxx. This is the second consecutive year that The UWI has won the Competition. Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) through the Vincent HoSang Entrepreneurship Programme led the coordination of The UWI’s participation in the competition, providing the teams with mentorship, training and support.

OPEn CAMPUS

The UWI held its third country conference at the Open Campus Dominica on August 15 and 16, 2019 under the theme, “Creole as Cultural Heritage: Framing, strengthening

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Publications UWI Press Books named Among Finalists for 2019 International Book Awards December 2019: Three of the books of The UWI Press were named finalists in the 2019 International Book Awards.

The UWI Press finalists include: My Political Journey: Jamaica’s Sixth Prime Minister by P.J. Patterson - finalist in the Autobiography/memoir category Beryl McBurnie by Judy Raymond - finalist in the Biography category Free, A Novel by Martin Mordecai - finalist in the Fiction/general category

REMEMBER TO GET YOUR UWI PRESS BIOGRAPHY SERIES BOxED SET.

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Climate Science and Action Investments to Address Climate Change Make Good Business Sense damage. For deprived areas, this may exacerbate poverty creating further disadvantage. Each risk may be small on its own, but a small change in a number of risks can lead to large impacts. In the closing statement, the scientists reiterated the importance of the year 2020 in terms of climate action “Current emission reduction commitments are inadequate and risk throwing many nations into chaos and harm, with a particular vulnerability of poor peoples. To avoid this, we must accelerate action and tighten emission reduction targets so that they fall in line with the Paris Agreement. As we show, this is much less costly than suffering the impacts of 2oC or more of climate change. Tackling climate change is a tall order. However, there is no alternative from the perspective of human well-being - and too much at stake not to act urgently on this issue.”

Professor Michael Taylor of The UWI and Dr Adelle Thomas of The University of The Bahamas and Climate Analytics are among an internationally respected group of scientists who have called on world leaders to accelerate efforts to tackle climate change. The Caribbean scientists are co-authors of a study published in Science in September 2019, which points out that almost every aspect of the planet’s environment and ecology is undergoing changes in response to climate change - some of which are profound if not catastrophic for the future. Professor Michael Taylor, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Mona and a renowned climate scientist says, “This is not an academic issue, it is a matter of life and death for people everywhere, as most recently evidenced in The Bahamas with the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian. People from Small Island States and low-lying countries are in the immediate cross-hairs of climate change.” Dr Adelle Thomas, Senior Researcher, agrees and adds, “The current catastrophe being faced by The Bahamas is not an isolated incident. As evidenced by the widespread devastation felt throughout the Caribbean in 2017, extreme events are becoming more intense and Small Island Developing States are faced with addressing existential threats. There must be international coordination and transformational change to limit global warming.”

UWI Climate Expert Receives AnSA Award

The Science study also suggests that reducing the magnitude of climate change is a good investment. Over the next few decades, acting to reduce climate change is expected to cost much less than the damage otherwise inflicted by climate change on people, infrastructure and ecosystems. Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg from the ARC Centre for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies at the University of Queensland in Australia and lead author on the study noted that, “Acting on climate change has a good return on investment when one considers the damages avoided by acting.” The investment is even more compelling given the wealth of evidence that the impacts of climate change are happening faster and more extensively than projected, even just a few years ago. This makes the case for rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions even more compelling and urgent. For example, sea-level rise can lead to higher water levels during storm events, which can create more

Internationally acclaimed Climate Scientist and The UWI Mona Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology Professor Michael Taylor was celebrated by the ANSA McAL Foundation on March 30, 2019. His work which has been invaluable to practical and research advancements in the region’s response to climate change, was presented with the 2019 ANSA Caribbean Award for Excellence in Science and Technology. Professor Taylor also paid homage to the team of scientists he works with, noting that they all had a “genuine conviction” that their science could make a difference in the region. “In our case our motivation comes from the significant threat that climate change poses to the Caribbean way of life.” He joined 35 previous laureates throughout the Caribbean who have been honoured since 2006.

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Climate Science and Action

The UWI Hosts Inaugural Meeting of Commonwealth Universities to Collaborate on Climate Challenges and Resilience From July 5 to 8, 2019, The UWI Regional Headquarters was the stage for the first-ever meeting of universities across the Commonwealth to collaborate on climate challenges and resilience in their countries. The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), with its membership of an estimated 500 institutions in over 50 countries recognises that universities have a critical role to play in building climate resilience across the Commonwealth, through enhancing their own resilience and supporting local communities, businesses, and governments. For this reason, in 2018, the ACU established a Commonwealth Climate Resilience Network (CCRN) to link universities in climate vulnerable settings with those universities with relevant expertise, to develop and exchange knowledge and practice in climate resilience and adaptation.

among Commonwealth universities. The Coordinator of The UWI’s Institute for Sustainable Development and Director of the Centre for Environmental Management Dr David Smith, along with Mr Jeremy Collymore, Consultant, Disaster Resilience opened the meeting.

The UWI’s hosting of this meeting is demonstration of its continued commitment to supporting climate action as it seeks to make global impact. Earlier in 2019, the International Association of Universities (IAU) selected The UWI as its global leader in the mobilisation of research and advocacy for the achievement of a climate-smart world. The IAU designated this charge in recognition of the University’s decades of world class research on climate change and sustainable development. This critical collaboration on climate resilience supports the UN’s Sustainable Goal on climate action (SDG 13), which was reviewed in New York at its High-Level Political Forum 2019 under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The Network’s inaugural four-day meeting—convened in partnership with The UWI, the South Pacific and Fiji National University—provided a structured opportunity to share good practice and explore potential for collaboration

Virtual International Climate Change Youth Forum Focuses on Caribbean Synergies The Vice Chancellor’s UWI STAT Ambassadors held their annual virtual regional Youth Forum to support SDG 13 Climate Action on March 5, 2020. It was a part of the Fourth International Seminar on SDGs focusing on Climate Action taking place in Kingston, Jamaica at the Regional Headquarters of The UWI. The International Seminar was put on by the Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Latin America and the Caribbean at Universidad de los Andes and The University of West Indies. This was the third regional virtual Youth Forum, and the theme was - “Climate Action and the other SDGs: Synergies for Caribbean Survival and Development.” Although it was the final activity of the two-day conference, the expert climate change participants in the room were impressed with the ideas and suggestions of the youth panellists, as well as those who posed questions and comments virtually.

This virtual Forum encouraged youth across the region to take the message to their friends/classmates, families and communities that it should be in their DNA to care about Climate Change and gave recommendations for youth involvement at the community and national levels. Celia Davidson Francis, the Director and Coordinator of the Regional Corps and organiser of the Forum, was delighted with the impact the Corps is making in involving youth in Climate Change Action. Alumni Ambassadors also participated virtually. Importantly, a UWI STAT Climate

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Change Advocacy Network has been created, an outcome of the first Forum and youth are invited to join to add their voices for meaningful Climate Action. A monthly newsletter is produced and circulated to members regionally.

Climate Science and Action

The UWI is newest Member of the Global Resilience Research network The UWI is the newest member of a growing network of over 30 leading universities and institutes engaged in resilience research—the Global Resilience Research Network (GRRN). Launched in 2018, under the auspices of the Global Resilience Institute (GRI) at Northeastern University in the US, the GRRN is a worldwide body which informs the development of new tools and applications to advance resilience best practices. As a partner in the GRRN, The UWI will contribute its technical expertise through

faculty researchers in sustainability, resilience, and disaster risk reduction. Among The UWI experts who will serve on the GRRN are Dr David Smith, Coordinator, Institute for Sustainable Development and Director, Centre for Environmental Management; Dr Barbara Carby, Director, Disaster Risk Reduction Centre; Dr Lloyd Waller, Director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), as well Consultant for Disaster Resilience at The UWI Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Honorary Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Development, Mr Jeremy Collymore. Significantly, The UWI is expected to be a key contributor to the GRRN’s Island Resilience Initiative (IRI). This initiative aims to develop an action plan for a US-Caribbean Resilience Partnership, a commitment made earlier this year by 18 Caribbean higher education institutions across the region. The IRI takes a system-ofsystems approach that recognises the interdependencies among the built, natural, and social elements of communities and societies. Professor Flynn expressed his honour to be partnering with The UWI on this important initiative. He noted, “Distinguished scholars at The UWI have been making invaluable contributions not only to our understanding of the challenges that validate the need for improving societal resilience, but most importantly in providing leadership in developing innovative solutions.”

L-R: Dr David C. Smith, The UWI Coordinator, Institute for Sustainable Development and Director, Centre for Environmental Management and Dr Stephen Flynn, Founding Director of the Global Resilience Institute, Northeastern University, USA.

The UWI Recognised for World Class Climate Change Research and Activism In September 2019, The UWI’s Professor Michael Taylor, along with an internationally respected group of scientists, urgently called on world leaders to accelerate efforts to tackle climate change in a co-authored article published in Science.

Now, a video on The UWI’s climate action work is featured in a multi-university collaborative project with the International Association of Universities (IAU) and the BBC Global News.

The video forms part of a series called Aiming Higher which showcases how universities are instrumental to the development of sustainable and democratic societies; shaping minds, promoting diversity, ethical leadership and social responsibility. In light of increasing global challenges, higher education institutions, like The UWI, play a key role in leading the societal transformations that will seek to establish an equilibrium between people, planet, prosperity and peace. Thirty-four IAU member institutions from all five continents took part in the ambitious project.

The urgency of responding to climate change has long been a priority for The UWI. The UWI’s film, Tackling the Effects of Climate Change, focussed on Sargassum seaweed which has caused serious problems for Caribbean countries.

Unprecedented amounts of seaweed washing up on the shores in recent years have significantly impacted local hospitality and fisheries sectors. The film shows how The UWI has been taking action, helping coastal communities to promote sustainable management. The UWI continues to receive global recognition for its world-class research and activism with regard to tackling the effects of climate change and strengthening the Caribbean’s resilience in the face of increasing climate impact. In January, the IAU selected The UWI to be its global leader in the mobilisation of higher education and research for the achievement of a climate-smart and resilient world. Aiming Higher premiered at the IAU’s 2019 International Conference in Puebla, Mexico. The entire series can be viewed on https://www.iau-aiminghigher.org

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Climate Science and Action

The UWI’s Dr David Smith and the First Sustainable Development Report Dr David Smith, Coordinator of the Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD) and Director of the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM) at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), is one of 15 independent scientists who prepared the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). This inaugural global report, commissioned by the United Nations Secretary General, was launched in September 2019 ahead of the 2019 SDG Summit. It aims to strengthen the science-policy evidence-based approach to advance knowledge that informs action and supports policy makers and stakeholders in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Entitled “The Future is now: Science for achieving the SDGs”, the report stresses the need for governments, business, communities and civil society to transform key areas of human activities such as food, energy consumption and cities. It reveals that some models of development have delivered prosperity to hundreds of millions, but have also led to continuing poverty and other deprivations; unprecedented levels of inequality that undermine innovation, social cohesion and sustainable economic growth. The group argue that the situation has brought the world close to tipping points with the global climate system and biodiversity loss. It states further, that these development models are not sustainable, and the progress made in the last two decades is in danger of being reversed through worsening social inequalities and potentially

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irreversible declines in the natural environment that sustains us. The scientists conclude, however, that a far more optimistic future is still attainable.

The report emphasises the need for a collective, holistic approach along six key “entry points” that can accelerate transformational action for sustainable development. These include: human well-being and capabilities; sustainable and just economies; food systems and nutrition patterns; energy decarbonisation with universal access; urban and peri-urban development and global environmental commons. The levers identified to be deployed to enable transformation include: governance; economy and finance, individual and collective action; science and technology.

Dr Smith, speaking in a video release on the report noted, “The good news is that we can get back on track and there are ways to get those goals, but we’ve got to do the right thing”. The report will be produced every four years. It will strengthen the work of the high-level political forum on sustainable development.

In addition to his positions at The UWI, Dr Smith is Coordinator of the University Consortium of Small Island States (UCSIS) and Caribbean Coordinator for the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN Caribbean). Dr Smith’s contribution is celebrated by The UWI for both his individual achievement and role in advancing the regional University’s strategic advocacy for Climate and Sustainable Development Action.

Sir Alister McIntyre

efforts to have economic analysis inform Caribbean policy. But for our academy his death triggers memories of the good he wrought among and for us. His legacy to our University of the West Indies is enduring and the many changes he introduced to improve its governance and management are withstanding the test of time.

The following statement was issued by the Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, Mr Robert Bermudez on the passing of Sir Alister McIntyre, who served as The UWI Vice-Chancellor from 1988-1998.

It is with deep sadness that The University of the West Indies community learnt of the passing of Sir Alister McIntyre, ViceChancellor Emeritus, on Saturday, April 20, 2019. The quintessential Caribbean man, his life was spent in service of the region he called home. An economist by profession, he lectured at the St. Augustine and Mona campuses of The UWI and also served as Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research, then Director at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) before becoming Vice-Chancellor of The UWI in 1988.

His image is graven upon the institution in physical and intellectual form. But there is no gift more critical for us and for generations to come than his skill in Grand Anse in 1989 in ensuring that the University would remain a regional institution in perpetuity. He was an incurable optimist, for while he would sometimes bemoan the fact that many of the good ideas for a vibrant, puissant West Indies would be washed up on the beach of parochialism, he never lost the faith. And that was in part because his heart told him that the growth of tertiary education led by The UWI was a simple heuristic of progress towards the West Indies of his dream. I trust the acute pain of the presence of his absence will fade for his family and all those who knew him and especially those of us who called him friend. I trust that that pain will be replaced by the glow of gratitude for what he meant and what he did when he laboured among us.

After his retirement from The UWI a decade later, he continued to serve the region as Chief Technical Advisor to the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, playing a central role in the region’s trade negotiations in several arenas. His was a sterling contribution to regional development from the days of the Caribbean Free Trade Association in the 1960s, from the creation of the Caribbean Community in 1973 to the crafting of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy in 1989. He was also instrumental in ensuring that the Heads of Government of CARICOM recognised the pivotal role played by The UWI in the human resource development of the region and enshrined The UWI in the 1989 Grand Anse Declaration, setting the CSME in motion, as a regional institution in perpetuity. In addition to the many structural and operational changes to ensure more efficient functioning of the institution that he piloted, Sir Alister initiated the strategic planning process which is now an integral part of The UWI’s operations. The region has lost a transformational leader; a giant among men whose contributions to our development shall continue to benefit this generation and generations into the future.

The following excerpts are from a tribute to the late Sir Alister McIntyre issued by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI.

The following statement was issued by Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor Emeritus of The University of the West Indies on the passing of Sir Alister McIntyre, who served as The UWI Vice-Chancellor during the period 1988-1998.

“The pace of his institutional reforms and transformation was hot like fire… In short order the traditional, British style threeterm structure of the academic year was blown away and the American oriented semester system became the new order.

The modernisation of The UWI had begun. He assembled his leadership team to transform its academic operations, restructure its finances, and raise the standards of academic performance. Simultaneously, he engaged the global space to make his case. The United Nations system was called upon to provide funding for capital works to yield capacity across the region in areas of science and technology. The global private sector was tapped for support in building new dormitories to secure the expansion of student enrolment from the region and internationally. Within this context, he secured the coveted tax exemption status for the American Foundation for The UWI that has since hosted an annual fund raising Gala in New York.

Grieve we must and grieve we shall. We grieve for ourselves because we have lost the light which Alister McIntyre shone upon the things many of us hold dear. There are those who will speak eloquently about his skill as an economist and his

Critically, Sir Alister moved with alacrity to institutionalise a culture of formally rewarding academic, administrative and service efforts. The annual Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence have since been the benchmark for

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In Celebration of Their Lives accomplishment recognition. The modern UWI in its management dimensions took sustainable shape and form within his imagination, orations and actions. In effect, what can be described as ‘The McIntyre Moment’, born in a hurricane, represents the beginning of a new era. The image, for example, of three landed campuses, stuck in their status as independent seeking entities, was disrupted and set aside. The new strategic planning process foregrounded the ‘One-UWI’ principle. In this regard, he might have saved the University from its internal impulse to be too overtly campus-centric. A generation of academics, leaders, and administrators was schooled in the McIntyre model and mentality. It is evident today, twenty-one years after his term, that our strategic planning cycle is still driven by the compelling imperative of economic development and social transformation. His vision, and his mission, remain robustly relevant.

Indies and the recipient of an honorary graduate degree from The UWI Open Campus in 2016. He was an outstanding humanitarian and dedicated his life to serving the people of Antigua and Barbuda as well as the regional community through his advocacy in many areas, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. He was an advocate for family planning and evangelistic in his commitment towards providing medical care for the poor. His medical contribution was not his only strength, as Dr Sir Prince was also a prolific and award-winning calypsonian. As a proud alumnus of The UWI, he kept close ties with the Alumni Association and supported the University’s Global Giving Week events held in Antigua and Barbuda under the patronage of his former classmate, Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams. Vice Chancellor Beckles notes, “Dr Sir Prince Ramsey was a stalwart in the development struggles of the Caribbean, and the OECS in particular. He was a sophisticated and cultured man, multidimensional in his skill sets that enabled him to relate to his society on several levels. In many ways, he was an exceptional citizen who embraced and celebrated Caribbean civilization in his contribution to humanity.”

The Board and management of The University of the West Indies Press (UWI Press) remain deeply saddened by the loss of Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Sir Alister McIntyre. His mission to build a globally renowned university led to the foundation of the UWI Press in 1993. He had the foresight and acumen to realise the vital role of a university press in a growing tertiary institution like The UWI. While there were competing demands for the University’s resources, Sir Alister knew that investing in a high-quality academic press would pay dividends in the decades ahead. The UWI Press stands today as a proud testament to Sir Alister’s vision and honours his unflagging support over its twenty-six-year history.

Through Sir Alister’s commitment, the Press now represents The UWI as a distinguished publisher of award-winning books, promoting both the University itself and Caribbean scholarship in general to the world.

James Alfred George Patrick Irish, generally known as George Irish was a Montserratian academic, musician, composer of the national song, community leader and social engineer. He was a UWI graduate and the first UWI recipient of a PhD in Spanish. He has taught at The UWI, where he headed the Department of Spanish, in the Domincan Republic at the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo and in the USA at the City University of New York where he was Professor of Caribbean and Latin American Studies. He also headed the Caribbean Research Centre and the Office of International Programmes at Medgar Evers College in New York. He was Editor-in-Chief and founder of the scholarly Journal of Caribbean Studies, Wadabagei and President of the Caribbean Diaspora Press Inc. and Caribbean American Research Foundation Inc. in New York. He was co-founder and Chancellor of the Universidad Popular de Desarrollo Sostenible de Las Americas and founding Board member of the International Centre for Sustainable Development in Panama. He authored/edited thirty-two (32) books including: Visions of Liberation in the Caribbean 1992, Life in a Colonial Crucible, 1991 and Growth of a Revolutionary Consciousness, 1990.

Dr Ian Jacobs was conferred the MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his contributions to Medical Services during the Investiture to present Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Honours for the year 2018.

He was a very competent and caring paediatrican who was widely admired in the medical community and looked up to as a model of professionalism and dedication. Dr Jacobs graduated with his Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from The UWI Mona Campus in 1980. From 1980 to 1982, he was Intern and Senior House Officer at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados. While there, he did additional rotations dealing with accident and emergency (A&E), conditions of the ear, nose and throat (ENT), and orthopedics. In 1986, he went back to Mona to study paediatrics, spending his elective year (1988-1989) at Yorkhill Paediatric Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland and completing his Doctor of Medicine (DM) degree in Paediatrics in 1990. Since 1990, Dr Ian Jacobs worked in St. Kitts and Nevis, caring for hundreds of children at his private paediatric practice and at the Joseph N. France General Hospital, where he served occasionally as the sole paediatric practitioner for over 28 years. He served as President of the St. Kitts Medical Association (1991-1998) and also served on the board of the St. Christopher Children’s Home for many years.

Dr Ludlow Burke was one the thirty-three pioneer students when the University College of the West Indies (now The UWI) opened in 1948 and was among the first Medical Graduates in October 1954. He served as a Senior Medical House Officer at the University College Hospital and was proud of his University and Caribbean heritage. While living in Canada, Dr Burke supported the medical alumni in Toronto as well as the UWI Alumni Association Toronto Gala Luncheon and ensured that UWI Pelicans of all ages kept connected to share knowledge, network and of course to socialise - but importantly to excel and to leave their mark. The UWI is proud of his achievements, recognising his expertise in the field of medicine. His passing has left a huge gap in the hearts of all those who knew him and who benefited from his medical expertise and goodwill. He will be greatly missed.

Dr Sir Prince Ramsey was a graduate of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the then University College of the West

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In Celebration of Their Lives Economy, Culture and Sports, John King. She championed Barbados’ musical heritage and shared her knowledge and expertise with young scholars, researchers and cultural enthusiasts.

Professor Emeritus Knolly Alan Butler FRCS, FACS, FCCS, CM (Gold) of the Faculty of Medical Sciences studied Medicine at the University of London where he won many academic awards. The Hallett Prize, most cherished by Professor Butler, was awarded to him after he topped his class in the Primary of his Fellowship examination. In 1960, Alan Butler became Mr Butler, having been accepted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. After returning to the Caribbean, Mr Butler served as a Senior Surgical Registrar under at The University Hospital of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. He then returned to Trinidad to get medical teaching started. The Eastern Caribbean Medical Scheme was initiated, developed and lead, for 23 years, by Alan Butler. He then went on to specialise in Vascular Surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. He began his career at The UWI St Augustine when, in 1967 he assumed the post of Lecturer, Department of Surgery in the Eastern Caribbean Medical Scheme. In 1968, he was appointed Sub-Dean, Trinidad. In 1971, he was promoted to Senior Lecturer. From 1972 to 1979 he was ViceDean Commonwealth Caribbean. In 1974 he was recognised for his contribution to the setting up of surgery in the Eastern Caribbean and his overall contribution of the Faculty of Medicine. With the opening of full-programme teaching at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS), St Augustine, Alan Butler ascended the academic ladder and became the first academic Dean of the Faculty, and Director of the School of Medicine, a post he held for 11 years, demitting in 1993. When the decision was taken by his successor to expand the FMS (St. Augustine) Professor Butler was appointed the first Director of the School of Clinical Medicine and Research in Nassau, The Bahamas in 1997. In 2000, he was again appointed Honorary Consultant, Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences and in 2001, he became a part-time lecturer in Surgery and continued to serve in this capacity until the 2012 to 2013 academic year. He was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold) in 1987 and had the title of Professor Emeritus bestowed on him in 1998 by The University of the West Indies. He was conferred the title of National Icon in Science and Technology, by NIHERST, in 2005 and became an Honorary Fellow of the Caribbean College of Surgeons in 2007. Also in 2007, he was, along with other medical colleagues involved, honoured on the tenth anniversary of the opening of the School of Clinical Medicine and Research in The Bahamas.

UWI Hon Grad Dr noel Dexter OD - renowned Jamaican composer, author, lecturer and Choir Director of the University Singers based at The UWI Mona, from 1997 – 2012 passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2019. While at The UWI he led the University Singers to critical acclaim, both nationally and internationally. Many UWI graduates who have attended the University Singers’ concerts over the years will remember him. He taught many the art of writing and arranging music, developing choral and individual voices. His creative genius is unparalleled and he was able to direct many voices with choral integrity. He composed the University Song “There is a Light.” He also composed Psalm 150 – “O Praise Ye the Lord”, “The Right Hand of God”, “Sing De Chorus, Clap Yuh Hand” as well as songs like “See it Ya”, “Wash Day”, “Duckonoo Life” and “One Ting Lead to Another”. He was recognised by the Government of Jamaica for his work in the field of music, receiving the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) as well as the Pelican Award from the UWIAA Jamaica Chapter and the Silver Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica.

Professor Barrie Hanchard was widely regarded as Jamaica’s and the world’s leading pathologist. He was the principal investigator on a team conducting research into the retrovirus HTLV-1 for 20 years. This virus is responsible for a number of diseases that affect several systems of the body, including a unique leukaemia, a chronic paralysis of the lower limbs and a chronic eczema in children. The recognition of these three diseases gained international acclaim for The UWI’s Faculty of Medical Sciences. Additionally, the information was considered so vital to the health of the population that the Ministry of Health instituted the testing of blood for HTLV-1 in order to prevent spreading by transfusion. During his decades-long tenure at The UWI Mona, Professor Hanchard trained hundreds of young doctors in pathology. He has also written a chapter in one of the most widely used pathology textbooks in the world – The Pathological Basis of Disease.

Franklyn ‘Chappie’ St Juste, a master film-maker who positively impacted professionals throughout Caribbean media and culture fraternities was celebrated for his contribution and influence at The UWI Mona Chapel on November 25, 2019. He taught at the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) at The UWI Mona Campus for many years and was behind major film productions The Harder They Come in the 1970s, Children of Babylon, almost a decade later, and the short film The Cool Boys.

Dr Elizabeth Watson, cultural scholar and activist was committed to telling the untold stories of marginalised music makers in Barbados. Her documentation and archiving of Barbados’ and the Caribbean’s music lore remains invaluable. As an ethnomusicologist and calypso connoisseur, she served the National Cultural Foundation of Barbados as a distinguished judge in the Pic-O-De-Crop Calypso Competition and later Party Monarch competitions. Even after her tenure as an adjudicator, she never missed a Pic-O-De-Crop and continued for many more years as an observer and analyst of this premier competition. As an archivist and audiovisual librarian, Watson was a reservoir of information and an invaluable resource with respect to the chronicling and safeguarding of not only the local, but also regional history of music and several discographies of popular artistes like Cultural Ambassador, Stedson “RPB” Wiltshire with her publication Mr Ragga Ragga and From Ma Boy to a King, the annotated discography of the music of the Minister of Creative

Excerpts from the CARIMAC Tribute – Dr Livingston White, Director - CARIMAC Although we, at CARIMAC, claimed Chappie as our own, his vast knowledge of and experience in the film industry extended beyond the borders of 3 Sherlock Drive and when he was not in the studios or lecture rooms at CARIMAC he was engaged with youngsters from August Town who

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In Celebration of Their Lives were a part of The UWI’s Community Film Project; or the ArtUpDownTown project at Studio 174 on Harbour Street. At other times he was busy working with scientists in the Faculty of Science and Technology, to create the video documentary for the cardiac surgery simulator. On other days he would be at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts preparing for another show. Sitting in the CARIMAC foyer one day, as he often did, Chappie was asked about some of the lessons that had guided him throughout his long life and productive career.

He replied with a list: - To be impeccable in my word; Don’t take anything personally; Don’t make assumptions; and Do my best all the time. We can celebrate the fact that Chappie played his part well at The University of the West Indies and we are confident that his legacy will live on for decades. So long Chappie…

on December 31, 2018. He supervised numerous students with their final year projects. His work was featured in the April 2015 issue of UWI TODAY and he was also profiled in the November 2017 article, “The Mechanical World of Mr Harnarine”.

Dr Athimoolam Kumaresan, of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences came to The UWI St Augustine Campus in 2007, assuming the post of Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Physiology on August 17, 2007. He retired in 2013 and returned to India. During his tenure at St. Augustine he served on the Editorial Board of the West Indian Veterinary Journal and was a member of many committees at the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Excerpts from the Tribute by Dr Patrick Prendergast, Former Student of Chappie and Campus Director, The UWI Mona Western Jamaica

Zaida Hosein of the Department of Facilities Management started at The UWI, St. Augustine Campus on July 22, 1970 as a Secretary in the Office of the Campus Registrar. She moved to the School of Education in 1973, then on to the Works Department on secondment as an Administrative Assistant.

She returned to the School of Education as a Secretary to the Dean, retiring on October 27, 1996. She held a host of post-retirement contractual positions at the following departments: Cocoa Research Centre, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Campus Projects Execution Unit, University Project Implementation Unit, Hugh Wooding Law School and the Faculty of Humanities and Education. Her last appointment ended on October 26, 2002.

Chaps was a giant of a man who made an incalculable contribution to the teaching of media and communication across the Caribbean. He was a colossal influence on both the production and performance of communication and certainly for me a master at debating the instructional, directional, and developmental functions of media and the creative arts.

Chappie was a kind of a sage, a unique brand of Master teacher. He was always inviting students for group work and special assignments; but I think it was just a guise for sharing his passion for cooking which was as intense as his passion for production. As a student I never had that experience; but as a friend? Man! I was happy to visit with him in the hills.

“The coffee is brewing. The palau is almost done. Let the wifie know the star apple tree is laden. The gate is open. Come on up!” I treated my visits as mini retreats which could last anywhere from 15 minutes to 15 hours. Chappie was one of the most fascinating of raconteurs to have emerged from the special mix of creatives that only the Caribbean experience could have produced. Simply put, his transition is a huge loss to the interpretive anthropology of this uniquely dynamic space called The Caribbean.

Martin Henry, Gleaner columnist since 1987 was a graduate of The UWI. He was a University administrator, communication consultant, writer, lecturer and public affairs analyst. He co-authored: ‘The Story of the Telegraph in Jamaica,’ Arawak publications. His motto was, “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men” (Colossians 3 v 23).

Trudy-Ann Marquis, of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics (DMLL) joined the then, Department of Liberal Arts, Faculty of Humanities and Education in March 2011 as a full-time Instructor in the Academic Literacies programme on secondment from the teaching service. She also worked as a part-time lecturer in the School of Education, in the Summer Programme. She worked as a full-time Instructor until May 2014, After this period, she worked as a part-time Lecturer in both the Linguistics and English Languages and Literatures with Education (ELLE) sections of the DMLL until most recently in the 2018-2019 academic year. She received her BA in English Language and Literatures with Education in 2010 with first class honours, then her MA in English Language in 2012 with distinction, followed by her MA in Speech Language Pathology in 2016 also with distinction; all from The UWI, St Augustine.

Roopchand Choon of the Centre for Language Learning, Faculty of Humanities and Education, The UWI, St. Augustine started at the then, Faculty of Arts and General Studies as a cleaner in December 1977. He also acted as an Office Assistant at the Department of Languages and Linguistics from 1982 to 1985 and was reassigned to the Centre for Language Learning in August 1999. He retired in December 2016.

Rodney Harnarine, of the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI St. Augustine graduated in 1973 with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and in September 1983, he worked as Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He left the University in 1993 and joined Chase Foods Ltd. as their Managing Director. Much of the manufacturing machinery at Chase Foods Ltd. was designed and built by Harnarine himself, including a 200-pound capacity peanut roaster. In July 2016, he was appointed Senior Lecturer (part-time) at The UWI, St Augustine and held that post until his retirement

Azad Hosein of the Department of Management Studies, received his BSc in Actuarial and Computer Science at McGill University in Canada in 1970 and obtained his MBA at the University of Toronto in 1976. He started working at The UWI St Augustine in June 1977 as Systems Analyst at the Computer

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In Celebration of Their Lives Centre after a short stint as Systems Planner in the Corporate Planning Department at Caroni Limited. In September 1977, he became a Lecturer in the Department of Management Studies and became Head of the Department in August 1979, serving in that position until November 1981. He lectured in the areas of Management Information Systems, Advanced Management, Production and Operations Management and Quantitative Business Analysis. In 1992, Mr Hosein, through his company Microsearch International, Inc., worked with The UWI St. Augustine’s Engineering Institute to provide a range of consultancy services and UWI-certified executive seminars/workshops in strategic planning, project management, financial planning, business restructuring and institutional strengthening.

UWI alumna, Susan L. Belgrave, was an esteemed Employment Barrister and Lead Trustee of the British Foundation for The University of the West Indies (BFUWI).

Since her appointment as a BFUWI Trustee in 2011, she enriched the charity foundation’s visibility and effectiveness through her dedicated and invaluable service. She was well known and admired for often making personal sacrifices to ensure service excellence. In his personal tribute, ViceChancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles said, “Susan was a soldier in the battle to sustain Caribbean commitment to development and achievement. Not only as a colleague, but as my cousin, I could not have been more proud of the good causes to which she dedicated her love and life.” A career switch in her earlier years, led Susan to study law at The UWI Cave Hill Campus. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales in July 1989 and enjoyed a legal career for more than 30 years, specialising in employment and discrimination law.

Susan was described as a leading practitioner in her field by The Legal 500 in the U.K. Her life, character and public service is acknowledged and celebrated by her UWI family.

Dr Ena Thomas of the Faculty of Humanities and Education started working as an Assistant Lecturer in Spanish at the then College of Arts and Sciences on September 16, 1963 in Trinidad. She was promoted to Lecturer on October 1, 1966.

She then went on a Fulbright Fellowship to Cornell University, NY to work on research for a doctoral degree from September 1966 to 1968 and received her PhD on August 28, 1974. She served as Acting Head of Department of the Division of Humanities in 1968 and 1969 and later as Acting Head of Department of French and Spanish Literature from 1980 to 1982 and 1984 to 1986. From September 1983 to 1984, Dr Thomas secured her second Fulbright/LASPAU Fellowship with an attachment to the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico as a Visiting Investigator. Dr Ena Thomas was also Vice Dean in 1981 and served as Campus Coordinator of French and Spanish Literature.

Dr Waveney Charles of the Faculty of Medical Sciences passed away on April 7, 2020. Dr Charles is the first registered haematologist in Trinidad and Tobago where she pioneered the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders. In her role as Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service, she transformed and internationalised this country’s blood banking service and established a paediatric haematology programme that resulted in a decreased mortality rate among children with thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia and haemophilia. Dr Charles was the recipient of the Chaconia Medal (Gold) — For Long and Meritorious Service to Trinidad and Tobago in 2018.

Harold Hoyte was a veteran journalist and Editor Emeritus of the Nation Newspaper. He had a long and distinguished career in journalism, starting his profession as a copy writer at the Barbados Advocate in 1959. He later moved to Canada where he worked for the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Telegram and editor of the Contrast. On his return to Barbados, Hoyte along with several other colleagues founded the Nation Newspaper in 1973 where he served as Editor-inChief for three decades. In recognition of his outstanding career, the Government rewarded him with the Gold Crown of Merit in 2003 and in 2005 he was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by The UWI. On May 2, 2019 the building which houses the Nation Publishing Company Limited was renamed the Harold Hoyte and Fred Gollop Media Complex.

Vernon Brewster, former Director of Student Advisory Services (now the Division of Student Services and Development), passed away on February 23, 2020. Vernon was employed as a teacher in the Ministry of Education and Culture (Trinidad and Tobago) from 1951 to 1960. He then worked as an Assistant Youth Employment Officer and was also the Coordinator of Teachers’ Training Courses, Ministry of Education from 1969 to 1971. He worked as an Assistant Executive Officer in the Caribbean Employers’ Federation in 1971 and subsequently at The UWI St Augustine campus as the Director of Student Advisory Services from 1972 to 1977, achieving tenure in 1977. His duties included responsibility for discipline, welfare and counselling, liaison between students and staff, and advising on extra-curricular activities.

Mr Brewster saw the urgent need for distressed persons to have access to a listening ear. He joined with nine other individuals to establish Lifeline - a non-religious, non-judgemental, confidential, volunteer-based organisation aimed at befriending the despairing and suicidal, in November, 1977.

Everest Antoine of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences began her career at The UWI, St Augustine Campus as a Clerical Assistant in the Registrar’s Office, Personnel Section in 1986. In 1989, she was promoted to the post of Secretary/Stenographer and transferred to Community Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences. She moved to the Centre for Medical Sciences Education in 1993 and in 1994, Ms Antoine started working at the School of Veterinary Medicine as a Secretary. She remained there until her retirement on March 27, 2011.

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