UWI STAN & Perspectives October-December 2015 by UWI St Augustine

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015 STAN & PERSPECTIVES is a publication of The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Office of the Campus Principal MANAGING EDITOR: Pro Vice-Chancellor & Principal, Clement Sankat

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Arnold Corneal CONTENT EDITOR: Debra Coryat-Patton DESIGN & EDITORIAL TEAM: Linda HutchinsonJafar, Donna Ramsammy and Kathryn Duncan PRODUCTION: Caribbean PR Agency

WRITERS Joann Carrington Tony Fraser Pat Ganase Khamal Georges Linda Hutchinson-Jafar Dr. Priya Kissoon Dr. Ramón Mansoor Professor Patricia Mohammed Donna Ramsammy David Renwick

© University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the publisher or agent. Views expressed are not necessarily those of The UWI St. Augustine or Caribbean PR Agency

Contents Celebrating 55 Years of Achievement and Excellence

EDITORIAL

The BSc Programme in Geosciences

PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP

The UWI’s Indelible Mark on My Life as a Leader

Changing the Engineering Mindset

Reconfiguring Education Delivery in a Post-Colonial Caribbean

The UWI as an Instrument of Equity

Investments for a Healthy Society RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Petroleum Studies Unit to help Guyana acquire expertise in Fossil Fuel

Healthy Animals, Healthy People

Establishing a Significant Structure for Sport at UWI St. Augustine

UWI IN SOCIETY

Rediscovering The UWI at 55 through Research

Kick-’em-Jenny: quiet after eruptions

Internationalising The UWI

Arabic in Trinidad and Tobago

The Caribbean must aim for regional food security

Distinctive Leaders in their Own Spheres

Agricultural Innovation Park to Transform Caribbean Food Industry

The Edible Campus

The Law Faculty Dean talks about her recent IACHR Missions

Alternative Remedies for Pain Relief

COLLABORATIONS

The Transformation of North Gate Building the Foundation MY CAMPUS

Natasha Soars to the Top

Matriculation and Welcome Ceremony 2015

A Dream Deferred

UWI SPEC International Half Marathon 2015

Message from the Principal

Pg. 2

s we come to the end of another

with new facilities being established

calendar

year, many things

such as our Diplomatic Academy

seem to be occurring all at once.

of the Caribbean, the Academy of

While we still ponder on the activities

Nursing and Allied Health, a state-of-

of the current year, we have also

the-art Dental teaching facility, the

begun to envision the path that we

expansion of the Mt. Hope School of

must pursue in the New Year. This is

Dentistry (the first expansion since

not unusual as the end of every year

its inception) and its new student

is as much a time for reflection as it is

facilities, our new Seismic Research

for forward-thinking. The year 2015

Centre (SRC) building, the Facilities

has been a very special year for us as

Management building, the new

we celebrated the 55 anniversary

Teaching and Learning Complex,

of The UWI St. Augustine Campus.

and a place of pride – the University

With this significant milestone in

Inn and Conference Centre, among

mind, it is important that I reflect on

others.

Professor Clement Sankat

Celebrating 55 years of Achievement and Excellence The Journey Continues

some of the many accomplishments that have occurred over the past

The development of our Agricultural

five years, since last paying tribute

Innovation Park at our East Campus

in 2010, when we celebrated our

in Orange Grove in partnership with

Golden Jubilee.

China Agricultural University (CAU) of Beijing has been a tremendous

Overall, there has been tremendous

achievement as we bring our

growth

Our

newly recreated Faculty of Food

student enrolment for instance

and Agriculture in line with the

increased

approximately

demands of a food insecure/climate-

16,000 students in 2009/2010 to

challenged environment. We have

approximately 19,000 students by

made significant progress at The UWI

the end of 2014/2015. We have

St. Augustine South Campus – Penal/

become the largest Campus of

Debe over the last few years, one

the regional University of the West

that is unprecedented in the history

Indies and our postgraduate student

of our own regional University of

numbers reflect 1/3 of our student

the West Indies; a landmark project

population. We have also witnessed

that will change the face of our St.

extraordinary expansion of the

Augustine Campus.

and

development.

from

physical dimensions of our Campus

The most prominent product that directly measures our success as a

higher

orbits

education

around

contribution regional

our

institution, continued

national

development

and

through

our graduating students. Every programme, project or initiative we implement or undertake is done with the primary objective of developing

We remain relevant and responsive to our diverse stakeholders, always extending our reach and strengthening our regional cohesion.

good students; exemplary men and women who will add value to

years have also been tremendous

us to earn income, leveraging on our

our respective economic, social

and impactful. It has been an

assets while bringing new services

and cultural circumstances. Over

extraordinary period in which we

to our students.

the last three years, our graduation

were able to construct a formidable

numbers steadily revolved around

foundation

We were the first Campus of the

4,000; an admirable output for any

position our university as the

regional UWI to attain institutional

university and we remain confident

premier higher education institution

accreditation for the period 2011-

that these graduates will continue

in the English-speaking Caribbean

2018, which speaks to our leadership

to follow in the footsteps of the

ensuring that we remain relevant

in total quality management, both in

many who have gone before them

and responsive to our diverse

academic and service related issues.

– responsible global citizens who

stakeholders,

extending

In April 2014, we had an Institutional

make a meaningful contribution to

our reach and strengthening our

Accreditation Mid-Term Review –

the advancement of our society. In

regional cohesion. We have seen

Focused Site Visit, and 3 months later,

our graduation ceremonies, we have

new partnerships with the private

in July 2014, the ACTT presented to

also recognized men and women of

sector – with Republic Bank, with

us a report in which they described

our country and region who have

ANSA McAL, and now with Huawei

The UWI St. Augustine Campus as

made tremendous contributions;

and Digicel as I write. Building the

a “high quality institution, . . . one

distinguished individuals such as

University-Private Sector partnership

that continues to secure significant

Roy Cape, David Rudder, Norman

is a major leap for our Campus and

capital investment despite the

Sabga, Catherine Kumar, Maureen

University, and I hope that more

impact of the global economic

Manchouck,

of these win-win partnerships will

crisis;” that despite difficulties in

Robert Riley, Father Clyde Harvey,

follow.

recruitment, we possess a high

Deokinanan Sharma, and many

our

thrust

caliber of teaching and research

more illustrious sons and daughters.

which has led to strong links with

staff at all levels; and the team was

These extraordinary individuals are

India, China, Canada, Cuba, Brazil,

particularly encouraged by the

all exemplars for our graduates to

etc., and opportunities for our

general acceptance of the positive

emulate.

students; major research funding

role played by quality assurance on

from international agencies like the

the Campus: they observed steady

Our many strategic partnerships

European Union and an exponential

growth in the acceptance of a

with local, regional and international

growth

culture of active engagement with

organizations within the last five

activities on the Campus to enable

Ronald

Harford,

that

continued

always

We have also intensified internationalisation

commercialisation

quality assurance activities.

Principal Sankat with Huawei representatives and Exhibitors at the Research Expo 2015

The Campus, despite the challenges

No review of the past five years can

– Sir Philip Sherlock, Dr. Dudley

of growth and expansion, views

be complete without mentioning

Huggins, Professor Lloyd Braithwaite,

quality of its academic output and

the creation of the new Faculties

Professor George Maxwell Richards,

service as a central pillar of its work.

on our Campus – Law, Science

Professor Compton Bourne and

and Technology and Food and

Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie. But so

Another significant achievement

Agriculture. It took considerable

too have some stellar Deans of the

is the establishment of The UWI-

courage and strength by our regional

Faculties such as Professor Ken

Trinidad and Tobago Research and

University to make this a reality and

Julien of Engineering, Professor John

Development Impact (RDI) Fund in

I am very pleased with the progress

Spence of Agriculture, Professor

2012 – a unique multi-million dollar

to date.

Samuel Ramsewak of Medicine,

scheme that bridges university

Professor Patrick Watson of Social

research and academic outputs

I must at this juncture make special

Sciences, Professor Funso Aiyejina of

with development outcomes. In

mention

Humanities and Education – and the

October 2015, we had a triple

persons who have also contributed

research event. Our campus hosted

to the development and preparation

the UWI-NGC Research Expo a few

of our future generations by their

Our predecessors, including our past

weeks ago, which was a resounding

steadfast commitment at some time

Vice-Chancellors found the fortitude,

success once again and we took the

during the last 55 years. History

commitment and will power to

opportunity to launch our second

would attest that overall, we in the

work towards the creation of an

research

publication, ‘Advancing

Caribbean have been truly blessed

educational institution; an institution

Knowledge: Impacting Lives’ as well

with astute academic leadership and

that continues to produce leaders

as a series of UWI Research Impact

I thank all the Campus Principals who

who are highly respected all over the

films which showcased the work of

have gone before me that have set

world. We thank them for their vision,

our Faculties.

the stage for this success including

passion and their will to act on their

and

recognize

those

list can go on – thank you.

convictions. Notwithstanding, we

our regional community when our

our institution to thrive. Our leaders

must be mindful that outside of their

entire university is interconnected

must continue to lead, open doors

legacies, is a responsibility for others

like never before so as to really create

and execute like never before, as

to follow closely in their footsteps,

an environment for ONE UNIVERSITY

the challenges which face us are

to ensure the sustainable journey of

supporting our teaching, research

real. We have to become a nimble

academic excellence pursues well

and our services. The last five years

university quick to change and

into the future. In this context, our

also saw the advent of The UWI

adapt to our local, regional and

young people must recognize that

Open Campus, especially created to

global environment. I appeal to

within every follower is a hidden

support distance education and our

all our staff therefore to embrace

leader; a leader who is more than

service in the smaller islands of the

the challenges that we may have

capable of moving society forward

Caribbean; a work in progress, but

ahead, and let us work together to

in a positive way and in the right

one which holds great potential for

conquer these adversities and seize

direction.

our future growth and development.

the opportunities in the interest of preserving the legacy that has been

As we look to the future, I must finally

In closing, while I accept that as

established over the past 55 years as

make mention to what I refer to as

an institution, our achievements

a Campus. These are all attainable

“creating a SMART University” as we

at the UWI St. Augustine Campus

and we must be unrelentingly

continue to function in a rapidly

and at the regional University

committed to this cause. Our legacy

evolving

global

of the West Indies have been

has clearly defined who we are as

society. Our university is partnering

substantial, there is still much more

a University and etched the path

with some of the world’s leading ICT

to accomplish. There is therefore

that guides us to the role that we

companies to make our university

little room for complacency as the

must continue to play, a leadership

one that is truly connected. As

world waits for no one! We must

role! We can only be satisfied, when

seek to create a future that would

we are able to continue that legacy

and

allow and encourage any and

of excellence and achievement for

Communications Technologies (ICT)

every student from all walks of life

another 50 years and beyond.

are critical to the progress of The

to be enthusiastic about learning.

UWI. The use of technology goes

To get to this stage, however, we

As we all prepare to enjoy the

beyond developing e-platforms for

must all work together – teachers

‘Yuletide season’ with our families

on-line learning; it encompasses the

must provide the best resources

and friends, I convey my very best

integration of SMART technology

and instruction to our students;

wishes to all our students, our staff

in all that we do, which will ensure

administrative staff must provide the

and to the public at large and I pray

more efficient administration of

best service with efficiency; and the

that we all have a safe and enjoyable

an enterprise that is physically

management team must create the

Season, that is followed by a

dispersed. We do look forward to

right policies, governance structure

successful and rewarding 2016! 

the many benefits that will accrue to

and an enabling environment for

technological

multi-campus,

institution,

multi-territory

Information

From the Desk of the

Editor-in-Chief Included in these ceremonies was

for the way forward. Our readers

the awarding of Honorary Doctoral

will benefit from learning about the

Degrees

distinguished

Chancellor’s approach to influencing

Trinidad

and

the Heads of Government of the

This edition of STAN

Caribbean to start the process

features interviews with some of

which allowed us to look at global

hope that you enjoyed reading

the recipients such as King David

health from another perspective.

the first issue of the new STAN

Rudder, Mr. Gérard Besson, Justice

We will discuss his role as Director

magazine as we placed as a priority

Jean

former

Emeritus of the Pan American Health

having relevant topics that would

diplomat, Mrs. Marjorie Thorpe. They

Organization (PAHO) and the impact

address important matters that

will all share their sentiments on

of his stewardship on this region.

relate not only to what happens

what it feels like to be officially part

here at the St. Augustine Campus,

of the most distinguished echelons

The strength and substance of the

but also in the population at large.

of this regional institution.

information captured in this issue

candidates Tobago.

Arnold Corneal

six from

Permanand

and

of STAN is overwhelming, as the The second issue continues in

Also to look forward to, are some

Vice Chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles,

that same vein. However, a lot

extremely

interviews

takes us down the path that led

has occurred within the last few

with both the Chancellor, Sir George

to his development as a scholar,

months; all very positive and even

Alleyne and the Vice Chancellor, Sir

leader, playwright, sportsman and

momentous in some cases. As

Hilary Beckles. In the interview with

a few more incarnations of the

many of you would be aware, The

STAN Magazine, Sir George conveyed

quintessential Caribbean Man. We

University of the West Indies, St.

that “no person who has the ability

chart his life from emigrating as a 12

Augustine hosted six graduation

and desire should be denied the

year old from Barbados to the inner

ceremonies where almost 4,000

opportunity to go to university.”

cities of Birmingham, England; then

students

graduation

He candidly discusses the current

his eventual return to the land of his

awards comprising both undergrad

arrangement of GATE, as it exists

birth, Barbados, as a young adult,

and postgrad degrees.

today, and makes some suggestions

pursuing a career in academia.

received

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

important

All the messages outlined in this

being undertaken by both students

towards realizing their dreams,

issue of the STAN are intuitive and

and Staff, at the St. Augustine

while at the same time becoming

meaningful. They address several

Campus; with articles featuring

productive citizens of our country,

issues, not only those housed in the

Professor –Industrial Engineering,

who will embrace our civic duty and

parameters of the University, but

Dr. Kit Fai Pun, Professor-Physiology-

responsibility not only to society, but

also those that afflict the society at

Head, Department of Pre-Clinical

also to our families and ourselves.

large. As some already know, many

Sciences, Dr. Jonas Addae, and Head

of our current leaders of Industry

Department of Basic Veterinary

The environment at The UWI St.

and Government emerged through

Sciences,

Augustine is forever dynamic, as it

the UWI’s regional system.

Andrew Adogwa.

continues to provide the resources

As it relates to our focus on human

that contribute to financial, social

In this edition of STAN we speak with

strength

and economic development, of not

the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. The

the most touching accounts of

only our country but also the region.

Honourable Keith Mitchell, who is

human courage is examined in

an alumni of The UWI, and attended

the magazine, as we highlight

The STAN captures the activities

the Mona Campus in Jamaica.

the struggle of a young student

of the University and brings them

His insight and by extension

athlete, Travis Barran to overcome

to the forefront for the purpose

his

the

his affliction with cancer; now being

challenges that our region currently

able to return to school and pursue

Further, it allows readers to become

faces is stimulating to say the least.

his dream of becoming an Engineer.

part of all that is happening at

solutions,

address

Professor-Anatomy,

character,

one

Dr.

Dr. Mitchell also the Chairman for

edification

and

discussion.

our St. Augustine Campus, while

CARICOM’s sub-committee on West

The

this

demonstrating the value that this

Indies Cricket had a lot to say about

magazine is not only to showcase

leading higher education institution

the recent developments and plans

the

brings to society at large. We look

to revive our regional team.

University, but more importantly to

forward to your continued support

motivate and inspire others to set

and do enjoy this edition of our

will

goals and aspirations for themselves.

magazine. 

continue to give a comprehensive

Our testimonies must encourage

outlook on the valuable work

our readers to work assiduously

always

the

magazine

overall

objective

accomplishments

of of

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Profiles in Leadership

The UWI’s Indelible Mark on my Life as a Leader Up close with Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Hounourable

Dr.

Keith

shared with five other young men.

even played cricket with the famous

By his analysis, no one can live in

Empire cricket Club in Barbados.

Grenada, immediately takes us

such close proximity for such a

With sport having a formidable

back to his days as a student at The

long period and not either break or

place in his early development,

UWI Mona Campus in Jamaica. He

bond. He says, “There was a bond of

he believes that sports play a very

reminisces on his fond memories of

friendship that lasted.” The men have

important role in Caribbean culture,

occupying a two-room apartment,

all remained close, have attended

creating connectivity across island

which he believes are central to his

each other’s weddings and been

states. He’s happy to see the inroads

undergraduate experience at UWI

there for each other at the major

that UWI is making in sports today.

and which can tell the tale of a man

personal events. Today their children

He applauds the sports medicine

made and shaped by traditional

call each of them uncle. He reflects

program and the pioneering of the

Caribbean values, and which he

with satisfaction on the fact that

Institute of Sport. “It’s not a straight

attributes as pivotal to his deep

they have all become distinguished

cash thing…it isn’t about money. It

sense of commitment to regional

in their field – some in Chemistry,

has to be seen in terms of what it

development.

conversation

some in Law. He himself went on

develops.”

happens at a STAN interview during

to Howard University to pursue

his recent visit to the St. Augustine

an MSc in 1975 and a Doctorate in

Dr. Mitchell is currently Chairman

Campus where he was asked to

Mathematics and Statistics from

of the CARICOM sub-committee on

deliver the feature address at the

American University in 1979.

cricket governance and has recently

Mitchell,

Prime

The

Minister

Awards function for the Faculty of Science & Technology.

issued an ultimatum to the WIBC to He digresses to another anecdote,

act or be disbanded. “The problem

as he embarked on some discussion

with West Indies cricket”, he says, “is

Dr. Mitchell appears very relaxed

of the rudimentary challenges faced

poor governance.” He sees the issue

as he settles himself to prepare

by young students. He tells the story

as a legacy one. “It is a colonialist,

to conduct this interview in the

of having to get a girlfriend to help

archaic structure. It was born in a

conference room at the office of the

them cook. Even then he displayed

colonial period and is still governed

Campus Principal. Before we can

the leadership qualities that mark

the same way for the past fifty years.

get into the interview, he diffuses

him today. Facing a real risk of

So clearly we cannot get 21st century

the formalities by injecting a few

starving, the housemates looked to

results.”

personal quips about cricket. He is

him for a solution to their kitchen

keen to get beyond the titles and

problem. As he said, “None of them

After having joined the faculty at

into the real conversation about

could cook.” They hit on the idea of

Howard and later starting his own

what motivates him and what he

getting a girlfriend to teach them

consulting company in Washington

wants to see happen next for UWI.

how to cook. The lot fell to him as

D.C., he admits that coming back

‘big brother’ to lead the way.

to the region was a tough decision. He recognised that while many

In keeping with his earlier reflections on his life as a student, we ask him

An avid Cricketer, Dr. Mitchell was

like him, went abroad and were

about what happened in his student

a member of the Grenada National

doing well, it was often a loss to the

years at the Mona Campus that has

Cricket Team from 1964-66. In 1973

region. “I had no family support”, he

influenced where he is today. That’s

he was made Captain. During his

explains. “I was doing well financially

when he draws on the imagery of

time as a student he was selected

and left a secure position to come

the two-room apartment that he

to the President’s 11 at UWI and

home.” There are no regrets however. STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

“UWI has the research capacity to drive solutions.” meaningful

trading

structures

between the countries. “For example” he explains, Grenada has great potential in cocoa, just as Trinidad & Tobago have in watermelon and peppers”. Intra-regional efficiencies can be established. What is needed in his estimation, is the political will. Prime Minister Dr. The Right Hon. Keith Mitchell (L) signs the guest book at the Office of the Campus Principal. Looking on is Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Professor Clement Sankat.

There is a key role for the university in regional development, as Dr. Mitchell sees it. “Technology drives everything and The UWI can leverage

As a matter of fact, he plans to

concern for him, is climate change

this for creating an integrated

immortalise his journey in an

and land usage across the region. He

approach to addressing the current

autobiography when his current

strongly believes that the agriculture

challenges - not just in agriculture

tenure as Prime Minister comes to

agenda has to be prioritized and

but in crime, the war on drugs and

an end.

that The UWI must play a key role in

in how it empowers its people.” Dr.

how this is addressed.

Mitchell expresses a deep passion

Dr. Mitchell believes that too many

for his love of country and region

regional leaders stay in position

“We are importing a lot of our food”,

and

for too long. He doesn’t intend to

states Dr. Mitchell. Current data

Caribbean economic and cultural

run for office again but, he teases,

shows that those figures are in the

growth is very high on his agenda.

“Nobody’s getting rid of me. Now

range of US $42 million (TTD 260

But equally as important to our

that I have an absolute mandate, I

million) for Trinidad and Tobago.

regional development he asserts,

should go off on a high and use my

“UWI has the research capacity to

must be our astute attention to West

experience for value.” He plans to be

drive solutions.” He paints a picture

Indian Cricket; like CARICOM, one of

busying himself with delivering on

of resource allocation that shows

the last true bastions of West Indian

those many things he identifies for

how each territory specialising in

integration. 

change across the region. One such

niche agri-products to allow more

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

patriotic

commitment

Dr. Khellon Roach and his wife Dr. Samantha Roach, graduated together with Phds at the recent graduation ceremony in October. The couple is seen here receiving their congratulations from Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor, UWI. Khellon is a Research Assistant with the Office of the Campus Principal, UWI, St. Augustine.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Profiles in Leadership

Sir Hilary Beckles

Reconfiguring Education Delivery in a Postcolonial Caribbean Interview with Sir Hilary M. Beckles

“The challenge for education” says

“We have a chronic shortage of

Sir Hilary M. Beckles, Vice Chancellor

skilled and formally trained persons

of The University of the West Indies,

in the region,” said Sir Hilary. In

is “a complex one.” As he explained,

describing the demographics, he

it’s not just about better alignment

explained that the English-speaking

of programmes with the societal

Caribbean is at the bottom of

needs, it’s about the quality of skills

the pile in the 18-30 aged cohort

and the number of persons enrolling

of young persons enrolling in

into tertiary education across the

tertiary education. With the lowest

Caribbean. The inadequate output

percentage of citizens pursuing

as he positions it, is a result of poor

higher education, the figure for

front-end loading. The numbers

the English Caribbean stands at an

point to a very disturbing trend when

alarming 15%, and trails behind

compared to what’s happening

its French, Spanish and Dutch

elsewhere in the world.

neighbours across the region. In Latin America, that figure is an

Sir Hilary spoke to STAN during the

encouraging 25% and growing, as it

recent graduation events at the St.

emulates the North American model

Augustine Campus this semester.

which shows a 40-plus percentage of enrolment of the same cohort.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Sir Hilary sees it as a legacy issue – a result of colonial conditioning. Britain’s neglect of the region from which it benefited in substantive and material ways, is also reflected in its institution of a limiting education system

aimed

Sir Hilary is committed to altering the status quo by focusing on strategically aligning curriculum development with business and industry needs.

entrenching

a culture of dependency and

also helped to cement his identity

on strategically aligning curriculum

inadequacy. To break free of these

as an eminent Caribbean thinker

development with business and

distorted notions of who we are,

and visionary. Knighted under the

industry needs.

the Caribbean people must utilise

Order of Barbados in 2007, which

education, applied research and

is conferred for “extraordinary and

Reflecting on the quantum of

technical training to drive change.

outstanding

and

academic output, he believes that

“There is a clear correlation between

merit in service to Barbados or to

Trinidad and Tobago has done

tertiary education and training

humanity at large”, Sir Hilary was

well not because of its petroleum

and the capacity for innovation

recognised for his “distinguished

economy, but because it has invested

and

development.”

service in the field of education, in

more per capita in education than

Getting there, he determines, is a

particular at university level, and

any of its regional neighbours. One

collaborative process. “As a moral

his dedication to the furtherance

of the results of this investment

mandate, there must be some

of the arts and sports, in particular

is that for each professional job

compensatory investment by Great

cricket.”

advertised in the Caribbean, 60% of

economic

achievement

Britain in upgrading and updating

professionals filling those positions

education delivery to the best global

His trajectory to Vice Chancellor

are from Trinidad and Tobago due

standards. His 2012 work, ‘Britain’s

for The UWI was therefore not

to the 30-plus years of investment in

Black Debt: Reparations for Caribbean

unexpected and heralds a much

education.

Slavery

Genocide’,

anticipated change. We asked him

provides insights into his premise

about the concerted effort over

While Barbados has had fully funded

and recommendations for redress.

the past five years to position The

education for fifty years, the numbers

The Vice Chancellor cites South East

UWI on a more globalized footing,

were not comparative. Additionally,

Asia as a useful model for the region

especially here at the St. Augustine

Barbados had focussed primarily

of how post-colonial investment can

Campus, and about the benefits he

on a services economy like tourism

transform education and accelerate

expects to be derived from adopting

banking and insurance. “Now that

economic development.

this approach.

tourism is no longer competitive”,

and

Native

says

Sir

Hilary, “the

Barbados

STAN was curious as to what

Sir Hilary stated, “The Caribbean

economy has to be diversified.”

fuels his passion and sustains this

needs to strengthen its footing

Today, the country is gearing up for

indefatigable advocate of change.

with

a major investment in technical and

Sir Hilary credits The UWI for who

acknowledging that we have a

he is today. His identity he says, is

”chronic shortage” of skilled and

inextricably bound to UWI, as this is

formally trained persons in the

The problem, as the Vice Chancellor

where he got his base. His mother and

region, Sir Hilary is committed to

sees it, is a distorted perspective on

father who were keen on education,

altering the status quo by focusing

investments in education.

strong

collegiality.”

professional education.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

14 Sir Hilary sharing a light moment with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

diaspora can help with the resources needed to make it happen. He responded to our question on the internationalisation of the university and whether he felt enough was being done by The UWI to make its mark in the global arena with a definitive yes. “Global positioning is built into our DNA – it’s who we are and what we are. We already have academic staff that are globalised. We have

Though

substantial

still

transformation. It is that kind of

academic staff all over the world.” As

“Governments

are

focus, he maintains, that is needed

he explains, there are over five million

seeing it as a public expenditure

in the Caribbean. While we have

Caribbean people in New York City

rather than a strategic investment

to build the base with volume, we

alone. More of our academics live

towards higher levels of innovation

also have to streamline to meet

and work in New York State alone

and competitiveness.”

the evolving needs of business and

than there are in the Caribbean.

industry.

“Our

insufficient.

The focus

he insists, must be on applied education. “We must create the

academic

community

largely outside of the Caribbean

base but simultaneously channel

He theorises that youth exposed to

and most of these persons are in

into sectors to ensure industry

higher education are less likely to

the US.” The objective, is not to try

alignment. Technical education is

be involved in crime. “Education”,

to woo them back to the region,

as important as professional training

says Sir Hilary, “intellectually attunes

but rather to reconnect with them

and academic education – it’s not

us to civility, safety and public

and to access their service to assist

one or the other.”

accountability…if one can read and

with the transformation agenda. Sir

understand the issues around them,

Hilary says, it is about “creating a

Sir Hilary references his discipline

they will not behave in anti-social

pipeline between the North America

in economic history to make his

ways.” He makes anecdotal reference

academic community and The UWI”.

point. “Look through the centuries

to the taxi-driver, a key player in the

The university benefits, and they

at Britain, Germany and Japan.

tourism sector. He surmises that a

experience a new sense of relevance

Germany was building technical

taxi driver functions well in a service

and connectivity to the region

universities

was

economy because he understands

through their contribution.

still focussed on liberal arts until

the impact of the budget on his

the establishment of the London

livelihood.

while

England

University by the business class.” It

important

aspect

the

globalisation of the institution is

was the emergence of polytechnics

While increasing enrolment quotas

institutional

in the UK and Europe that started

and

education

the Cave Hill and St. Augustine

to provide the quantity and quality

delivery is a critical necessity, Sir

campuses have forged relationships

of graduates needed to effect

Hilary believes that tapping into the

within Asia.

STAN JULY - SEPTEMBER 2015

diversifying

the

partnerships.

Both

St.

Augustine

established

“It doesn’t happen naturally.” The

and diplomacy in the initial stages.

strategy with the China Agricultural

Registrar will take the next year to

For him, it is an option that certainly

University, and Cave Hill with

develop strategies to engage and

beats going to the IMF and the

the Global Institute for Software

enrol towards strengthening the

World Bank.

Technology in Sujo, Japan. “We are

university’ collegiality.

now establishing an Institute of

Britain, according to Sir Hilary,

Science and Technology on both

Once

get

the

dynamics

neglected

campuses”, Sir Hilary explains, and

right

–

academic,

technical

four hundred years of ownership

“we are proposing to build a branch

and

administrative

capability

and exploitation. The issue of

of the Institute of Caribbean Studies

streamlined, it opens a whole

reparation through investment is

in Sujo.” The UWI is currently in the

new world of possibilities. Those

one that fuels much emotion and

process of working out the details

possibilities

sees

debate, but it is one which Sir Hilary

of a partnership agreement for the

it, are opportunities for wealth

believes is necessary to grow the

establishment of the ‘Sunny-UWI

creation. “The world is impressed

region’s skills and labour capacity

Institute for Caribbean Leadership

and stimulated by our leadership

to enable economic growth. While

and Sustainable Development” with

contribution in culture and sports

they didn’t do so at the moment of

campuses at both institutions.

and to some extent in governance,

independence, he believes that now

the judiciary and literature. However

is the time for Britain to act decisively and materially.

Sir

Hilary

Sir

Hilary

anticipating

there is concern about our economic

commensurate

increase

performance and the increase of

administrative

capacity

and

engagement

process.

Caribbean

after

That investment has to occur at

poverty in the region.”

capability. “We are pushing the employee

the

multiple levels – first by diplomacy “Humanity’s

future

would

then by collaboration. Sir Hilary

Unfortunately results of our recent

depend

assessment show that at best,

consolidate Caribbean civilisation

payment” of three hundred million

our administrative employees are

by strengthening our economic

dollars by the current British

moderately engaged. That does not

infrastructure.” Britain, he insists,

Prime Minister to build bridges

augur well for building efficient and

has a moral duty to help the region

and roads. It is for him, the first

dynamic relationships with students

with a development plan. “We are

signs of admission of responsibility

and

practice

impacted right now by a recession

and demonstrates a willingness to

universities have done so through

for which we are not responsible…

compensate a region over which it

concerted efforts of engagement.

We have been a source of their

has fought wars, taken resources and

Last month’s sporting activity at

wealth, and now they must be part

secured its own wealth. Education

the Vice Chancery teaches us the

of the solution… to participate (not

he asserts, must get a share of the

value of an engaged staff and how

lead), in building out the economic

reparation pie to make economic

that builds a tremendous sense

infrastructure.” That solution, he

transformation more complete. 

of camaraderie.” But he cautions,

posits, will require much dialogue

colleagues.

Best

whether

can

commends

the

recent

“down

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Profiles in Leadership

The UWI as an Instrument of Equity Candid interview with UWI Chancellor

countries, but Sir George believes that his basic theses should inform the Caribbean position. “I would wish to see the development of the culture in which families that have the means to do so, save for their children’s education in the same way that they save for the acquisition of other private goods.” The UWI as a regional body is an instrument of that struggle towards equity. “It may have been conceived as an institution to provide university education to Caribbean persons as a substitute for the expat colonial schools. Was it not Arthur Lewis who said that education should not be limited to the elite? Today, an institution like The UWI can no longer satisfy its region or represent the legitimate

ir George Alleyne is

should contribute to his or her

aspirations of Caribbean people at

musing on one of the current

own university education,” says

four campuses.”

hot issues being debated at The

Sir George, the Chancellor of The

University of the West Indies (UWI)

University of the West Indies.

St. Augustine: “I was approached

The

university,

believes,

must change as its environment

by a reporter who asked what I

“By the same token, no person who

changes.

thought about GATE and student

has the ability and desire should

Declaration

fees. In my view, it is not equitable

be denied the opportunity to go

states, ‘We the people in order

to provide rich and poor students

to university. If you accept those

to form a more perfect union

the same subsidy. There are two

two fundamental theses, then the

… do ordain and establish this

basic theses on which we should

state has responsibility to provide

Constitution…’

agree.

the resources for those who do

that we may never have a perfect

not have them to go. But it doesn’t

union, but our job is always to

“A university education is a mixture

have the responsibility to provide

work to try to make it perfect.” Ever

of a public and a private good. It is

for those who have the required

the diplomat, the debater with

a private good in the sense that

resources.”

himself, he adds, “The day that

the individual benefits. And the

“It’s of

the

Independence

understand

human beings and institutions

returns are high for the individual.

There are many models for funding

have nothing to struggle for, is the

tertiary level education in other

day we die.”

this

basis,

the

individual

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Of The UWI, he notes, “All the

environment. They want to explore,

to a lower standard so that they

research we have done is not

to experience the other.”

would not be qualified in other

the end, but we have advanced.

regions. In the end, we agreed that

These we have done well: we have

Many Caribbean students have

we would just have to train more

a system of providing credible

been

to make sure that some stay. It’s

credentials; we help those who

universities

USA

that

difficult to prevent movement in a

come

wish

diversity

and

democracy: people will move,” he

after,

there

are

many

granted to

scholarships

attract

the

students who are second or third

cosmopolitanism in their student

generations attending university;

body.

we make significant contributions

universities in the USA that are old

This interview was slotted in-

to public service through research;

private institutions with very large

between Sir George’s duties at The

we are critical of society as we

endowments accumulated from

UWI’s 2015 graduation ceremonies.

strive for improvement; we have

wealthy families. The UWI does not

Towards the end, he mentions

preserved the ethos and history of

yet have this tradition. So the state

in passing, “I am teaching at

the institution.

must find the mechanism to fund

Johns Hopkins and enjoying it

worthy, needy students.

tremendously.” Sir George holds

asserts.

He is familiar with many

“Have we done enough? I am

an Adjunct Professorship at the

pleased, but not satisfied. The

In some universities in the USA,

Bloomberg

institution

eminently

the focus on sport drives the

Health, Johns Hopkins University.

We now have a

endowment process. Sir George

globalized approach to education.

prefers a system in which The

Management

And every good university has to

UWI provides the facilities for

which includes the elements of

be concerned with adding to the

healthy competitive sport but is

the principles of negotiation. He

world’s knowledge bank. We have

not wedded to any sport for its

receives a high score on student

a duty to be not only Caribbean

reputation or advancement.

assessments. And though he may

perfectible.

remains

but global. We do not exist in a cyst;

teaches

School a

course

Public called

Decision-making

be too modest to mention this,

and because you think you exist in

He returns to the area of medicine,

his students are also enjoying the

the world as a whole, everything

as the one he knows best, and

interactions and wise words of a

affects you. For instance, the

which grounds his perspective.

natural counsellor!

government’s inability to continue

He says that qualified medical

to fund the university at the level to

personnel will always move to

which we have grown accustomed

countries outside their home to

means that the university has to

gain experience or to practice in

adapt to be able to gather funds

more financially attractive markets.

from non-public sources.”

“All countries send and receive medical personnel. The USA is the

The trend of Caribbean people to

only country that is a net receiver.”

still choose to attend universities outside the Caribbean region does

“At PAHO, there was a programme

not concern him. “The impulse

that looks at the migration of health

of the young man or woman

workers, nurses specifically. The

is to move out of the domestic

debate even considered training

“Have we done enough? I am pleased, but not satisfied. The institution remains eminently perfectible. . . “ STAN JULY - SEPTEMBER 2015

SIR GEORGE AND THE UWI In his lifetime, Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, has seen the university grow from “10 female and 23 male students from across the region entering the fledgling University

the

Faculty

Medicine on October 3, 1948” to “an internationally competitive, contemporary

university

with

some 50,000 students” on three campuses in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica and in the Open Campus. Born in 1932, Sir George chose to study medicine at the fledgling

terms, 1995 to 2003, leaving as

Sir George has been recognized

University College of the West

Director Emeritus. He was made

globally for his work. In 1990, he

Indies in 1951. (The UWI came into

Chancellor of The UWI in 2003 and

was named Knight Bachelor by Her

being in 1962.) He graduated with

is now serving his second seven-

Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his

a gold medal in 1957. He married

year term.

services to Medicine.

returned to Barbados the next year.

As Director Emeritus of PAHO, Sir

In 2001, he was awarded the Order

Over the next 14 years, he raised

George was influential in pushing

the

his family of a girl and two boys;

the issue of non-communicable

the

highest

enrolled in the University College

diseases

on a Caribbean national. He was

in London for further training in

cardiovascular disease, diabetes,

appointed

internal medicine; and returned

cancer and chronic respiratory

General’s Special Envoy for HIV/

to The UWI to conduct research

disease, into the spotlight. In

AIDS

and teach. In 1972, he became

September 2012, the high-level

February 2003 to December 2010.

Professor of Medicine. In 1976 he

UN summit on NCDs was only the

was appointed Chairman of the

second time the Organization had

Sir George is based in Washington

Department.

convened to look at a health issue.

DC and chairs the Advisory Council

Sir George convinced the heads

of the Non-Communicable Disease

However, it was at the Pan American

of government of the Caribbean

Alliance which is the umbrella

Health Organization (PAHO) where

states to start the process which

body for NGOs that deal with

he stayed for 22 years that he may

changed the conversation in global

diseases such as cardiovascular

be considered to have made his

health, according to his friend Julio

disease diabetes, cancer, childhood

greatest contribution to health

Frenk, former Dean of the Harvard

obesity and others. He is involved

in the Americas and globally. He

School of Public Health and now

on committees and task forces that

became Director of PAHO for two

President of the University of Miami.

take him all over the world.

a Jamaican nurse, Sylvan Chen and

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

(NCDs)

such

Caribbean

Community,

honour the

the

conferred Secretary

Caribbean

from

Now 83, Sir George came to

wealth and education. The benefit

maturity with UWI. He brings

of health is that it allows more

HISTORY OF GATE

the benefit of this long view to

choices; as is the benefit of any of

In his 2000 Budget Speech,

discussions that might otherwise

the other two.

the then Minister of Finance acknowledged that - according

turn heated and combustible. administrator,

“Our challenge is to move any

to the United Nations statistics

arbitrator and diplomat, Sir George

situation closer to the ideal, to

– “as of 1996, Trinidad and

takes a philosophical approach to

the vision. We know the world is

Tobago’s

most issues these days.

imperfect. And we may never make

enrolment rate was the lowest

it perfect. But our task is to never

in the Latin American and

THE CHANCELLOR’S

give up the struggle to perfect it,”

Caribbean

PHILOSOPHY

the Chancellor remarks.

Bank Indicators estimated that

Thinker

“Among

and

post-secondary

Region.”

World

figure to be eight percent of

the

sustainable

development

goals

articulated

Underpinning this vision is Sir

the

by the UN, the health challenges

George’s fundamental belief in

be eligible for tertiary level.

are the ones I know best. The

human equity. “This is the most

Determined efforts by successive

major global health threats that

important principle to which I

administrations

we worry about are those of non-

adhere: the intrinsic equality of

strategies to move this figure

communicable diseases; the threat

all humankind. Unfair differences

into double digits. By 2010, it

of a pandemic and the threat of

should not exist. The struggle for

is estimated that tertiary level

growing anti-microbial resistance.”

human development is largely

enrolment is closer to 12%.

population

that

would

instituted

the struggle for equity – gender Ultimately, Sir George says, all the

issues, access to education, health

The

Government

Assistance

sustainable development goals are

and economic stability – all are

for Tuition Expenses (GATE)

intertwined in the development of

engagements on the path towards

programme was launched in

humankind. The three intertwined

equity.” 

2004. Under GATE, tuition is free

strands – social, environmental

for all eligible citizens of Trinidad

and economic – are linked in a

& Tobago pursuing approved

helix; good governance makes the helix sustainable. “The old adage – early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise – articulates the principle human needs, health, wealth and education. Can we envisage a society in which all three are available in plenitude? Of course, we deal with an imperfect situation, but a vision allows us to strive towards a situation in which

“We know the

undergraduate programmes at

world is imperfect.

the West Indies; reading for the

And we may never

the Hugh Wooding Law School

make it perfect. But

Law School in Jamaica or the

our task is to never give up the struggle to perfect it”

any campus of The University of Legal Education Certificate at in Trinidad, the Norman Manley Eugene Dupuch Law School in The Bahamas. pursuing

Students

programmes

postgraduate

level

will

at be

eligible for grants to cover 50% of tuition costs.

people are able to enjoy health, STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Profiles in Leadership

Investments for a Healthy Society Professor Rhoda Reddock’s strategies for social development

rofessor Rhoda Reddock advocates investing in social and psychological strategies for healthy social development, as the antidote to the more

militarist approaches currently being advocated to address contemporary social challenges including social and criminal violence. She has started with The UWI as a microcosm but she has her sights set on the wider society. “Yes, most – I daresay all – our development challenges today are social and psychological at the base because people are involved. Even the economic issues are affected by these overwhelming social challenges. And we are yet to produce a robust social development framework that uses the skills of professional social scientists. And yes, the UWI has a critical role to play in this regard.” Professor Rhoda Reddock, Deputy Principal of The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine (UWI), is declaring her commitment to students, their welfare and holistic development including their academic performance. “The quality of our graduates will affect the future of our country and region so this is a critical task for those of us with this responsibility. “For many of our students and sometimes their parents, the main aim of (university) education is to provide the credentials (qualifications) for employment and future personal economic success,” Prof. Reddock stated. “We feel that the university has a responsibility to do more - develop a range of important skills and characteristics for excellence in life. In other words, to develop leadership and commitment, and graduate human beings who are strong in their discipline but who also

have

the competencies required to be good and useful citizens with a sense of social responsibility and social justice.” STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

It is this heartfelt conviction that has led Prof. Reddock

to support

her work on academic quality with a focus on broader student development. number the

This

includes

initiatives

expansion

and

such

integration

of student services into a new

. . . it is important that UWI graduates meet all the international benchmarks of academic quality as well as broader regional knowledge.

Division of Student Services and

but also to the wider society and

The UWI (1975), was followed by a

Development; a revitalisation of the

region.

Masters of Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies,

programme of co-curricular courses with a review of the menu of courses

Prof. Reddock’s approach – one

The Hague (1980); and a Doctorate,

available to UWI students at all levels

student at a time - is methodical and

Social Sciences (Applied Sociology)

and the development of a student-

deliberate as the course of her career

from the University of Amsterdam

athlete policy.

and life’s work since Bishop Anstey

(1984).

High School.

From the late 60s

In 2014 over 500 students opted

into the turbulent 70s, her interest

She has lectured at Cipriani Labour

for courses that included Public

in social issues was heightened.

College,

Speaking

Trinidad

and

Tobago;

Voice

Training;

“I once walked into the prison on

and was associate lecturer at the

Protocol;

Financial

Frederick Street to ask whether I

Institute of Social Studies, The

Learning;

could visit. Of course I could not

Hague. She began her UWI career

Psychological Wellness; Technology

without a number of conditions.

as research fellow at the Institute

Literacy;

and

As an undergraduate at the UWI

for Social and Economic Research

Addictive Behaviours; Sport and

Mona Campus in Jamaica a few

of The UWI St. Augustine Campus in

Physical Education and Ethics and

years later, I had the opportunity to

1985, moving on to become lecturer

Integrity.

research the General Penitentiary

in the Department of Sociology in

in Kingston as well as the minimum

1990.

security Richmond Farm Prison over

in the process leading up to the

The co-curricular programme seeks

an extended period of one year. I

institutionalisation of gender studies

to enhance skills and competencies

studied prison education in Jamaica

at The University of the West Indies

and emotional learning. This is

- for inmates as well as the training

and assumed the position of head,

also the aim of the enhanced and

of officers. My interest was in social

Centre for Gender and Development

structured focus on service-learning

policy and social interventions and

Studies, St. Augustine in 1994 until

and community engagement, which

I think I realized quite early that

2008.

aims to encourage voluntarism

structured evidence-based social

among staff and students, instilling

transformation systems must be

As Deputy Principal, in addition to

a sense of social responsibility and

at the heart of our development

her work in support of the Campus

social justice. Through this she

strategy.”

Principal in managing the campus,

Workplace Literacy;

and Living

Alcohol

and

Drugs

Plans are in place for a

new course in Defensive Driving.

She was actively involved

Prof. Reddock has responsibility

anticipates, students will understand that their career development and

Prof. Reddock is the quintessential

for

students’

issues

including

the skills learnt at university are

social development professional.

academic quality, student support

important not only to themselves

Her B. Sc. Social Administration from

services and student development. STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

For her it is important that UWI

“In the 90s, as we shifted to economic

graduates meet all the international

liberalism,

benchmarks of academic quality as

emerged as mechanisms to catch

well as broader regional knowledge.

those persons who ‘fell through

She observed that unfortunately

the cracks’ of the competitive,

our students have been successful

free market system.

in an extremely competitive

Social

and

Social

Services

Safety

Nets

Unlike the

framework,

the

narrow examination-based education

Social Safety Net system was never

tradition that does not promote

conceptualized as a comprehensive

deep and broad knowledge. It is

and structured system of support

difficult to change this pattern

services carried out by trained

which has proved ‘successful’ for

professionals,” the Deputy Principal

many students in the relatively

added.

short time that they spend at

campuses with close to 18,000

The UWI. She remembers science

students annually. These are the

The weaknesses of the safety net

students questioning the need to do

people who will provide intellectual

system were evident as more and

a compulsory foundation course in

leadership, creative and critical

more people fall between the cracks,

Caribbean Civilisation!

thinking and stimulate innovation

and there is need to support people

and production in Trinidad and

in more structured and professional

the

Tobago and the Caribbean. They will

ways.

intellectual

also be parents and teachers - they

development and also the soul

go into the world to affect change

“The annual budget disbursement

of The UWI graduate, “ says Prof

… and equitable and sustainable

to the social sector in the last decade

Reddock, “that distinctive character

development.

or more has focused on what are

“We

are

physical

responsible well-being,

for

that will reflect the mission and core

called conditional cash transfers

values of our university.” The UWI’s

“We

the

as mechanisms to give the ‘poor’ a

core values are the cornerstones

provisions and expectations of social

push start in conditions aimed at

of its guiding policy and decision-

development are already embedded

long-term economic independence.

making.

the

in the wider society,” Prof. Reddock

Unfortunately we have focused

efforts,

pointed out. The history of social

mainly on these cash transfers

resources and conduct, influencing

services in Trinidad and Tobago

which are in my opinion incorrectly

all operations and activities of staff,

was rooted in the 1940 Colonial

referred to as social programmes

students and alumni: Integrity;

Development

Act

and welfare provisions, but which

Intellectual

Excellence;

following the labour disturbances of

in practice often become bases of

Civic responsibility; Accessibility;

the 30s. This saw social development

political patronage.”

Diversity; and Equity.

through its expansions to state-

These

University’s

underpin

mandate,

freedom;

cannot

forget

and

that

Welfare

supported education, health care,

She says that the thinking has

As in the university as a microcosm,

community development, women’s

emerged that governments should

so it should be in the wider society.

programmes and welfare services.

no longer be involved in social

“We are a regional institution

The University of the West Indies

services, but rather this should be

serving 17 Caribbean countries. St.

itself was one of the outcomes of

transferred to ‘civil society.’

Augustine is the largest of three

this period.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

The result is a situation in which

recognized as a pivotal period for

officers and others who have to

significant

children’s development therefore

work with people should be enrolled

necessary social services are in the

education

in gender studies programmes.

hands of the NGOs. These well-

playful, child-centred, equitable and

meaning and committed NGOs often

based on evidenced-based research

All of this calls for a shift in the

struggle in a climate of insecurity

on child development. Parents need

paradigm for social programming,

depending on contributions from

to be supported in the performing

towards more evidence-based policy

government and/or the private

of this very important task for the

and programming with systems of

sector.

society, Prof. Reddock asserted.

monitoring and evaluation for the

components

the

should

gradual,

effective use of human and financial Prof. Reddock believes that the

A revolution is required in the area

state, private sector and civil society

of mental health in service provision,

all share the responsibility for social

public

development. They also share the

psychological

need for planning, professionalism

services and addiction, education,

services mean hand-outs: “It is often

and

prevention

and

said that investments in the social

Psycho-social

support

sustainability

their

programmes. “The

challenges

are

social,

psychological and managerial,” she

education, and

resources.

affordable

Prof.

psychiatric

prevailing

rehabilitation. must

Reddock

challenges

attitude

that

the social

sector are unproductive. How do

made more widely available, with

we define

greater monitoring for mental health

a profit? We need to revise our

challenges.

attitudes. Investments in the social

says, “and there are measures and

productive’?

Making

sector are investments in people, in

strategies that each sector may

Mechanisms for work-family support

be better suited to provide; but

should be instituted in private sector

efforts should be co-ordinated.

companies and public institutions.

Investments in the social sector

There is need for a central social

These may include day care and

today will reduce costs in other

administration based on the national

homework/after-school care centres

sectors in the future – sectors like

plan.”

at workplaces, office complexes and

national security, the judiciary, the

at housing and industrial estates.

prison system - as well as contribute

She is cautious about seeming to be

According to Prof. Reddock nursing

to reductions in household and

critical of well-meaning people and

mothers may be allowed to have

business expenditure on security

well-intentioned programmes, “We

breastfeeding breaks during work

and loss of potential income from

need to professionalize the delivery

hours.

other investments e.g. in tourism.”

of social services. It cannot be left

understand that their employees’

solely in the hands of civil society.

roles as family members supports

She means that social development

The UWI has an important role to

the development of strong social

investments

play in this regard.

ties and is the basis for productivity

They also enhance quality of life.

and economic growth.

It is a national challenge affecting

Enlightened

employers

The State, private sector and civil

social stability and human rights.

individuals.

are

Prof.

preventative.

Reddock

has

society also have responsibilities

She added that the education

started where she can: one student

for the establishment of a social

system must adopt new approaches

at a time, at The UWI. 

environment that allows for work-

to parenting, including fathering.

family balance. Childhood must be

All teachers, social workers, police STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Research & Innovation

The Caribbean must aim for regional food security Integral part of strategy for sustainable development

Dr. Isaac Bekele

ith global food prices on

development. However, the level

priority areas such as health.

the

and

of food imports is too high for

The option of local agricultural

commodity prices showing no

the region to continue to incur

becomes visible. “We are a tropical

immediate signs of rebounding,

on a sustained basis. “I think it

country, but our taste buds are not

Dr. Isaac Bekele fears a day is likely

is possible that we will never

tropical only. Agriculture provides

to come when Trinidad and Tobago

really feel the need to strengthen

an opportunity to diversify our

could be forced to allocate a higher

the

economy,” and now is the time.

proportion of its scarce, hard

until we discover that we do not

currency to buy its food, unless

have enough funds to finance

Dr. Bekele is a man on the move. In

the agricultural sector is redirected

the import of our wants and our

the morning of the interview, he

to a path of transformation as

needs,” said Dr. Bekele, the Dean of

was darting off the St. Augustine

part of the country’s economic

the Faculty of Food and Agriculture

campus, already under a rapidly

diversification effort.

at the St. Augustine Campus

intensifying wave of heat, to meet

upward

trend

region’s

agri-food

sector,

an electrician and a plumber to The

Caribbean

region

spends

“Are you going to choose between

transport them to greenhouses at

US$4BN annually in import of food

wheat and medicine? Which will

the newly-launched Agricultural

and the major contributors to this

you choose?” he asked rhetorically.

Innovation Park in Orange Grove,

huge import bill are Trinidad and

It’s not a situation anyone in the

Trincity, a project unmistakably

Tobago, Jamaica, the Bahamas

region wants to confront, but it’s

dear to him. After a near two hour

and Barbados. There is a lot to

one they may be forced to, if the

site visit, he returned to Campus,

be gained through reduction of

region does not begin producing

admitting “these are a kind of

agricultural goods’ import bill.

more of the food it consumes.

brand new hyper greenhouses for evaluation and we really don’t

Transformation of the agriculture

When, not if, says Dr. Bekele, hard

have experience in assembling

sector

the

currency becomes tight, resources

those kinds.”

region’s

sustainable

economic

are likely to be directed towards

critical

for

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

But he was not daunted and

well-articulated policy frame work.”

importation. He lamented leaders

was quite optimistic about their

Traditionally, Agriculture’s share

“are doing themselves no favour by

potential impact on the food

of the national pie remains the

continuing the ill-advised policy of

sector once teething problems

smallest. In the 2015 – 2016

importing large quantities of food

were addressed. “You can harvest

budget, the Agriculture sector was

that could be produced within the

from

allocated $831M. In the previous

region with contributions being

your own consumption and for

budget

made by all countries.” He warned

marketing. The potential is there.”

Compare that with the $8Bn &

that

One quickly gets the impression

$9Bn spent each year on Education

become “increasingly imperiled.”

that the soft spoken Dean’s days

and National Security respectively.

such

greenhouses,

for

received

$1.328Bn.

regional

economies

will

at the University seldom offer enough time to absorb calming views of the Northern range and the green blanketed savannah his office window offers. Most days, especially at the beginning of semesters, have too few hours, it may seem. But that view of the verdant mountains

offered

perfect

backdrop to discuss the impact of food importation on the local economy

and

solutions

growing national grocery bill. The

Field of corn under cultivation at UWI’s Agricultural Innovation Park in Orange Grove

question: How do we fix it and That apathetic attitude towards

More than a year later, Trinidad

the agri-food sector has already

and Tobago and the rest of the

Policy Framework

caused many to “turn their backs”

Caribbean seem to have made

Dr. Bekele outlines at least five

on it. What will the agriculture

little progress. “We need to look at

key areas that can and should be

sector achieve in the next 3-5

our challenges in terms of trying

given immediate attention. But,

years? How much will it contribute

to not only cut down the import

pursuing these areas without a

to the local economy? Who are

bill on agriculture, but also to

policy framework is bound to be

the next generation farmers? The

strengthen our own economy,” Dr.

an effort in futility. He subtly hints

answers to those questions are not

Bekele stresses. “People say, ‘I have

easily found without a road map,

money, I will import’. But, globally

says Dr. Bekele.

the agriculture market is changing,

where do we begin?

successive

administrations’

hesitance to act on their rhetoric. “Successive

governments

have

things are becoming more and

always said positive things about

2014,

agriculture, but, the challenge

diplomat

esteemed

Caribbean

more expensive, which means you

Sanders

have to dish out more and more

we face is we don’t invest in the

criticized CARICOM nations for

money to buy cabbage which you

sector’s transformation within a

their inaction on escalating food

can actually produce here.”

Sir

Ronald

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Creating a correct policy framework and the means to guide its implementation is a critical step in setting agriculture on the path of transformation. Government policy cannot be

things the Dean (with more than 39

Areas

ad hoc. It must set targets with

years of experience in agricultural

development

strategies to achieve them and

research

saw

Agricultural value-chain development

needs to be transparent. Incentives,

produced from the tropical fruit

for regional crops opens up new

tax reliefs and other policy tools

that’s the staple ingredient in

markets for farmers in the Caribbean

must also be part of that plan to

Caribbean

region, while expanding diaspora

get private sector involvement.

oil down. “They had paper from

markets in the US, UK and Canada.

breadfruit leaves, specialty papers

But, Dean Bekele also believes

“Trinidad has a successful private

like invitation cards. I was blown

it challenges the private sector

sector. If there is a potential to

away by that,” Dr. Bekele said. And

to step up its game in order to

make money in agriculture, the

they sold everything on the display

target international customers as

sector is likely to get involved.

within two hours. The goods

consumers put more and more

This will require the right policy

were gone before he knew it. The

emphasis on healthy and nutritious

framework and strategy. Creating

displays were produced in small

foods, features which are not origin

a correct policy framework and the

scale cottage industries locally as

dependent. New markets mean

means to guide its implementation

well as regionally.

greater demand for farmers’ crops.

on the path of transformation,” he

Perishability of local agriculture

The average size farm in Trinidad

asserted. Once there is that road

products and the underdeveloped

and Tobago is roughly 1 ½ - 2

map, he is confident it can and will

processing

the

acres. If operated individually, their

help change attitudes. That shift

agri-food sector in the region

output will have minimal impact on

in attitude is essential, especially

remain significant challenges to

food imports, but together, these

since the young men and women

sustainable development of the

same

who are being depended on as

agri-food economy. “If you can take

crops and livestock on much

future farmers see agriculture as a

mangoes and you cannot sell all of

larger scales. Farm size is a major

very “backward” step.

it as fresh fruit, but you can process

challenge facing T&T’s agriculture

it into juice, or slice and package

sector, keeping the farms at low

Processing & Manufacturing

it, then you have extended the

levels of technology and capital.

The

West

shelf life. That gives you the power

Indies recently held a breadfruit

to sell it anywhere.” Dr. Bekele

According to Dr. Bekele, “we

exposition. The array of products

stressed that “there is a need to

basically produce at subsistence

made from the versatile breadfruit

invest

research

level,” and that limits the earning

ranged from bread to ice-cream

and development as part of the

power of the individual farmer and

and liquor. Yes, breadfruit rum! But

policy framework for sustainable

the sector.

those were not the most interesting

agricultural transformation.”

and

academia),

mouth-watering

with

potential

for

is a critical step in setting agriculture

University

the

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

capacity

processing

operations

can

produce

Early morning at UWI’s Agricultural Innovation Park

“For primary production to move

For example, a family-run farm may

new lines of tropical vegetables

forward there is a need to remove

be too small to justify the purchase

and corn that were introduced

this constraint either by way of

of expensive machinery, which may

from tropical China as part of

increasing a unit of an individual

be used infrequently. However, if

the

family farm, or through creation

local farmers pool their resources,

effort with the China Agricultural

of farmers’ cooperatives,” he says.

they can purchase the necessary

University. Some of the crops are

In T&T, although the mega farm

equipment for all the members

undergoing further evaluation in

concept is yet to yield the kind

to use. “Those things would help

the state-of-the-art greenhouses

of impact expected, its place in

move

where

at the 200 acre farm at Orange

the development of the sector

it is now to where the country

Grove. The internal conditions of

should not be ruled out. With the

wants it to go,” says Dean Bekele.

these greenhouses are managed

right incentives from the state,

According to the World Food

through

farming cooperatives can play a

Organization, cooperatives allow

combination of control features.

complementary role.

farmers to achieve economies of

The features allow the regulation

scale, by reducing the unit costs of

How does it work? It’s simply a

inputs and services. It also enables

humidity, air flow and other factors.

group of farmers pooling their

farmers to improve product and

These greenhouses are themselves

resources

service quality and reduce risks.

under evaluation and if found

activity. That

certain

areas

grouping

agriculture

from

allows

University’s

collaborative

manipulation

internal

temperature

and

suitable for this environment then

resource-limited farmers greater

Technology-driven agriculture

they will also be a beneficial tool

access to capital that can be

Dr. Bekele stated that the Faculty

to combat the effects of climate

invested in technology.

is in the process of evaluating

change. STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

“Hopefully, if it works, then I think we will have some technological support for intensive cultivation.” If successful, it would represent an incremental step in introducing greater use of technology in farming. “Technology is weakly integrated

Agriculture provides an opportunity to

diversify our economy, and now is the time.

into our farming systems,” Dean Bekele laments. “Research and

by the CAU. Upon completion

While the University is doing

support is also weak; and apart

of the Masters programme, the

its part, Dr. Bekele says early

from sporadic episodes there is no

graduates will then return to St.

agricultural exposure is imperative

sustained active crop development

Augustine to pursue their PhD

in germinating interest from the

programme.” He added, “We need

work in crop breeding which will

younger generation. He is pleased

to start developing new lines of

be jointly supervised. Through this

to see Agriculture return to the

sweet potatoes, cassava, green

partnership the region will benefit

curriculum of Trinidad and Tobago

leafy vegetables, new lines of

tremendously.

schools after it was dropped in the early 2000s. “That was the biggest

tomatoes, sweet and field corns etc.” It’s one of many areas in which

“This is critical! We need to

mistake Trinidad and Tobago and

the University is taking concrete

strengthen our own capacity as

those Caribbean countries which

steps and leading the charge.

we need to have high powered

neglected

scientific stuff, yes, we have highly

school’s curricula made, because

Through partnership with the

experienced agronomists, but we

this simple step sent the wrong

China Agricultural University, the

also need experts in the field of

message that the Caribbean does

Faculty of Food and Agriculture

crop genetics and breeding who

not need agriculture.” Dr. Bekele

is engaged in the training of

are well grounded in modern

said

crop

molecular methods,” he asserted.

attitudes

from Trinidad and Tobago as well

Dr. Bekele is optimistic that within

women toward agriculture.

countries.

the next four years, these experts

Currently there are three nationals

will be engaged in developing

”Agriculture

provides

many

and one Grenadian pursuing their

new lines of crops that are suitable

opportunities

from

feeding

studies in Beijing, China.

for the Caribbean environment,

its citizens, to diversifying the

in addition to containing other

economy

Each year, the Faculty recruits

desired features like resistance

Caribbean families. If agriculture

its

to diseases. “That way, we do not

succeeds, everyone benefits,” he

graduates to participate in this

have to use a lot of chemicals, so

remarks. 

joint

they

the food we produce is healthier,’”

will pursue MSc level training

he stated. “Over time these are

in Crop Genetics and Breeding

areas in which UWI can make a big

under

difference!”

breeders

other

few

and

geneticists

Caribbean

candidates programme

among where

scholarships

provided

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

agriculture

undoubtedly of

young

and

the

affected men

and

maintaining

World Cocoa & Chocolate Day 2015 World Cocoa and Chocolate Day 2015 was celebrated with an all-day exhibition involving many stakeholders from within the industry. Hosted by the Cocoa Research Centre, this fourth annual celebration of a global festival of cocoa and chocolate exposed The UWI community and the public at large to some of the opportunities that are as yet untapped in the local marketplace for cocoa and chocolate. The event was officially opened by Senator the Honourable Avinash Singh, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries and was very well attended by stakeholders, UWI students and school children from within the environs.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Research & Innovation

Visitors observe seedlings at the Agricultural Innovation Park

Agricultural Innovation Park to Transform Caribbean Food Industry Collaboration between UWI and China Agricultural University

recently

launched

phase one of the 200-acre

Agricultural Innovation Park (AIP), a partnership between UWI St. Augustine and China Agricultural University (CAU), which will adopt international best practices in farming

and

food

production

techniques, will be a development model for Caribbean agriculture. Principal of the St. Augustine Campus, Sankat

Professor said

the

Clement

AIP,

located

in the East Campus of Orange Grove, will showcase advanced intensive agricultural production practices

using

technologies

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the launch of the Agricultural Innovation Park

and best practices from China

infrastructure – particularly in

recreation,

and local indigenous knowledge

rural areas, and on agricultural

entertainment.

while

technology,

production. Ravages of floods and

mechanization,

droughts on livestock production

The East Campus will be used for

new varieties and climate-smart

are often traumatic for the region’s

seven proposed areas including

intensive agricultural production

farming population and cause

the Crop Area; the Technology

systems.

consequential increases in food

Service Area; the Horticulture Area;

prices for consumers.

the Aquatic Production Area; the

utilizing

biotechnology,

“I am pleased to say that the launch

tourism

and

even

Mini Zoo; the Leisure & Recreation

of this Agricultural Innovation

“In this context, it is important

Area; and the Commercial Area.

Park is a step in this direction,”

for us to become creative and

The AIP will not only provide an

the Pro Vice Chancellor said at

innovative and to work together

avenue for cutting edge research

the launch which was attended

through partnerships so as to

and innovation in food production

by Ambassador of the People’s

cultivate in Trinidad and Tobago

and agriculture, but will also

Republic of China to Trinidad and

and the wider Caribbean region

provide opportunities for leisure,

Tobago, His Excellency Huang

a passion for producing more of

commercial activity, and financial

Xingyuan and Chairman of the

what we are consuming; tropical

self-sustainability, he said.

China

agricultural products of quality

Agricultural

University,

Professor Jiang Peimin.

and distinction, some of which we

“This

may also export and create new

transformative projects which I

Noting that the Caribbean can

wealth,” Prof. Sankat said at the

have had the pleasure of leading as

learn many lessons from China’s

launch.

Principal of The UWI St. Augustine

experience in agriculture, Prof. Sankat

added

one

the

most

Campus.” “As we move forward

China’s

The agricultural sector must also

together, we will ensure that we

advancement in agriculture and

be developed in a manner that

meaningfully impact the future

its ability to feed itself, moving

is attractive to

young people

of food production and food

from famine to food security in

who

their

innate

sustainability. It is also important

just about 40 years, has been

technological savvy to agriculture,

that as we move forward on this,

phenomenal and inspirational.

food

that our Faculty and University,

processing. The Innovation Park

achieve the potential and benefits

He lamented that the Caribbean

concept represents an ambitious

we’ve envisioned and that our

over the years has seen declining

vision of putting agriculture in

efforts redound to the benefit

interest

a wider agri-business model to

of our people – in country and

agriculture, especially by our youth;

propel its commercial and financial

regionally.”

severe dependency on imported

attractiveness and appeal.

the

that

profession

can

apply

production

and

foods and an ageing population

“We must not lose the momentum

of farmers, compounded by poor

“As they say ‘from farm to fork’,”

here. This is just the beginning,

rural infrastructure. The Caribbean

adds Prof. Sankat. The term

but the end is a beautiful picture

also has to contend with the effect

encapsulates the value chain

of agriculture, food security and

of climate change across the

from

production

the green environment for the 21st

world and its destructive effects

to processing, marketing, food

century on these former sugar cane

on human lives, an already fragile

preparation and restaurants, agri-

lands,” said Principal Sankat. 

agriculture

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Research & Innovation

Alternative Remedies for Pain Relief DOING RESEARCH WITH AN OPEN MIND

hen the mind is made up it can often be hard to change. But personal experience and an open mind has led a medical doctor to willingly explore the possibilities of alternative therapies to relieve pain. Professor Jonas Addae, professor of Physiology and former Head of Pre-Clinical Sciences Department at The UWI, has begun research into a massage technique on the forearm, which he says has relieved the suffering of quite a few persons upon which he tried it.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

And it all began with personal experience. An avid tennis player in his spare time, Professor Addae experienced a sudden and painful cramping in his leg while teaching one of his medical classes. And every time he sat down, the cramps worsened. So he began walking up and down in the class. A student, noticing his discomfort, suggested that he take off his shoes and rub the soles of his feet to get rid of the pain. As a medical doctor steeped in science, he was sceptical that this simple method would work and

questioned the student’s advice, pointing out that it had no medical basis and sounded quite bogus. The student, insisting that it worked, urged him to try it. As the cramps continued unabated, he did. And to his surprise, the pain disappeared. The student said she got the remedy from a friend and so Prof. Addae’s personal journey into alternative pain relief began. “At the time we had a physiologist who had trained in Hong Kong who had also done Chinese acupuncture in mainland China. He could actually speak Chinese. So I asked him about rubbing the soles of the feet to relieve pain. He hadn’t heard of it but went and checked all his books but found nothing about it in them.”

went and saw the chiropractor and that didn’t work either. I desperately wanted to see about this pain before I travelled as sitting through the seven hour flight would be terrible. Someone suggested I see a Korean acupuncture lady in Woodbrook. So I went. She put something in my hand and stimulated points on the hand. And the pain disappeared.”

So Professor Addae started making his own enquiries amongst his circle. One of his friends admitted that his wife, a teacher and had told him whenever she got menstrual cramps, her students would tell her to rub somewhere around the inner bone of her ankle and the cramps would recede.

Professor Addae says he began talking to her about what she had done and on her recommendation, did the course in Koryo Hand Therapy, over the period of a year in 2011, more to understand what was happening than to practice it. His own specialty being human physiology, his interest lay not so much in the fact that it has worked, as in how it worked.

The method struck him as strange as Prof Addae says that was never taught in human physiology. One day, several years later, he got this severe back ache at a time when he needed to travel to Chicago the next week.

“A lot of the explanations made no sense to me. But it worked. So I began to explore what had happened.” Koryo Hand Acupuncture Therapy (KHAT) espouses the theory that the hand is “a micro-cosmos of the body”

Professor Jonas Addae

and can manipulate the functions of the human body by stimulating different points on the hands with needles or very, very small electrical current. “It is really popular in South Korea,” he says, “because what they have done is to mark the stimulating point on the hand. These are very different from reflexology points.” KHAT is reputed to be a safe, gentle effective and natural therapy that can be used for patients of any age. It was after this, Professor Addae discovered a point on the wrist, which when stimulated by finger pressure, can relieve pain. At first, he experimented on relieving severe headache pain of migraines and cluster headaches – pain that typically affects one side of the head and is sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to sounds, smells and light. He gave several anecdotes of his discovery working on disbelievers in alternative therapies including a medical doctor he met at a conference in Barbados who was having a migraine headache.

“When I went to meetings at UWI I would stand because when I sat, I couldn’t get up. The pain was excruciating. An X-ray done in Mount Hope showed that the muscle had contracted. You could see that the muscle spasm was so strong that the bone had actually shifted. The orthopaedic surgeon gave me a muscle relaxant and the usual anti-inflammatory drugs. They didn’t help. I then spoke to a friend at tennis who advised me to see a chiropractor and gave me a name. I STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

“I offered to try my method on him but he declined indicating that he didn’t believe in that foolishness. So I said you have nothing to lose. It will only take two minutes. If it doesn’t work it doesn’t work. He was very resistant saying it will never work. Sometimes when these things work people say it is mind over matter. So I told him I was glad he didn’t believe in it because it was mind against matter. It worked for him, much to his surprise.” Professor Addae’s method has also worked with a case of fibromyalgia. “Joint pains all over”, he recalls “I was skeptical that my wrist stimulation method would work but it did.” Professor Addae’s customary research focuses on how neurotransmitters (chemicals produced by nerves in the brain) affect brain functions and how some of these neurotransmitters play a part in causing the symptoms and signs seen in conditions such as stroke and epilepsy. Additionally, he investigates how some neurotransmitters help protect the brain from these very diseases. Asked how he conducts his research for his wrist stimulation pain relief method, he says “I have an approved research proposal from The UWI ethics committee so now I just ask for volunteers who have pain to try out this method of pain relief. I say I found a point on the wrist that when I stimulate it, it relieves pain. “Sometimes people come and they want to try it because they have STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

been trying other forms of treatment in hospitals that haven’t worked to their satisfaction. There was this medical student who couldn’t sit in class for long periods because of severe back pain and my treatment worked for her. And this method is not harmful, it is not giving you tablets or anything, it has no side effects, it does not worsen the condition, and it is free. I just take joy in seeing the relief that persons get before my eyes – usually within minutes. The drawback is that I need to apply the method when the person has the pain in order to work out the most effective side of the body to stimulate. This is because some pain-carrying nerves from the body cross from left-to-right in the spinal cord (and vice-versa) and other pain fibres do not cross.” Professor Addae often attends the annual Society for Neuroscience conference in the US, which attracts over 20,000 brain scientists from all over the world including Japan, China and Korea. At these conferences, research papers are presented on new generation treatments for almost everything, and Professor Addae updates his understanding of the scientific basis on acupuncture and related subjects. Some of the research support the theory that when the median nerve in the wrist is stimulated, the information goes to the brainstem (the part that connects the spinal cord to the brain) where there are nerves that produce pain relief, this area is known as the brain’s intrinsic brain analgesic system. A lot of the nerves in the brainstem release

endorphins (natural pain killing substances) which act on the opioid receptors (proteins on the nerves) that combine with endorphins to prevent pain. Morphine and heroin which are the strongest pain killers are man-made chemicals that act on the opioid receptors. So what has his experience and the discovery of the point on the wrist that can relieve pain taught him? Says Professor Addae, “My own understanding now is that there is a lot that we don’t teach in our medical school curriculum. Some other medical schools teach alternative medicine. In India they teach Ayurveda medicine. They also teach yoga and other remedies. We are yet to move in that direction.” Years ago, Professor Addae travelled to India frequently. He explains that in the Indian hospitals that he visited, patients had choices. They may choose to see the medical doctor, the Ayurveda specialist or the yoga specialist, all in the same hospital. One has these options. “Ayurveda is big medicine in India. Acupuncture is big medicine in China. In South Korea the hand therapy is widely used ...so we need to investigate these and other forms of treatment for the benefit of our population. As in other places, in the Caribbean there are claims that this herb is good for this condition and that herb is good for that but we don’t really know for sure the extent to which they are effective. And I don’t believe it is enough to discount herbal treatments

My own understanding now is that there is a lot that we don’t teach in our medical school curriculum. Some other medical schools teach alternative medicine.

and say they don’t work. We need to conduct systematic scientific research. We need to understand the pharmacology of these herbs in order to avoid endangering patients. Bear in mind that whilst herbs could be having beneficial effects, they could also be having long term harmful effects that may not be obvious to the herbalist or the patients.” He recalls. “When I was a medical student in Ghana there was a large national herbarium with a lot of herbs planted by state-funded herbalists. As medical students, we had to spend the whole day with them to see what they did. So the patients came with many different ailments and the herbalists would give them half a cup of this and half a cup of that. The “half cup” seemed to be the measurement for everything. The way they brewed it, you had no idea whether it was the same amount of each herb in each half cup. It is not like when you take Panadol, each tablet has an exact amount of a certain chemical. And once someone came with a fever, the herbalist at the centre would

give a fever herb. But fever could be the result of many things. It could be viral infection, it could be malaria or it could be cancer. At the time, we understood that the herbalists were treating the patient’s symptom of fever, very much like how a medical doctor gives Panadol for fever, but there was a need to determine whether it was possible to treat the underlying cause of the fever with the herbs.”

with a product and speak about it on air, how about the many other persons who took the product and did not experience a benefit or had harmful side effects; they are not invited to the radio to present their experience. The positive claims could very well be a placebo effect which is found with other medicines from the pharmaceutical industry. Hence, there is a need for scientific research to the claims of local herbalists.”

The pharmacologists at the Ghana medical school used to work with the herbalist to try to understand whether the herbal extracts did work, the correct dosage and their effects on the body. Professor Addae thinks that if proper diagnostic tools are in front of them, herbalists and practitioners of alternative medicine can make better decisions and help patients. «I listen to the radio and sometimes the information being fed to the public is so sad – to say the least. Some of the explanations they give to justify the use of their products just can’t be correct. Anecdotal evidence is not sufficient to justify the use of a product. If two persons had a positive experience

“So I think the way forward is to have a state-funded research facility either in the hospital or elsewhere, where you have the different types of healers there i.e. Acupuncture, Korean acupuncturist, the Ayurveda specialist, local herbalist ...and we study them systematically. You then document the ailments the patients came in with, record how many recovered and how many didn’t doing enough to be able to prove the extent to which their methods work, the possible mechanism of action of these treatment modalities and their potential harmful effects on patients.”

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Professor Addae references the “SeaBand” invention, a product sold in the US to relieve motion sickness, morning sickness and the nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatment. Sea-Band is a knitted elasticated wrist band, which operates by applying pressure on the Nei Kuan acupressure point on each wrist by means of a plastic stud. Unlike anti-nausea drugs, the bands cause no side effects and can be used by both children and adults. This, he says is the kind of research that needs to be carried out for alternative healing methods. As a medical doctor what is his take on alternative medicine now? He says “There are people who are against it. But when you have personal experience, it changes your scepticism. With the use of alternative medicine, one must keep an open mind and evaluate the evidence to support the claims. The science behind how such treatment works would take much longer to work out.” Professor Addae is working towards publishing a paper on his discovery but is doing the research carefully to describe it precisely so that whoever wants to repeat it will get the same

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

response using exactly the same method. “When people come and I do the wrist stimulation, I usually suggest that they keep taking whatever medicine they have been taking. Because we see it as giving you immediate relief but I cannot do it for everyone every day.” He acknowledges that eastern medicine and western medicines both have different approaches. However, in his opinion, western medicine has been much more successful because of the scientific research that has made it more robust and the innovation that drives constant improvement toward better health care for patients. So how would this affect the pharmaceutical industry if it was found that you could cure pain without drugs? He does not believe that alternative medicine will replace products from the pharmaceutical industry; alternative medicine will have to coexist as complementary medicine. Professor Addae records his findings, using a “visual analogue scale” or a pain meter. Before he starts,

the volunteer has to estimate the intensity of his or her pain on a scale of 1-10. From this he will gauge how the pain has progressed - up, down or remains constant. It is a subjective estimate but the statistics take care of that by using a “within subject” method of analysis. He admits “So far, there have been so many conditions in which I myself did not think the wrist stimulation would work and it did. The one thing it has not helped though and I am a bit disappointed, is stress headaches.” This is probably because there are areas of the brain implicated in stress that are outside the brainstem. He told STAN that he is working on why the treatment does not work in stress headache and whether a related site on the hand or arm could be an effective site when stimulated. He also recognizes that traditional Chinese acupuncture and Korean hand acupuncture have stimulation points for stress headaches but he has not investigated the efficacy of those stimulation points. 

Research & Innovation

Prof. Adogwa graduated in Nigeria with a Ph.D. in Veterinary Anatomy. It’s where he began his extensive career as a university lecturer. After 12 years into his teaching stint, he was recruited by The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. He packed up, left his homeland and moved to the Caribbean. Some 24 years later, he’s still here and with no distinct Trinidadian musicality in his accent. “I like Trinidad because the weather is good, similar to what we have in Nigeria, and the people are good. This country is small so the problems

Professor Andrew O. Adogwa

are also small when compared to

Healthy Animals, Healthy People

Coordinator, Veterinary Preclinical

Nigeria. Generally, I have enjoyed

at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences,

my stay here,” he says.

Veterinarians focus on food safety Meat

constitutes

the way meat is inspected for consumption in Trinidad and Tobago

Caring for animals is big business

would change drastically.

but it’s also risky. Animal husbandry can be looked at from two main

The job of ensuring meat is safe to

perspectives:

eat and free from diseases remains a

the animal or production and

function of the Public Health Unit of

slaughtering for consumption.

management

the Ministry of Health. According to

major

component of the Trinidad and

the Ministry’s website, public health

In terms of animals that are being

inspectors are responsible for the

reared for consumption, “you want

“inspection of meat at abattoirs.” But

to ensure that whatever is put into

it’s not their only function. Some 20

the animal which may (negatively)

other responsibilities are listed in

affect human beings is reduced,

their job specifications.

if not eliminated” since there are

Tobago diet. From poultry to beef,

diseases animals carry that humans

lamb and pork. The challenge in

“It’s high time veterinarians are

getting these meats from the farms

the ones to deal with animal food

to dinner tables is their potential

inspection,”

to carry diseases that could easily

matter-of-factly

be transferred to human beings if

apologies for it. There may be some

are

animal care and husbandry is lacking.

bias in his position; after all, he

animal foods are best for human

Left to Dr. Andrew O. Adogwa,

brings almost 40 years of experience

consumption,” Prof. Adogwa says

Professor, Veterinary Anatomy and

as a Veterinary Anatomy lecturer.

candidly.

Prof.

Adogwa

and

can contract and vice versa.

says

Why Veterinarians?

“Food must be safe and veterinarians

makes

trained

ensure

that

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

The pool of veterinarians in Trinidad

“If these lymph nodes are enlarged

that the disease can be confined,

has not always been this wide.

in certain areas it points to the fact

entire flocks are required to be

Today, The University of the West

that there may be an infection in a

destroyed to ensure it does not

Indies trains and graduates dozens

certain area,” he says. These lymph

affect consumers, he explains.

of competent veterinarians annually,

nodes give clues to the source of

and as head of the faculty for several

problems in the animal. By simply

Antibiotics/Hormones

years, he knows first-hand the

looking at it, a vet can determine the

Caring

competence of his students.

health of the animal and in extreme

medicine to sick animals also

cases,

recommend

requires expertise. Antibiotics have

A dearth of experts in the field

disposing of the entire carcass. “You

a period of time in which they are

required the establishment and

go through all the parts of the animal

cleared from the system. Animals

training of public health officers

from the head to all the organs in

that are on medication are not

to ensure the meat that is served

the body before you pass the animal

considered for slaughter.

on plates at the dining table or

for consumption.”

may

even

at restaurants is the best quality.

for

and

administering

But antibiotics pose another serious Diseases/Practices

challenge in the way animals are

competent than any other group

Chicken carries bird flu. Beef can

cared for. Where the problem lies,

in terms of animal health and

cause tuberculosis. Tape worms

is improper treatment of individual

animal food safety.” Because meat

can contaminate pig meat. The list

animals when they are sick - animals

inspection is an integral part of his

of diseases that can be transferred

such as poultry which are given

students’ training, Prof. Adogwa says

from animals to humans is long.

antibiotics on a regular basis to

he would feel “more comfortable”

The global push to adopt healthier

prevent diseases or as growth

with veterinarians inspecting meat.

eating habits has shone the spotlight

promoters, he laments. As suppliers

on the care of animals. Prof. Adogwa

struggle to meet the global demand,

Meat Inspection is a prerequisite

says there are increasing complaints

shortcuts are taken. The proliferation

for any veterinarian student.

about animal care, especially about

of antibiotics in animal feed is a

explains a typical examination.

the unsanitary conditions in which

general concern for the seasoned

The process begins at the abattoir

animals are raised.

vet. Bacteria are becoming resistant

“Veterinarians

are

far

before the animal is slaughtered.

and humans are consuming food

The veterinarian is “supposed” to

Trinidad

and

Tobago’s

poultry

which contains antibiotics. This

examine it before slaughter, and

industry,

for

example,

well

can cause a resultant resistance in

make a clinical examination of the

developed. But the rapid expansion

humans to certain antibiotics. “It

animal.

of the sector to meet increasing

affects people, so I am concerned,”

demand makes poultry vulnerable

Prof. Adogwa states.

“If we suspect any serious conditions,

to diseases and infections.

the animal should not be killed.”

kept together in large numbers

Europe, Canada, the United States

Further examination and treatment

increase the risk of infections. When

and other developed nations have

is then recommended. However,

animals are suspected of carrying

banned this practice. As for Trinidad

once the animal is killed, the vet

infections, they are supposed to be

and Tobago: “I can’t speak for

looks at what is called “lymph nodes”

removed immediately, quarantined

Trinidad. It is used by farmers all over

to determine if the animal is carrying

and examined. In certain cases,

the world, so I would be surprised if

any infections.

when the veterinarian is not sure

farmers in Trinidad do not use it.”

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Birds

This is where he says the veterinary

passed on to the meat. “So it is not

department can play a major role in

only the sick animals in the farm that

monitoring the use of hormones and

can cause illness. Samples should be

antibiotics in meat for consumption.

taken from people on a regular basis

A lot of the infection can happen

to ensure they do not have diseases,”

he remarks.

the

husbandry

stage,

for

example, tapeworms in pigs. If the environment is not contaminated,

Asked if he was satisfied with local

the animal cannot get infected.

standards, Prof. Adogwa said like

He stresses, “Environmental care is

any industry, there is always room

important.” Even the water given to

to do better although he is “fairly

animals can make them sick.

comfortable that there are decent standards.” It’s why he wishes

But, Prof. Adogwa says one aspect

Trinidad and Tobago produced more

that must not be overlooked is

of the meat it consumes.

human contamination of meat.

you produce your food, you can

If someone is handling meat,

determine the quality.” The quality

without properly washing hands

of imported items is not always

and carrying bacteria, that can be

easily determined. 

“When

“Food must be safe and veterinarians are trained to ensure that animal foods are best for human consumption.”

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

UWI in Society

Principal Sankat, Mr. Pedro Gomez Miranda, NLAR Enterprise Chief Technology Officer of Huawei, and Professor Patricia Mohammed (UWI)

Rediscovering The UWI at 55 through Research Advancing Knowledge and Impacting Lives By Patricia Mohammed, Campus Coordinator, School for Graduate Studies and Research Professor of Gender and Cultural Studies

he University of the West Indies

conflict, mediation, and education.

important discipline that has been a

at St. Augustine is one of, if

This approach will provide answers

feature component in our 55 years

not the most respected of tertiary

that are impactful and can make a

legacy that was founded on research.

level institutions in our country. It

difference to the lives of people.

Demonstrating

offers the scholar or student the

innovation

and

ingenuity adds to the value of our

opportunity to pursue grand ideas,

Our approach to research and

institution. Unlike other workplaces

to test new theories and to produce

development

our

that constrain inventiveness or

innovative commodities. It creates

scholars to exercise their freedom

restrict explorations, The UWI by

a platform that fosters a problem-

challenge

definition depends on path-breaking

solving culture, for current problems

hypothesizes, ideas and information.

inventions and ideas that will change

and future ones. These solutions are

Our efforts must result in the

the quality of life. This freedom is

applicable across the full spectrum

creation of new ways of interacting

not always fully appreciated about

of our societal needs, to include:

and engaging the world around us.

academic institutions and about this

health; agriculture; housing; social

We are proud to celebrate this very

one in particular.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

speech,

encourages and

Too often we seem to reflect more

work of those who have achieved

overriding objective of examining

on problems that are encountered

the

Professor

the many projects being undertaken

and the few failures that result,

through their research. The second

as part of the UWI research

rather than the positive attributes

was a series of short documentary

initiatives at St. Augustine. Tucked

of the results of our successes and

films that showcased the work of

away in our departments each

contributions. It is good to remind

path-breaking researchers, research

day and engaged with the always

ourselves in the sixth decade of the

groups,

centres

and

urgent tasks at hand, of teaching

life of this institution, that what has

repositories on the campus.

The

and writing deadlines, of resolving

kept it alive and still at the top of

project was initiated in early 2014

administrative problems, many of

the tertiary ladder, is the role that

and was completed and launched in

us lose sight of or allocate the time

research and innovation has played,

September 2015. These publications

to learn about what our colleagues

being kept at the forefront.

can be sourced on the Research and

are doing in their respective fields.

designation

institutes,

Innovation drop down menu of the As The University of the West Indies

official website of The University

It is critical that we devote some

year, Pro-Vice

of the West Indies at http://sta.uwi.

attention to mapping the way

edu/researchinnovation/

that highlights where entire new

approached its 55

Chancellor and Principal, Professor Clement Sankat commissioned two

regimes of knowledge are being

documents to record the original

The theme Advancing Knowledge:

created in different disciplines,

research being undertaken on St.

Impacting Lives was conceived as

and we as researchers and scholars

Augustine Campus. The first was a

a way of processing and presenting

must be infected with the passion

book publication that highlighted

the information accessed in the

that good researchers transmit

the main achievements of each

two

when describing their successes or

faculty and profiled the pioneering

by the Campus Principal, with the

publications

commissioned

challenges.

Patrons and staff at Expo 2015 - UWI, St. Augustine

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

studies experts in calypso, chutney,

Mr. Tickaram Roopchandsingh, Vice President, Gas Transmissions and Distribution-NGC

musicians and poets; along with historians and filmmakers, writers and linguists, each of whom were carrying

out

equally

exciting

research that provided a constant refrain of our creative and equally nurturing environment. One of the fascinating new dimensions in this faculty was the work being carried out by Dr. Benjamin Braithwaite and his colleagues in capturing and recording of the sign language that is completely unique to Trinidad and Tobago; created by the students The exercise of producing both the

Interface

how

in the School for the Deaf from

book and series of eight films, the

technology can be used to improve

the 1940s onwards. In addition to

latter which interviewed a cross

the lives of physically challenged

codifying this unique language,

section of researchers selected

people, to enable them to be more

the interpretation in sign language

from each faculty, (many in their

independent and less of a burden

was also key, as Dr. Braithwaite

laboratories or departments), was

on society. We fell in love with the

demonstrated in his anecdote,

for me, another journey of re-

Robot being used in this research,

case about ten years ago, where a

discovery of an institution I had

and named him Robbie One - shades

deaf man was in court being tried for

spent virtually all of my working life

of Star Wars. This kind of research

the murder of his brother. He wanted

in. For my production team, this was

illustrated Professor Brian Copeland’s

to plead not guilty, that he had

an eye opener about what The UWI

mantra that “engineering was about

killed, but not murdered his brother;

does – as they said, “it was like an

winning wealth from Mother Nature”

a reasonably subtle distinction in

education”.

and that “wealth does not only mean

the courts. The interpreter made a

economic wealth.” We learnt that

mistake, and as a result, the verdict

It is impossible to relate the range

engineers like medical scientists

of guilty was passed. There was

of stimulating ideas and new

and other related disciplines are

however someone in the court

knowledge that became available

equally concerned and directly

who understood sign language and

to us; so much so that we realize

involved with products that improve

pointed out that a mistake was being

the deep investment that has been

a society’s state of health.

made, thus reversing the verdict.

to continue to progress and attain

In another setting on the campus,

The Faculty of Medical Sciences

success. One example was the

Emerita Professor Barbara Lalla

carries

discovery of research in Brain

reminded us that “The sensitization

Computer Interface, being carried

to human experience, the processing

veterinary

out in the Faculty of Engineering

that goes into forming human values”

nursing, pharmacy and optometry,

by Professor Chanan Syan and his

are all essential to the humanities. In

all of which are committed to

graduate students. Brain Computer

this Faculty we discovered cultural

improving the lives of individuals.

(BCI)

explores

made, giving us further incentive

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

out

several

invaluable

research

areas

medicine,

dentistry,

One of the areas that spoke

knowledge

new

research activity of the UWI to life,

directly to my own interests was

generations would not be equipped

as the Research Expo allowed for

that being carried out in dementia

to handle the challenges brought

the public to participate in research,

and Alzheimer’s disease. As our

about naturally by progress and

giving them a better understanding

expectation of living longer lives

change. As a result, universities

of the research process. This public

increases and in a population where

would

their

engagement also helped to shape

by 2030, it is projected that the aged

mandates to train new researchers

The UWI’s research agenda as

population will begin to exceed

or provide the incubation space

feedback

other age groups; therefore, the

necessary for breakthroughs in

problems of the aging and elderly

research. The University of the

for inclusion in moving this very

must be confronted now. Professor

West Indies has not only made

important project forward.

Amanda McCrae and Dr. Nelleen

its researchers and their projects

Baboolal are engaged in genuinely

available on the World Wide Web

One of the goals in producing

impactful research that examines

but showcased many of these at the

Advancing Knowledge: Impacting

the diseases of dementia and

Research Expo in October 2015. The

Lives is to draw those of us who have

Alzheimer’s - diseases that can go

Project led by Debra Coryat-Patton,

become inured to the space and as

anywhere from ten to twenty years.

Senior Programme Manager, and

well as the uninitiated, our potential

They look at the epidemiology of

Lois St. Bryce, Project Management

students and the public, into the

the diseases, as well as the socio-

Officer,

Campus

world of university research, to make

economic impact on the families,

Principal assisted by a team, with

connections and to hopefully re-

particularly the burden placed on

the support of the various faculties,

discover the campus in its 55th year,

caregivers.

centres and institutions, brought the

with new eyes. 

not

production,

Office

fulfilling

the

provided

evaluated

and

would

now

considered

The need for inter-disciplinarity and cross-fertilization of our research paths on the campus can only be achieved by having knowledge of what others are doing. It was a pleasure to discover that these findings feed directly into a current Research

Development

Impact

funded project being undertaken by the Institute for Gender and Development Studies, in partnership with colleagues in Social Work at the Faculty of Social Sciences on Work/ Life balance and the Impact on Aging populations. Research is the lifeblood of a university.

Without

consistent

and ongoing transfusions of fresh STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

UWI in Society

Active venting evidences at Kick-’em-Jenny submarine volcano: bubble streams rising up in the water column; view from the NNE side of the edifice. Image taken from Dondin and Robertson, 2015; data used with courtesy of Ocean Exploration Trust.

Kick-‘em-Jenny: quiet after Eruptions

of seismicity before she actually erupted,” added Dr. Latchman. Kick-‘em-Jenny last erupted in 2001. According to Dr. Richard Robertson,

he Caribbean’s active submarine

tectonic earthquakes north-east of

Director of The Seismic Research

volcano with the uncanny name

Barbados. “The systems in our region

Centre, “It comes around the same

Kick-‘em-Jenny, roared to life with

are responding to a convergence

time, so over the last three years we

two eruptions on July 23 and 24.

of the plates so before Kick-‘em-

were expecting something. We were

Located just 7.5 km north-west of

Jenny, the Soufrière Hills eruption

in a heightened state of looking

Grenada, the underwater eruptions

was the volcano that showed that

at something, that’s how we saw a

were a culmination of volcanic

the process is alive and well,” said

build up of activities. It goes from

unrest consisting of an elevated

Dr. Joan Latchman, Seismologist at

doing very little, then active and

number of micro and small events

The Seismic Research Centre of The

then becomes quiet.”

which began two weeks earlier and

University of the West Indies, St.

steadily increased. After the two

Augustine.

events, volcanic seismicity rapidly

Investigative work is continuing in the aftermath of the two eruptions;

subsided and Kick-‘em-Jenny is once

“Every ten years or so Kick-‘em-Jenny

for instance, why signals from the

again in repose.

would erupt. She has erupted bang

first of the Kick-‘em-Jenny eruptions

on schedule so there’s virtually little

reached

Kick-‘em-Jenny’s volcanic episode

build up, unlike Soufrière Hills of

Observatory and were not picked up

followed an ongoing sequence of

Montserrat where you had years

in Trinidad and Tobago.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Montserrat

Volcano

Dr. Frederic Dondin, a Volcanologist based at the Research Centre said not all eruptions reach the surface of the ocean.

“Every ten years or so Kick-‘em-Jenny would erupt. She has erupted bang on schedule so there’s virtually little build up . . .”

“During an observation flight with

Keeping the Caribbean public up

rumours, which were embellished. It

air support from Trinidad we flew to

to date on activities concerning

was important that an authoritative

see if we would see pumice which

Kick-‘em-Jenny was the job of the

voice was on the ground that could,

is floating pieces of a very light

Research Centre’s small Education

in a composed manner say what

volcanic rock or discoloured water

and Outreach Team, who engaged

the system was known to do, and

or degassing or explosive activity.

with the public via phone calls,

that we are monitoring it and we’re

We didn’t see any evidence of that.

media interviews, website and social

in a position to advise on what may

We believe if there was an eruption,

media platforms Facebook (FB) and

happen,” he said.

that eruption wasn’t big enough to

Twitter.

reach the surface,” he explained.

Lynch was able to do exactly But before this kicked into gear, there

that

was panic among members of the

National Emergency Management

explosive eruption under the sea

public in several islands including

Committee

can create rocks from a frothy melt

Barbados,

were

providing insights on risk to the

that float on the water. “It’s either

sent home, Trinidad and Tobago,

population and likely outcome. Dr.

it wasn’t big enough to generate

St. Vincent and the Grenadines and

Robertson, who was visiting St.

anything at the surface or so small

Grenada. There was the perception

Vincent and the Grenadines similarly

that the material that was there

that the eruptions of Kick-’em-Jenny

reassured the population there

drifted away and we couldn’t see

and the earthquakes occurring

and stemmed their growing fears.

it. One of the things we look for is

north-east of Barbados and being

Providing a clear, authoritative voice

physical evidence of an eruption.

felt there, were linked.

indicating what is, as well as what

Dr.

Robertson

added

that

where

workers

when

he on

addressed the

the

situation,

is not happening, is one of the key “There

particular

seismic

Instrumentation

Engineer

Lloyd

functions of the Centre.

signal that is generated when an

Lynch, who flew from Trinidad to

undersea eruption occurs and we

Grenada on the day following the

A Seismic Research Centre report on

have evidence that that signal was

first eruption, said there was panic

the Kick-‘em-Jenny volcanic activity

generated and recorded in both

among the population because

noted the poor state of the network,

eruptions. In the first eruption, it

stories

from

caused mainly by the disrepair of

was recorded in Monsterrat . . . it

different sources, including a major

the facilities at the observatory.

wasn’t recorded in Trinidad and

international media house, which

This caused a delay in reporting

Tobago. That’s why it’s different, so

juxtaposed images of tsunamis from

the observations at the onset of the

there’s a bit of research continuing.

other places with reports on Kick-

activity to the Disaster Coordinator,

We are more or less certain that

‘em-Jenny.

because the reduced number of

were

emerging

there were two eruptions since the

seismic stations in operation did not

characteristic signal was recorded

“The population was pretty much

allow for the accurate location of the

by several seismic stations in the

kept in suspense and bombarded

earthquakes being seen.

region,” he said.

social media, which evolved into STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

“The reduced state of the network,

provided

the

island governments has undermined

resulting

Government of Grenada prior to

the SRC’s capacity to maintain,

location capability for small, local

the onset of the crisis. In addition,

let alone modernise the regional

earthquakes, is a direct reflection

continued non-payment of annual

monitoring network,” according to

of the lack of adequate support

contributions to the SRC by several

the report. 

the

absence

the

SRC

5 m lateral resolution digital terrain model (DTM) of the Kick-‘em-Jenny (KeJ) current edifice obtained from multibeam data collected during the November 2013 NA039 E/V Nautilus Cruise at KeJ (OET-URI-SRC).

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Kick-‘em-Jenny first demonstrated its presence in 1939, when numerous earthquakes were felt, and heavy surf like waves hit the northern coast of Grenada as a result of an explosive eruption that broke the surface of the sea and produced sub-areal, ash-laden columns that reached a height of 300 m above sea level. The 1974 eruption breached the surface producing steam and ash-laden plumes and minor waves. Kick-‘em-Jenny has erupted at least 12 times since 1939. The last eruption episode occurred in December 2001. Kick-‘em-Jenny is named after the nearby small uwi.seismic.com

island called Diamond Rock. Diamond Rock was called Kick-‘em-Jenny prior to the discovery of the volcano in 1939 and may be related to the general rough conditions of the waters in the area, rather than activity at the volcano itself. The exact origins of the name are unclear. It may be a corruption of the

Kick ‘em Jenny is 8km north of Grenada.

French creole: caye que gêne, ‘the troublesome cay’, or a reference to a kicking donkey ‘Jenny’.

All smiles . . . Jehue Gordon, graduated with First Class Honours in his Bachelor in Sports Management. No hurdle is too high for the young scholar and athlete!

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

UWI in Society

The BSc Programme in Geosciences Wayne Bertrand collaborates with industry to meet the demands

Wayne Bertrand

ome 162 students have obtained

another,” he notes. “We have a

responded. “They don’t make the

a BSc degree in petroleum

well-rounded programme. We do

managerial decisions. They can only

geosciences from The University

a course in petro-physics, another

say, ‘here guys, this is the place to

of the West Indies, St. Augustine

in formation evaluation and one

go’. They can justify their choices

campus in Trinidad and Tobago

which

but, in the big companies, they are

since 2004 - forty percent of those

Allan Russell of Repsol teaches. He

competing with prospects from

with first class honours – but yet the

explains how to grade prospects and

other parts of the world. There

production of crude oil and natural

includes some economics, based on

are also costs to be taken into

gas in the country continues to

whether it’s a Production Sharing

consideration.”

stagnate.

Contract (PSC) or an Exploration and

prospect

evaluation,

Production Licence.” It seems paradoxical on the face of

Nonetheless, Mr. Bertrand does find that his graduates are readily

it, especially when we consider that

Yet despite all that investment

accepted

these graduates are exposed to an

in learning and skills acquisition,

companies operating in Trinidad

intense programme with a wide

no significant new sources of oil

and Tobago, even though they are

range of subjects in the course of

or gas production have recently

still working their way up the ladder.

their three years of study. Wayne

been identified, which leads to

Interestingly, they are not as readily

Bertrand, former senior executive

the obvious question: is the BSc

acceptable by the major domestic

and

in Petroleum Geosciences worth

upstreamer, Petrotrin.

coordinator of the programme until

it, since it does not appear to be

recently, explains.

delivering any additional value for

Mr. Bertrand tells us, the programme

the industry and the country.

was developed in line with industry

state-owned

Petrotrin

“In our geosciences programme,

demands.

The

the

BSc

international

Geosciences

geology is one subject, geophysics

Mr. Bertrand is defensive on that

holders are “ready-to-work graduates.

is another, geo-chemistry is another,

score. “My graduates are not yet

We developed the programme that

petroleum engineering is another,

at managerial level, where actual

way, in response to specific requests

engineering management is yet

drilling decisions are made,” he

of the (locally operating) companies.”

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

The energy sector being an exciting

Mr. Bertrand is a little disappointed

want to advise on. They will pay me

and well-paid place in which to work,

that Anglo/Australian multi-national,

for any teaching I do, however.”

the Petroleum Geosciences degree

BHPBilliton, which is searching for

has no shortage of takers. Says Mr.

hydrocarbons in nine deepwater

Dr. Ramsook, who worked in

Bertrand, “We did have a couple of

blocks off Trinidad and Tobago and is

Calgary with several small operators

years where we had as few as nine

a sponsor of the degree programme,

and with Trinity Exploration and

entrants but that was unusual.”

has not hired any of his graduates

Production in San Fernando before

“because their exploration activity is

joining The UWI, says his immediate

centred in Houston.”

plans are “to have some discussions

It will come as no surprise to learn that, as in the rest of the higher

with industry, to assess where we

education system in Trinidad and

“They have taken a few students

are with the programme at this

Tobago, the majority of his students

to Houston to observe what is

point and have them guide us with

are female. “In the year we had 9

happening there, but that only

respect to employment for our

entrants, only one was male, poor

happened for one year. I don’t know

graduates.”

fellow.”

why they stopped.”

Mr. Bertrand declares unequivocally that the women reflect higher levels of capability. “There are more women than men going into geosciences these days. The same thing seems to apply to engineering as a whole. Women are taking

“. . . The BSc Geosciences holders are “ready-towork graduates. We developed the programme that way, in response to specific requests of the (locally operating) companies.”

greater advantage of our secondary education system and hence going

From

Ryan

His goal is to work together with

on to university. They are usually

Ramsook took over from Bertrand

industry to have “a more sustainable

more mature at the same age and

as Programme Coordinator, with the

programme.” That could mean “a

focus a little better.”

latter becoming an Honorary Fellow

rehash of some courses and a re-look

in petroleum geosciences for the

at the structure of the programme. I

senior

next three years. “Honorary means

came from the industry myself and

executives of energy companies in

unpaid,” he smiles. “But I will have

I look forward to bringing a fresh

Trinidad and Tobago will increasingly

an office and I can advise on what I

perspective from the industry side.”

This

implies

that

the

November

Dr.

be female. “The women are now starting to come out, so it will take a while before they get up the line but they are beginning to do it. You go to these energy conferences and you increasingly find it is women who are representing the companies. I can easily see a female president of, say, bpTT, in the years ahead. Easily.”

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

UWI in Society

Changing the Engineering Mindset Facing the challenge of tradition in modern times Photos: Heston Williams

Postgraduate engineering students participating in one of Professor Pun’s “Build a Tower” workshops.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

t is widely held that the difference

To help mitigate the threat of

between scientists and engineers

mass importation of goods into

is that scientists think and engineers

the country, one may easily put

do. Although both employ scientific

forward a policy response that is

principles, scientists theorise, while

to enhance human capital through

engineers implement.

education and training. Nowadays, many firms abroad have responded

So, what are our engineers in Trinidad

to the threat of Chinese imports

and Tobago doing in the area of

by increasing their productivity—

manufacturing to help mitigate the

adopting better IT, boosting R&D

threat of mass importation of goods

spending, and increasing patenting.

into the country?

Unsurprisingly, these actions led to major increases in productivity.

The story appears to be the same all over the globe. Mass produced

Manufacturing, in its broadest sense,

goods are increasingly entering local

is the production of merchandise for

markets at prices with which local

use or sale using labour and machines,

businesses cannot compete, and all

tools,

but forcing many of them to fold. In

processing, or formulation. And to

the importance of manufacturing in

Europe, the United States and even

stay competitive in a mass producing

the country, the name was changed

Japan, Chinese mass manufacturing

climate,

and

to the Department of Mechanical

continues to dominate production

inventions are desperately needed in

and Manufacturing Engineering. At

to the point where innovative ideas

the manufacturing industry.

the same time, The UWI introduced

chemical

and

innovative

Professor Kit Fai Pun

biological

ideas

are being born at home and then

a new taught Master’s programme

being sent to mainland China to be

Speaking to the Head of the

mass produced at a fraction of what

Industrial Engineering Office of the

and new manufacturing-oriented

it would cost to do so in the home

Department of Mechanical and

courses were incorporated into

country.

Manufacturing Engineering at The

its

UWI, St. Augustine, Professor Kit

engineering programmes to build

Unhappily, foreign mass production

Fai Pun, who has been teaching

the competency in that area.

is also the bane of Trinidad and

both

Tobago’s

sector,

graduate engineering programmes

Hence, Professor Pun admitted

which is the third largest contributor

at UWI since 2001, stated the

that enrolments in the Master’s

to the country’s GDP and the

traditional mindset is definitely the

programme and courses with the

second

non-petroleum

first thing that needs changing if

manufacturing specialism remain

contributor. However, over the past

manufacturing initiatives are to take

low when compared to the other

few years Trinidad and Tobago’s

off.

engineering disciplines. And while

manufacturing

largest

manufacturing

sector’s

undergraduate

and

Manufacturing

Mechanical

and

Engineering

Industrial

post-

total

The UWI offers programmes and

contribution to the national GDP

Professor Pun shared that prior to

courses in different engineering

has declined, falling from $8,327.4

2006, the Department was called

disciplines, statistics show that the

million in 2010 to $7,952.2 million in

Mechanical Engineering. With the

one that attracts most undergraduate

2014.

need to diversify and to emphasize

students is the Mechanical Engineering. STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Professor Pun explains “people’s mindset is still geared towards Mechanical Engineering. I am not sure if parents prefer their children to do mechanical engineering. Right now it (manufacturing engineering) doesn’t seem to be very attractive. The

UWI’s

Marketing

and

Part of the student mindset too is to get an engineering degree and then get a job with a large salary.

Communication team have tried out ways to promote the manufacturing

commensurate higher level, not an

feedback on our course design and

programme and associated courses

entry level position. Many of those

delivery from the IMechE is always

offered, but unfortunately people’s

with first degrees, working for the

positive and they always commend

mindset is a difficult thing to change.

energy industry, will come back to

our course design as being very

Every year we recruit 100-120

do their Masters instead of doing an

comprehensive.

students. Close to 90-100 students

MPhil. The department has found it

usually impressed with the creativity

are doing mechanical engineering.”

difficult to keep those first degree

of our final year projects. In their

students and encourage them to

reports, the standard of our final year

application

do an MPhil or PhD. These bright

projects are frequently compared to

of science to the best possible

students are hunted by industry

those in the UK and found to be very

transformation of the resources

even before they graduate. Certainly

high, some even better than many

of nature to the uses of human

UWI cannot match the salaries the

projects of students in the UK.”

kind. Engineers apply mathematics

large companies can provide.”

Engineering

is “the

Also

they

are

What happens to those wonderful

and sciences like physics to solve How are you trying to get them to

creative final year projects? Can

innovate?

they be commercialised?

degree and then get a job with a

“Everything in the field of modern

“We mainly rely on the university’s

large salary.”

engineering including the marvels

resources. The Faculty of Engineering

of modern engineering, we try

allows students a certain amount to

“It’s interesting,” says Professor Pun.

to incorporate into our course

buy materials etc. But one way of

“The local industry, especially those

syllabus. We

solving the funding issue is to get

large energy companies, dominate

facility frequently. In addition to

at the moment. They prefer to hire

the University’s Internal Quality

from industry. In 2011, an important

our first degree graduates instead of

Assurance exercises, every three

initiative taken at the Department

the MPhil and PhD graduates. For a

to five years we invite outside

was the establishment of the

simple reason - they would like to hire

accreditation/professional bodies

Mechanical

competent first degree graduates

to visit our Department to assess

Enterprise Research Centre (MMERC)

and provide their own in-house

our academic programmes. We

whose mission is to help diversify

training for them. If you already have

are currently preparing for the next

the regional economies through

a PhD, from the student perspective,

re-accreditation visit in March 2016

innovation, with a vision of being

you will expect with that level of

from The Institution of Mechanical

the leading facilitator of innovation

training, that you will be hired at a

Engineers (IMechE) in the UK. The

in the Caribbean Region.”

problems

improve

existing

elements. Part of the student mindset too is to get an engineering

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

upgrade

our

lab

stakeholders’

and

involvement

Manufacturing

The main aim of the centre is “to

Professor

that

maintaining the turnkey solutions of

bolster regional innovation efforts

The UWI’s mandate is to produce

their employers; rather than in any

by facilitating the commercialization

engineers and do research. Some

of the other areas that could lead to

and

staff members do research and

innovations. This too is part of the

technologies and also creating a

publish papers in collaboration

challenge.

Think-Tank forum to engage regional

with industry. But we also need to

industry leaders on the innovation

rely heavily on external funding.

“The industry culture may be

discussion.”

Comparing The UWI to leading

difficult to change, especially in

universities in the USA who receive

these uncertain economic times.

The centre has its own website

a lot of funding from industry,

Many employers understand the

inviting submission of innovative

Professor Pun says it is a ‘Chicken

importance of R&D but don’t

proposals from the region and

and Egg’ paradox.

often fund R&D. They prefer to

innovative

products

Pun

explained

already they are partnering with

buy

“turnkey”

solutions.

Buy

important industry stakeholders i.e.

“We cannot bring on anything new

and install. They hardly invest in

BP Trinidad and Tobago, CARILEC,

because we lack funding i.e. when

developing their own people to

and

Methanex

your university is producing good

design and implement their own

and

developing

innovations

work, industry will come to you. If

programmes. They purchase a

replace

the university does not have the

software solution to implement

dependence on the vagaries of the

resources to fund good work to

and this is not very healthy.”

prices of fossil fuels; a large ocean

build a good track record to show,

wave predictor for seafarers and

how can industry come to you?”

alternative

energy

researching to

an ultrasonic floodgate sensor in

“Many of the engineering design graduates are not doing design

collaboration with the Ministry of

Modern

Planning.

all intermediate processes required

operations/routine

for the production and integration

existing programmes. So even

The effect on jobs and technology in

of a product’s components. With

though our programmes can

other countries due to competition

so many disciplines in the field of

lead to innovations for design,

from Chinese imports has forced

engineering, there are opportunities

in many cases they find jobs

them to respond in three main areas:

for most engineers within many of

not in design, but in areas of

these manufacturing industries in

the production operations and

four main areas:

maintenance. Most companies

• IT – forced industries into

manufacturing

includes

adopting better IT systems • R&D – increased the activity

jobs. They are doing maintenance things

for

want short term, fast results. • Engineering Design

Investing money in new design is

in these fields to encourage

• Research and Development

risky as there are no guarantees

innovation

• Production Operations

of solutions. Additionally, there is

• Maintenance

also the risk for them if investing in

• Patents - increased patenting of their ideas to prevent unauthorised duplication

training, after which the personnel Professor Pun pointed out that

leave the company and they lose

when the students graduate they

money. So the companies then

This has redounded to their benefit

usually end up in the last two

learn from experience and opt for

resulting

areas

turnkey solutions.”

productivity.

increased

overall

–

Production

Operations

and Maintenance – operating and STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Professor Pun was born in Hong Kong, and having lived here for over 14 years, has compared the different work ethics. “In Hong Kong, the Chinese mindset understands that you have to work hard before you can really work smart. In T&T, it’s the other way round. Many local people always or simply think about working smart first but are not sure it is.” UWI innovation in partnership with industry is making slow progress, but to speed up the process, some important things have to change. The primary challenge is to change the mind-set of not only the people, but also the government and industry.  The ‘Build a Tower’ Workshop is organised for PG students who are enrolling in Professor Pun’s course, PRMG 6012: Value Engineering & Management. At the workshop, students are asked to form competing project teams, and are assigned to design and build a tower that is considered a functional fit and meets the height and loading requirements. This is a task-oriented competitive workshop that stresses teamwork, creativity, innovation, cooperation and coordination.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

UWI in Society

Establishing a Significant Structure for Sport at UWI St. Augustine

Major David Benjamin

very afternoon, into evening as

Major David Benjamin is the

prowess in Mona, Major Benjamin

the floodlights warm up, there

Director of UWI SPEC. Using his

conveyed that a decision was made

are hundreds of boots, trainers and

organizational experience as a

by the management of the Regional

bare feet pressing on the manicured

commissioned

officer,

Institution to establish a Centre for

lawns

a master of education and a

Football at The UWI St. Augustine

Recreational football, cricket and

sportsman,

campus, in addition to the other

running ease the tension of reading

establish a structure to make

for a degree; the field at The UWI

UWI St. Augustine a sporting

Sport and Physical Education Centre

powerhouse.

serious

Looking at the facilities in Trinidad

(SPEC) and most green spots found

business with a level of dedication

and Tobago influenced the decision

free are relief areas.

and proper organization so that

for locating the centre at St.

athletes can compete at the highest

Augustine. The goals are ambitious.

level.

Like a trained marksman, Major

UWI

St.

Augustine.

When there is a thought of some

military

Sport

seeking

of The University of the West

existing sporting disciplines.

Benjamin has a target in mind. In the

Indies’ most accomplished alumni,

Having seen the success of the Cave

absence of university competition

sportsmen hardly come to mind.

Hill-based Combined Colleges and

on the NCAA, as in the USA, he

Campuses cricket team in regional,

wants UWI teams to compete on the

first class cricket; and the track

national level.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

The Management of The UWI

athlete, ready-to-go pro. However,

under the stewardship of the

the University is just developing

Sport is serious business

Vice Chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles

with a level of dedication

has

academia and training.

already

held

discussions

formal

connection

between

and proper organization

with CONCACAF, in having a

so that athletes can

UWI team compete in the Club

Lunging forward in his chair,

Championships.

should

forearms mounting the table at his

be hearing about The UWI St.

office, Major Benjamin says: “We’ve

Augustine having Jabloteh on

learned a lot from our experiences

the

with Jehue Gordon.

defensive

“You

and

competing

compete at the highest level.

Jehue sat

with Caledonia AIA and even the

many times right there many

Defence Force. They should be at

hours; and I just sat here taking

that level,” says Benjamin.

notes of all the stresses he would have undergone to complete his

Players will be scouted from

degree. Jehue graduated this year

among the freshman population

as an honours student and I’m

and various leagues around the

proud of his accomplishment.”

country. Managing athletes at the transitional phase, on the cusp of

With offers of scholarships from

the debilitating struggle or success

North

of professional sport is a tricky job.

the former world junior 400m

Major Benjamin says when working

Hurdles

with young adults, a coach must be

senior champion decided to stay

progress. The new Sport, Fitness

equipped with skills beyond the

in Trinidad to train and study.

and Athletic Department, under

boundary.

Major Benjamin says it takes great

which SPEC falls, is establishing a

flexibility

formal system for that support.

American

universities,

champion

and

2013

understanding

“The coach has to understand

to manage students who are

that the athletes must be able to

pursuing athletic and academic

The Student Services unit will

find a balance between academic

careers simultaneously.

also provide academic support

commitments

and

match

and

for the new groups of serious

practice activities. Good coaches

In the strategic planning for this

student

would understand how young

new programme for The UWI

expected to emerge from the

people think. So it is important for

football team, he says his team

strategic planning. As a standard,

us to select the best person for this

is putting measures in place for

undergraduate programmes are

job. The coach has to set all the

student athletes to have assigned

tailored to last three years at UWI.

correct examples,” says the UWI

individual course tutors with whom

Benjamin

SPEC Sports Director.

they can communicate online,

campus-wide

for virtual contact hours, while

foundational sporting structures to

Quality pitches exist on campus,

competing. Also out of the Jehue

grow into impressive programmes

so too gym facilities, indoor hard

Gordon experience, he learned

but, as with any other embryonic

courts and other components

that peer support is also essential

project,

of creating a quality student-

for student athletes’ academic

challenges.

athletes

believes

who

there

desire

there

are

for

a the

always

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

“Paramount to this process will

sporting event of international

even assist all Trinidad and Tobago

be to establish the budget that is

appeal in the SPEC Half Marathon.

national teams. “We shouldn’t

necessary to sustain such a high

Now it needs to show that it has the

be guessing when it comes to

level programme. We must find

institutional capacity to constantly

putting things in place for a team

innovative ways to make these

churn out elite athletes.

to perform abroad.”

An athletic, science-testing lab is

So, there is good news for the

also in the works. The Department

‘sweaters’, just looking to kick ball

He points to Mona’s partnership

has a plan of establishing a plant to

after a stressful, afternoon class at

with

formalize the connection between

the JFK or LRC Halls. The prospect

equipment and Cave Hill’s deal

sport,

medical

is also good for players who never

with Sagicor to fund the High

sciences. He says quality research

had any real hopes of taking

Performance Cricket Centre and

on fitness levels, biomechanics,

INTERCOL ball tricks and beats

says that the Trinidad campus

flexibility and even prosthetic

beyond their secondary schools’

will be open to this model of

limbs can come out of a joint-

fan

partnership.

faculty approach. Space is being

a system for moulding quality

identified to facilitate that project.

athletes at The UWI St. Augustine

In his mind, The UWI St. Augustine

“That will really improve the sport

seems to be taking shape. 

has already shown that it has

output of the university.” He says

the facilities and can organize a

that such a scientific facility can

things happen; as we see this as being beneficial to the University.”

Adidas

for

sporting

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

natural

and

clubs.

Despite

challenges,

Embrace our World The UWI International Office’s

competition. Staff and students

based on the authenticity and

iWeek

were

represent

overall appearance of their outfits.

from October 5 to 9, a series

one of the following destinations

The winner of the Best Dressed

and

utilising clothing, head dress and

Individual

designed

accessories: Brazil, India, South

was Daniela D’Ade, Office of

to foster interest in the global

Africa,

China,

Admissions – Student Affairs and

community

–

International

educational,

recreational

‘Embrace

cultural

events under our

Week

challenged

Germany,

Cuba,

representing

“India”

the

theme

The Pacific Islands and France.

Best Dressed Group representing

World’,

ended

Contestants

“Cuba” was awarded by Marketing

with the International Dress Day

individual

were and

judged

group

for

awards

and Communications.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

UWI in Society

Mr. Sharan C. Singh delivers a speech at the Launch of the Agricultural Innovation Park

internationalisation

agenda

the institution. A couple years later, a new Office of Institutional Advancement was handed to him to deal with issues of fund-raising, and alumni affairs. He estimates that over 50,000 graduates have passed through the St. Augustine Campus which is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. The Commercialisation portfolio was

thrust

upon

his

office,

which became responsible for

Internationalising The UWI Sharan Chandradath Singh tells how

all

commercial

the

campus,

updating

rents,

the

commercial

expanding

footprint

and

introducing mobile vending across the campus, along with developing deeper

cooperation

Campus

and

the

between private

sector.

candidly, “obviously they think I

handled the portfolio of the Major

and

can get things done” and he has

Transformation Project office.

St.

proven time and again that he and

Augustine Campus at The UWI

his competent staff members, who

Within the last year, Singh was

has a lengthy title that goes with

are given tremendous autonomy,

given additional responsibility for

the vast responsibilities that are

can

the University Inn and Conference

entrusted to his small staff and

platforms to get the job done.

Institutional

the

Singh,

revenue

that come his way. In fact, he said

Director

Chandradath

tripling

from rental by a combination

the haran

operations

Office

Advancement

Internationalisation

the

leverage

across

different

Commercialisation

also

Centre where the general manager

ultimately with him. “I literally have

reports to him daily. He’s a

to be schizophrenic on purpose,” he

During his first stint at UWI, he

member of the board for the Inn

said light-heartedly, as he explains

worked in the office of the principal

and Conference Centre and sits

switching mentally from dealing

under Dr. Bhoe Tewarie and then

on numerous other committees

with an Inn and Conference Centre

with the business development

on the campus. He was also

issue to putting the final touches

office, as a Business Development

one of two UWI directors on the

on an MOU.

Manager.

board of the ‘Phi Innovations Limited’ which is a company set

Singh, who worked at UWI between

Singh returned to UWI as Director

up to commercialise the patents

2002-2006 and returned in 2009, is

for the Phi (electronic steel pan

not fazed by the huge challenges

responsible

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

the

International for

Office,

building

the

invented at The UWI) and which

Prof. Clement Sankat together with officials from The China Agricultural University and The University of the West Indies

is comprised of representatives of

project, a 200-acre ‘Agricultural

which is China’s leading University

the government, the inventors and

Innovation Park’ in Orange Grove,

specialising in Agriculture.

The UWI. “It’s all very challenging

which he says can be the catalyst for

project is facilitated significantly

from a personal perspective,” he

transforming and revolutionising

by the governments of Trinidad

remarked, adding that there is

the sector in Trinidad and Tobago

and Tobago and China.

satisfaction in seeing growth and

and the Caribbean, currently facing

progress in every sphere of the

a staggering billion dollar annual

“This

campus.

food import bill.

transformative

agricultural and

project

The

innovative

because it’s very rare that two Significant achievements The

university’s

Seeded and facilitated by Singh’s

institutions are coming together,

Office

office and driven by the Faculty

putting a joint facility together

Advancement

and

of Agriculture, the Agricultural

with both governments supporting

Internationalisation is in the midst

Innovation Park is a collaborative

it, financially and otherwise, so the

of several exciting projects. Singh

effort between The University of

whole mechanism on which it is

is particularly enthusiastic and

the West Indies, St. Augustine and

being done is unique and setting a

passionate about an agricultural

the China Agricultural University

lot of precedents,” he said.

Institutional

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Singh added, “This is not just going

of plants, vegetables and fruits,

a building for them, for another

to have an impact on UWI; this will

has already received green houses

university and they are financing

transform the society similar to

from the Government of China.

it. It’s another great example of

the manner in which agricultural innovation

and

two major institutions coming

transformation

Additionally, UWI is working with

together,” he said noting that

has driven development of the

universities in Cuba in agriculture,

the relationship between both

economies of China, India, Brazil

bio-technology and science; it

campuses goes back to over two

and others, and if this works here,

has procured a Chair in Ayurvedic

decades via the ‘Trinity in Trinidad’

it can be replicated elsewhere in

Medicine from the Government

programme.

the Caribbean. This is our pilot

of India and is about to welcome

project. If you want to make an

a specialist from India in natural

“Trinity College has a unique

impact in society, become self-

medicinal plants. “This innovation

repository of film, video, and audio

sufficient in food. There are health

park can now become an epicentre

recordings of culture in Trinidad

benefits, economic benefits and

of international collaboration in

and Tobago, which will be housed

employment benefits to come

tropical agriculture. This will be

in this building and our scholars will

from this. This has been led by the

a global centre of excellence,” he

have access to it alongside theirs,”

Campus Principal. A lot of what we

asserted.

he said adding that the building will be launched in February

are achieving is because we have a Campus Principal who believes

Another collaborative project is

next year during a major global

in what we are doing and who has

the construction of Trinity House

conference that will bring together

put his weight behind important

on the campus grounds of The UWI

scholars from Trinity College, The

initiatives like this. “

St. Augustine, for Trinity College in

UWI and other collaborators.

Hartford, Connecticut in the US. Singh said a lot of the successful

The agricultural innovation park, which will introduce new research

“We are building Trinity House on

collaboration was due to the close

and techniques and new varieties

our campus. We are constructing

relationship of UWI and his office with the diplomatic corps in Port of Spain and with the government

“The work that we are doing is making a difference today and repositioning the university for a more competitive future.”

Trinidad

and

For

instance, UWI was included in the government’s official delegations to

India

and

collaborations

China

with

where

universities

and visiting professorial chairs were cemented. The office has come a very long way from 2009 when Singh took over its mantle. Its impact is felt and seen in almost every aspect of the University.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Tobago.

“Where we are today if you look

Singh is full of praise for his staff

strategic focus. We facilitate; we

at annual reports, presentations,

members who he describes as

guide them on the process; if they

strategies, the international agenda,

project

added,

want to formalise it, we help them

the international character of the

“Although they are technically

with an MOU template; we have

institution permeates everywhere;

focussed, they are not specialised

negotiations skills; we have the

it’s all over the place, from the

in anything per se; they are

sensitivities in dealing with the

faculties to departments. They all talk

working

international environment.”

about the research collaboration,

Internationalisation doesn’t take

the institute that they visited, and

place in the international office,

The trail of accomplishments to

the joint programmes. That’s one

it takes place in the faculties,

date, too numerous to mention

accomplishment that I think I am

in the departments; when they

in a few pages, certainly testify

proud of and it is how I was able

collaborate, when they engage,

to this fact. As Singh concludes,

to seed it but I didn’t do this alone,

when they send students, we

“the work that we are doing is

the institution did this. We took a

are internationalising. So that’s

making a difference today and

decision early on to decentralise. We

a very big accomplishment and

repositioning the university for a

wanted to build a strong campus, not

Internationalisation

more competitive future.” 

just a strong international office, so

become a major part of our

managers.

with

the

faculties.

has

now

we instigated and facilitated,” he asserted.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

UWI in Society

UWI STAN is pleased to continue the “Language Matters” series provided by the Linguistics Section of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities and Education, The UWI, St. Augustine. The series highlights and showcases the Department’s research into each of Trinidad and Tobago’s surviving heritage languages. Beginning with a socio-historical

overview, articles have so far focused on the ten known Amerindian languages, Spanish, French Creole (Patois) and Yoruba, with studies on six more languages to follow. This issue features Syrian and Lebanese (North Levantine) Arabic by Dr Ramón Mansoor, retired Senior Lecturer in Hispanic Literature.

Arabic

in Trinidad and Tobago by Dr. Ramón Mansoor

major

immigrants

waves from

Photo: Andre Neufville

of Syria

and Lebanon to the island of Trinidad took place in the 1930s. Although Arabic first appeared in Trinidad in the 19th century, with Islamicized West African Savannah peoples, Arabic as a home and vernacular

language

probably

first came with the Middle Eastern Arabs of Syria and Lebanon. In spite of the difficulties involved in establishing precise dates, one can say that the first generation of Trinidadian-born Syrians and Lebanese appeared in the late thirties up to the late forties and early fifties. This first Trinidadianborn generation was exposed to the simultaneous presence at home of both Arabic and English. These two languages impacted their

view

their

perceiving,

the

world—

remembering,

comprehending and thinking.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Dr. Ramón Mansoor

As a heritage language, Arabic is a

the phonological system of Arabic

dessert’; note that some varieties of

language of personal connection, of

were quickly acquired by the first

Arabic have halawi), and also /m/

family intimacy, love and solidarity.

born generation. When Syrian and

and /h/ as in mhuddi (‘pillow’).

The grammatical structures and

Lebanese parents began to speak

lexical items first acquired by the

English fluently, they did so with an

The power of language to determine

first generation were the present

Arabic accent and marked Arabic

our perception of life can never be

tense, the past tense and words

syntactic structures.

overstated. Beverly Clark (“First and

and expressions relating to family

Second Language Acquisition in

contexts: to want, to eat, to drink, to

We have, for example, syllable

Early Children“, 2008) emphasizes

sleep, to be sick, to bathe, to love, to

restructuring

processes.

One

this:

kiss, and a wide array of names of

example

epenthesis,

where

food.

a vowel is placed between two

As for all first languages, language

consonants in an English word for

was

formal

ease of pronunciation. The Arabic

instruction, and there were words

speaker may say, for example,

used at home for which the children

“firidge” for ‘fridge’. There is also

may not have known the English

the placing of a consonant before

equivalent. The word saha comes

a vowel in an English word. For

to mind. When children ate, parents

example, the Arabic speaker may say

used this word repeatedly. It means

“Marhaval” instead of Maraval.

acquired

without

‘health’ but children may not have known this until after a few years.

Consonants

They, however, knew that it meant

changes, too. A /v/ can become /f/,

something good and that it was

for example: “fillage” for ‘village’.

related to the act of eating.

“Police” became ‘boolice’. (In most

underwent

some

varieties of Arabic, [p] and [b] are Language

forms

acquired

“When we learn a new language, we are not just learning new vocabulary and grammar; we are also learning new ways of organizing concepts, new ways of thinking, and new ways of learning language.”

later

allophones of the same phoneme

were the conditional, speaking

and are not distinguished by Arabic

hypothetically, the future, describing

speakers in English.) First generation

The first language of the first

family and social situations, talking

Syrians and Lebanese were also

generation of Syrians and Lebanese

about school and friends. These

aware that even if certain sounds did

in Trinidad was Arabic and the

forms were most likely acquired

exist in Arabic, they were changed

sound of the first Arabic words

by first generation Syrians and

when they appeared in English,

heard and acquired by them will

Lebanese during adolescence when

maybe owing to their proximity to

always have an emotional value that

English had already superseded

certain consonants in some cases.

their English equivalents can never have. The names of certain foods,

Arabic as the dominant language at certain

items relating to the home, names

combinations of consonants which

that express family relationships

generation

exist in Arabic but no longer in

are some words that quickly come

showed several influences of the

Modern English, combinations such

to mind: laham (‘meat’) and salya

phonological patterns of Arabic

as /h/ and “r” as in hrisi (‘barley soup’),

(‘living room’) are only two among

in their speech. Many aspects of

/h/ and /l/ as in hlawi (‘sesame seed

many.

home. The

Additionally, immigrant

there

are

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Arabic

emotion-packed,

so replete with expressions of affection

that

children

cannot

help but feel loved and develop a sense of belonging to the

Heritage languages leave a profound emotional impact on the learners and help to determine the development of cognitive faculties.

home. This is probably the most salient and permanent way that

proficiency in their children and

Syrians and Lebanese and for the loss

Arabic has shaped the way Syrian

prioritized knowledge of English as

of interest, among many, in speaking

and Lebanese Trinidadians and

the road to economic success and

Arabic.

Tobagonians conceive of life and

survival in a foreign land and foreign

communities in the smaller islands

human

Parents

culture. Socio-cultural factors and

do not enjoy these stimuli and tend

continuously use words of affection

the question of peer pressure to be

to gather together at night. They

to the children. When children leave

like one’s friends and to identify as a

are, therefore, more proficient in

the home, they hear the Arabic for

Trinidadian can never be overstated

Arabic and have a more immediate

“God be with you”, “God walk with

when one considers how many first

awareness of their cultural heritage

you”. Parents frequently raise their

generation adolescents refused to

and traditions.

hands to heaven and invoke God.

speak Arabic to their parents in the

relationships.

presence of their friends. language

and

Lebanese

There is growing evidence that

The constant presence of God through

Syrian

children who possess a heritage

the

There are a multitude of variables

language and use that language

submission to the will of God are

with respect to the factors that

for

salient features of life in an Arabic-

determined the levels of proficiency

gaining

speaking family.

in Arabic among Trinidadians and

problems, expressing needs and

Tobagonians of Syrian and Lebanese

communicating, can easily learn to

Speaker generation and birth order

ancestry. First generation Syrians

use a second and a third language.

are important in Arabic language

and Lebanese who lived in middle

Heritage

maintenance and use in the Syrian

class and lower middle class areas

profound emotional impact on the

and Lebanese community in Trinidad

integrated quickly into the wider

learners and help to determine the

& Tobago. Speakers of the first

community

economic

development of cognitive faculties.

generation tend to possess higher

survival was, on a daily basis, a

Arabic opened up for first generation

degrees of linguistic proficiency than

pressing and traumatizing priority.

Syrians and Lebanese in Trinidad &

the second generation and so on.

On the other hand, those who were

Tobago—and continues to do so for

The first born also tend to be more

prosperous from the early years

subsequent generations—a unique

proficient in the heritage language.

and lived in upper class districts

world with its own values, ways of

Girls of the first generation tended to

possessed

and

perceiving the world, society and

be more proficient in Arabic because

emotional stability to hold on to

others, new ways of looking at the

they spent more time in the home,

aspects of their ancestral culture.

structure of language, and new ways

because

the

confidence

which is a pattern typical of virtually all immigrant heritage languages.

purposes

thinking,

information,

solving

languages

leave

of communicating. Furthermore, the existence of a dynamic culture in Trinidad was

Heritage

Some parents were sceptical about

a principal reason for the rapid

preserved and promoted in Trinidad

the usefulness of Arabic language

assimilation of the first generation

& Tobago. 

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

languages

must

Popular and other literature:

DID YOU KNOW?

• Syrian

Women’s

Most of the people of Arab origin

(Approximate) date of arrival:

Association of Trinidad & Tobago.

in Trinidad are collectively referred

1902

The Voyage of the Mediterranean

to as “Syrians.” (This is because

Star: The Syrian Lebanese Women’s

since the land that now collectively

Main locations: Nationwide

Association of Trinidad & Tobago,

forms Syria, Lebanon, Palestine

Approximate number of speakers:

the first 50 years, an Anniversary

and Jordan used to be known as

Unknown,

Publication. Port-of-Spain: Paria

Greater Syria or Bilad el Sham.)

Publishing, 2001.

The name of the language variety

ISO language code: [apc]

varying

levels

proficiency

• Syrian

Lebanese

Association

There are communities throughout

health): Dying, but receiving new

Tobago. Ah’len Cookbook: A

the Caribbean, including Haiti and

life because of new immigrants,

Culinary Journey through the Eyes

Jamaica.

and because of an increasing

of the Syrian Lebanese Women’s

awareness of the importance and

Association of Trinidad & Tobago,

relevance of their heritage among

2010.

Trinbagonians

Trinidad

is North Levantine Spoken Arabic.

Current status (linguistic vitality/

younger second generation Arab-

Women’s

• Also of interest: Raphaël Confiant’s La rue des Syriens

Scientific studies: Undergraduate

Other media (websites, etc.): NALIS,

projects by Angela Laquis-Sobrian

Danielle Baiz’ blog

and others, Ian Robertson and Daidrah Smith (work in progress),

Selected vocabulary and other

Zainab Mohamed on Arabic

contributions to T&T language:

in Trinidad in general (work in

pita,

progress). Also of interest: Gérard

tabbouleh (all reinforced by the

Lafleur’s Les Libanais et les Syriens

popularity of these foods in North

de Guadeloupe

America and Britain).

kibby,

hummus,

fatoush, Reproduced with the kind permission of the Syrian Lebanese Women’s Association of Trinidad and Tobago

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

UWI in Society

Distinctive Leaders in their Own Spheres

National awardees and pioneers receive honorary doctorates from The UWI

he month of October saw many

Campus, Professor Clement Sankat,

days and nights of celebration

addressed the distinguished gathering

as approximately 4000 UWI students

and lauded the achievements of the

(comprising

and

8 honorees; thanking them for their

graduate) received their degrees in

dedication and service to the people

various disciplines, and 8 specially

of the region.

selected

undergrad

graduands

who

were

awarded honorary doctorates for

“The UWI is privileged to have

their distinctive contributions to

amongst its community of scholars,

Caribbean society.

eight (8) specially selected honorary graduands, each of whom epitomizes

At a special cocktail reception held

excellence, dedication and service to

at his office, the

the people of the Caribbean region!”

on October 23

Principal of The UWI St. Augustine

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

he said.

They are: Mr. Rajkumar “Krishna” Persad; Mr. Gerard A. Besson; Mr. Hollis Raymond Charles; Justice Ralph Narine; Madame Justice Jean Permanand; Mr. David Rudder; Mr. A. Norman Sabga and Dr. Marjorie Thorpe.

Mr. Rajkumar “Krishna”

Spain Museum and the Police Service Museum. He is the

Persad HBM has steadfastly

recipient of the Hummingbird Medal (Gold) for Heritage

promoted Indian art and

Preservation and Promotion from the Government of

culture

Trinidad and Tobago and a Lifetime Achievement Award

for

than

five decades. He was the

from the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago.

first Trinidad and Tobago national

have

been

awarded a scholarship by

STAN chatted with Gerry Besson about the UWI and his award

the Indian Government to study music and dance in India and received the

STAN: How did receiving this award make you feel?

title, ‘Natya Kala Ratna’. In 1967 he became the founder,

Gerry: when I first heard the news it made me feel very

director and choreographer of the Trinidad School of

gratified...and profoundly honored, largely because this

Indian Dance, the first to be established in this part of

university is one of the few institutions that possesses

the world. As an accomplished cultural ambassador, he

credibility and maintains the standards upon which it was

has represented his country in North America, the United

established in the first place.

Kingdom, Europe, South America and the Far East. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago presented him with

When you begin doing this sort of thing, which is loosely

the National Award of the Humming Bird Medal in 1969

called the preservation of historical or folk heritage, you

and then many years later again recognized him as an

are caught up in an impulse to do it. I started doing this

‘Icon’.

like about thirty-something years ago and throughout that whole period I never thought that I would get any Mr. Gerard A. Besson – is the

kind of recognition for doing it.

founder of Paria Publishing which has published and

During those years the impulse that led me to do it was

produced well over 80 titles

one where people like me, who were doing this sort of

on the history and culture

thing, saw the extent to which the collective memory

of Trinidad and Tobago. A

of Trinidad’s 19th and early 20th century in the post-

published

historian

and

independence period was just being obliterated, wiped

folklorist,

out and forgotten. It was as though we had come into

internet blog on history and

existence in the 1950s. So a group of us became quite

heritage and published two

engaged in preserving the historical record.

writes

historical novels. Mr. Besson helped establish a library at President’s House during the presidency of His Excellency,

It is something one gets caught up in and you do it with

Noor Hassanali, and convened the cabinet-appointed

intensity and you do lots of interviews with people-

work group occasioned by the centenary of Tobago

collecting oral history. You go to see people who have

becoming a ward of the unified colony of Trinidad and

various kinds of records; you photograph these records,

Tobago. He has worked on several specialized museums

you tape them and you get quite caught up in it. Now in

including - the Angostura Museum, the City of Port-of-

the meantime, I was running an advertising agency and

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

this was my hobby. But I was obsessed with the idea of

STAN: How do you see the role of UWI as a unifying

saving Trinidad’s historical record and we did all sorts of

force for the Caribbean?

things, we produced games that had historical content;

Gerry: UWI is the solvent that links and joins and makes

we had a TV series, based on copying the History channel’s

sense of the Anglophone West Indian community. UWI

approach. We re-published out-of-print historical works

is what makes it makes sense to have a university whose

of Trinidad. We published the work of other writers, other

campuses are distributed here, in Jamaica and Barbados.

historians like Michael Anthony and Father de Verteuil

It underlines the fact that we are all part of the same

who were also doing the same sort of thing, and so you

experience, and all part of the same historical narrative.

really don’t have in the back of your mind that somewhere

UWI does that. One could argue that West Indian cricket

along the line you would be awarded an honorary degree

may do this. One could argue that CARICOM can do this.

by The UWI because really and truly you are caught up in

But we have to bear in mind that it is out of this institution

the vineyard. So when you receive the award you feel very

that the people who underpin these movements

happy that someone has noticed you and you feel very

emerge. So UWI is like a mother to the West Indies, to the

proud that you have done this.

Anglophone West Indian community; it is a significant institution. It is perhaps THE most significant institution

STAN: What impact has UWI had on your life?

because what it does is that it inculcates knowledge and

Gerry: A very great impact, a very significant impact and

encourages critical thinking and self-examination. This is

a very deep impact, because that period I just described

what it does and underpins and we are a new people, still

to you, the late 70s into the 80s, I was invited to become a

in the process of self-discovery and UWI charts the course

member of the campus council. Mr.

Hollis

Raymond

So I was brought into UWI and for seven years I served on

Charles’

the campus council, during which time I was a part of the

have

directly

bookshop committee and collaborated on a book called

the

advancement

“The Book of Trinidad” with Professor Brereton. I then did

technological research and

another project with Professor Ryan which was called

industry in Trinidad and

“From Colonial to Republic”. So I co-authored works with

Tobago and the Caribbean.

UWI authors and became a member of a group called

He was one of The UWI’s

the Association of Caribbean Historians, with people in

earliest

the UWI history department. I presented a couple papers

Electrical Engineering who

here at this university when conferences were held under

also obtained an MSc in Management from the Sloan

the auspices of that association. My relationship with Dr.

Programme of the Graduate School of Business, Stanford

Brereton continued during this period I also did several

University. Mr. Charles was also founding co-Director of

small museums, five or six small museums, and I relied

the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute and the first

on Dr. Brereton to vet my findings. Through Professor La

local Director. For the next 20 years, he was responsible

Guerre who was the chairman of the Equal Opportunities

for developing CARIRI into what is today, recognized

Commission (EOC), I was appointed to that body and

as one of the foremost multidisciplinary technological

very recently, just a couple of months ago, I worked with

institutions in the developing world. He is a Past President

Professor Samaroo to do the exhibition at Sevila House.

of the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries

So from 1977 up to a couple months ago, I have been

and the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad

associated with The UWI and its staff members in various

and Tobago.

kinds of ways. STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

accomplishments fostered

graduates

Madame

Jean

He was a founding member

Angela Permanand - CMT, a

of the National Council

former Judge of the Appeal

for Indian Culture in 1964.

of Trinidad and Tobago,

His appointments to State

began her career in Law

boards

and

1962 with her own private

dealt

with

practice. She was appointed

matters

Senior Counsel in 1981,

administration,

Solicitor-General in 1980-

of the Port Authority and

1982, and acted as Chief

Justice of the Peace and the Integrity Commission. In

Justice during the period 2001-2002. The Government

1988, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago presented

of Trinidad and Tobago presented her with the Chaconia

him with a National Award, the Chaconia Medal (Gold) for

Medal (Gold) in 2003 for long and meritorious service to

public service.

Court i

Justice

committees a

host

including

sports

operations

the country. In 2009, she was elected President of the Commonwealth Law Reform Agencies. She has served

David Rudder has been

on the Integrity Commission, chaired the Committee

recognized

to review mediation in Criminal Matters as well as the

for

Committee to review the Appointment Process of Senior

capture

Counsel.

of Trinidad and Tobago’s

his

internationally

integration of

the

and

essence

multicultural society through Madame Justice Permanand spoke with STAN at the

his music. His music, which

ceremony saying she felt very honoured to receive her

blends pop, jazz, blues and

Honorary Doctoral award and reminisced about The

calypso, has been considered

UWI’s impact on the region.

a bridge between modern pop and World Beat Music. Mr. Rudder’s lyrical prowess has been recognized,

“When UWI started in the fifties in Jamaica…there was

acclaimed, studied and evaluated by academics such

a little reluctance to send your children there. Parents

as Professors Kenneth Ramchand and Gordon Rohlehr.

preferred to send them up to Canada and England. But

Renditions such as ‘Ganges meets the Nile’, ‘Hosay’, ‘The

when you go to the hospitals today, you find that most of

Power of the Glory’ and ‘High Mas’ have been given

those doctors there, those in whose hands you put your life,

significant respect for their impact in further inculcating

are UWI graduates. They have all done very well. So that is

all facets of the country’s social fabric into song.

something that Trinidad and Tobago should be very proud of, to know that their children have graduated here.”

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago presented him with a National Award, the Chaconia Medal (Gold) for

Justice Ralph Narine CMT graduated as a barrister in

public service in 1988.

London in 1952 and served for 35 years in Trinidad and Tobago as both a lawyer and judge. Outside of the court

On October 24th, 2015, just after David Rudder received

room, Justice Narine was an enthusiastic cricket and

his Honorary Doctoral degree at the Official Graduation

volleyball player and a gifted musician too, demonstrating

ceremony at the UWI Campus in St. Augustine, STAN

his talents with the mandolin and violin in an Indian

magazine was able to conduct a brief interview with him.

orchestra.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

STAN: What does it mean to receive an award from the

A. Norman Sabga - is

University of the West Indies?

the Chairman and Chief

David: It’s a great honour; I always say that even the

Executive

lowest mad man in society has corrected my papers. So

McAL Group, one of the

to reach the highest educational standards, recognizing

largest and most diversified

the work, is like the final correction on my paper.

conglomerates

the

ANSA

the

Caribbean with some 6,000 Do you believe that enough is being done, in terms of

employees. He was educated

education, to continuously foster the growth of this

at the Red Rice College in

art form?

the United Kingdom and then at Fordham University in

David: I can’t speak for everyone because I don’t know, but

the United States. A leading entrepreneur, he has been

I know that there are teachers out there who are working

pivotal in the expansion of the group’s business through

above and beyond to instill that kind of education into

St. Kitt’s, Grenada, Barbados, Guyana and the United

the kids. Even today a lot of young people come up to me

States and made significant headway into introducing

to say that they know about me because their teachers

new commodities and business models in the region. He

have taught them about me. There are people doing it,

received the Order of T&T in 2011.

but obviously it is not enough and there is much more Dr. Marjorie Thorpe - is

that can be done.

a graduate in English of STAN: David, what do you envision if you could wave a

McGill

magic wand and put what you believe to be important

Queen’s College – both of

in place?

Canada – and The University

David: Let the children see themselves through their

of the West Indies. She

elders, through their peers and through things that have

also has a postgraduate

passed through our history. However, history seems no

diploma in Mediation. A

longer to be an important part of our development, and

former University Dean and

history is what developed me. I think that I would say

Deputy Dean, Dr. Thorpe

that I would wave “the history wand”. Let them see the

pioneered the introduction of the first Women and

journey from way back, from the beginning.

Development Studies at The UWI in 1985 and published

University

and

many selected articles. She has held appointments as STAN: What about seeing our icons like the David

the Chair of the Trinidad and Tobago Public Service

Rudders in the classrooms, to pass on that history, do

Commission and the Chair of the Trinidad and Tobago

you envision that?

Board of the Defence Force. She served as Ambassador

David: Well I welcome it, but, it is something that we

and Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago

used to do only at carnival time, when everybody would

to the United Nations from 1988 - 1992; after which she

want us to come to the schools to talk about calypso and

held the post of Deputy Director of the United Nations

the journey. It would be great to have it year round and

Development Fund for Women in New York until 1995.

make the young people understand where it came from,

She subsequently served as Resident Coordinator of

and witness the greatness and richness of our history and

the then UN System Operational Activities and UNDP

try to carry on that heritage.

Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean until 1999.

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

During the special honorary graduands ceremony at

is important if we are to become a force for good and a

The UWI principal’s office STAN spoke with Dr. Marjorie

force for reform, which I think we can be, in the world.

Thorpe We need to be a strong community, we have special skills; STAN: What impact has The UWI had on your life?

our history has been special and the move towards more

Dr. Thorpe: It was only recently that I became a student

peaceful more inclusive communities, which is one of the

at UWI reading for a postgraduate diploma in mediation

goals of the 2030 global agenda that was just signed. I

studies. So UWI is my university in a way that the sense

think we in the West Indies can lead in the establishment

of belonging and ownership that UWI inspires in me is

of those communities because of our history and the way

special.

in which we have managed ourselves. UWI gives us an opportunity to know each other better, to be people who

This is because it is a university that is by the people for

are different because we have had to be empathetic; we

the people of the Caribbean.

have had to grow in understanding; we had to step out of our narrow group loyalties in order to survive.

STAN: How do you see The UWI’s role as a force to help unify the Caribbean?

The UWI encourages this because by its very character it

Dr. Thorpe: As someone who has taught for twenty

is a unifying and harmonizing institution and that is what

years at this university, UWI has been a unifying force

we need.

for the region - the exchange of students going to different islands for their specialisms i.e. all students

What is marvelous about the regional nature of the

from agriculture would have come here. All students for

university is that it permits the leaders, many of whom

medicine would have gone to Jamaica. All students for

have graduated from The UWI, because they have lived

law would have gone to Barbados.

with each other, because they know one another, to just pick up the phone and speak to one another and it makes

So what that afforded was an opportunity for regional

for an advancement of a sense of regionalism, a sense of

growth and understanding that I think is necessary if

oneness, a sense of love. 

our regional character is to be strengthened. I think this Dr. Thorpe delivering her address at the Graduation

STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

UWI in Society

The Edible Campus by Dr. Priya Kissoon

at local:

As young critical-

thinking geographers my class

sought to interrogate the meaning of this maxim in their every-day learning environment.

Campus

itself provides the optimum space and place for students to be selfreflexive about what they eat and what they do not, as well as what they take for granted. By mapping the edible fruit trees on campus, students were given an opportunity to apply their skills in geographical information systems (GIS) to bring tropical agriculture out of the past and into their present-day relationship with food and the meanings of local food-culture. By working as teams, and with some help from the

Departments

Management

(DFM)

Facilities and

Life

Sciences, students were able to identify over fifty different types of common and uncommonly eaten fruits, from ackee to ylang ylang. STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

GEOG 2014 Geographies of Food class of 2013/2014

Not

only

does

the

research

2013/2014 class were assigned

We hope that the map enhances

highlight a living legacy of food

to each section to geo-locate

the awareness of the campus

and agriculture on campus, it begs

individual trees as well as track

community to our environment,

consideration of why and how

larger areas and fields. The names

and enriches (as well as nourishes)

apples and grapes have eclipsed

and locations of individual trees in

our sense of place.

guava and chennet in consumers’

each section were verified by Dr.

encourages

minds and local markets. Each of

Kissoon and research assistants.

experimentation, as well as re-

the fruits found on campus was

The map

exploration

and

engagement with one’s tastes and

researched and is described as part

The following year, the 2014/2015

roots. This is a work in process

of a complete text (approximately

class repeated the exercise so

and not a definitive guide to the

100

that locations and plants could

botanical richness of the campus.

which also includes the results of

be confirmed.

Furthermore, a

However, the map invites everyone

a survey conducted by the class

list of plants was obtained from

on campus to join in the discovery

on contemporary food culture and

DFM, and historical maps from

of the new and familiar by taking

preferences.

West Indiana and the National

part in an Edible Campus tour.

pages

with

illustrations),

Herbarium were also consulted. As the map and the complete

These were analysed to illustrate

Please be respectful of the trees.

book reveal, much of the fruit that

and

mapping

Do not climb, throw objects, or

is considered “local” is tied to our

for each section. Given the scale

break branches to reach fruit. Pick

colonial history of metaphorical

of the maps, the locations are

what you can reach with your

and

approximate, but an Edible Campus

fingers, and only what you can

uprootedness. For instance, while

tour can be taken using the guide,

eat at the moment. Sustainability

the banana and coconut may be

which includes descriptions and

entails respect and restraint. 

iconographic of the Caribbean,

photos of the various fruits, as well

neither is “local”, originating (with

as prospects for value-added.

literal

transplantation

consolidate

the

For

information

about

GEOG 2014 Geographies of Food

some academic debate) from the general Australasia / South-Pacific

Dr. Kissoon envisages that the next

or the Edible Campus Project,

areas.

cohort of students will take the

please contact Dr. Priya Kissoon:

guide further by expanding on

Telephone 662-2002 ext 82699 or

Using a common base-map of

the value-added and creating and

email priya.kissoon@sta.uwi.edu

campus the area was divided

testing recipes for a “delectable

into sections and students of the

campus”. STAN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

Collaborations

Law Faculty Dean Talks about her recent IACHR Missions

throughout

Mexico

and

the

Americas, including CNN and CBS. The media keenly followed the work of the Commission in trying to unearth what happened to the 43 young men and many other similar cases rippling throughout the region.

rofessor

Rose-Marie

Belle

“They told us how much they

Antoine’s

normally

cool

valued the work of the Commission.

Just prior to the Mexican visit, Prof.

composure falters as she opens up

They have tremendous faith in the

Antoine, who, apart from being

about her recent visit as President

Commission and the group but

the President of the Commission, is

of the Inter-American Commission

they have no faith in the system.

also the Rapporteur for the Rights

on Human Rights, Washington

They were saying ‘you are our

of Persons of African Descent and

(IACHR) with mothers and fathers

only hope’. They were begging us

against Discrimination, was on

and other families of the 43

‘please, continue this work because

mission to Ferguson, Missouri,

disappeared, murdered and injured

it’s the only way to get truth’. In

Florida and New Orleans at the

students from the Ayotzinapa

response, I told them ‘we will not

invitation of the US Government

Rural Teachers’ College in Iguala,

abandon you in your search for

to follow up on race and excessive

Guerrero, Mexico.

justice’,” said Prof. Antoine.

police violence.

“It was very poignant because you

The

had these mothers and hundreds

abandon

of families of victims in one space,

for

justice,”

crying and telling you about these

line

grieving

sound-bite, “we you

will

your

not

This included the death of 18-year

old student Michael Brown who

life-

was fatally shot by a police officer

families

in August 2014 while holding up

horror stories. It was such a deeply

from IACHR President, Antoine

his hands in surrender and the

emotional meeting for everyone,”

has

recent Trayvon Martin tragedy

said the Dean of the Law Faculty