Chancellor’s Column

“One UWI, One Alumni Family”

Volume 4, Issue 4 June - August 2009Website: www.alumnionline.uwi.edu

UWI and CXC aim totransform “Regurgitation”to “Critical Thinking”

DOMINICA GETS CRICKET FEVER

UWIREF Scholarships Awarded

ALUMNI RELATIONS:The Way Forward

The UWI Alumni Association (UWIAA) encourages all graduates to send articles/information to UWI Connect.

Very Important Pelican (VIP) 4President’s Profile 5

UWIAA New York Chapter 5“Critical Thinking” 6

Alumni Relations - The Way Forward 7New Publications 9British Foundation for the UWI 10Great Reasons to Donate to the UWI 12Future Leaders Meet 13Dominica Gets Cricket Fever 14Smoker 2009 15

UWIREF Scholarships 16A Top “Brainiac” with UWI Roots 18“Happenings” on the Campus you attended 20In Celebration of Their Lives 23

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UWI ConnectEditorial Team: Celia Davidson Francis (Editor-in-Chief), Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind,Beverley Pereira, Aileen Standard-Goldson, Marcia Erskine,Stephanie Alleyne, Kellie Magnus

Sources:Student and Campus Newsletters, News Items and Announcements,Campus Communications and Public Relations Offices, Faculties,Departments, UWIAA, Campus Electronic Messaging Centres, theOpen Campus, UWIMAA, UWI Medical Alumni Secretariat, CampusAlumni Offices, Office of Administration and others.

Photography: Nathaniel Stewart, UWI student, Faculty of Pure and AppliedSciences and campus photographers.

Publishing Services: Stratcom Marketing Services LimitedYvonne Graham, graduate, Mona School of Business, UWI

Editorial

Our University is reaching out locally and

internationally to a variety of audiences and

articulating through the Institutional Advancement

Division (IAD) the important role and contribution of

UWI in the Caribbean and beyond.

Throughout the world there are many countries that

have benefitted, as a result of the contributions of

UWI graduates in such areas as commerce, industry,

media, medicine, education and the like.

Regionally we continue to be faced with the challenge

of continued diminishing resources while still having

to maintain our tradition of a first class education by

first class faculty members. As such the University has

to strive to become more independent and self-

financing.

The IAD is striving to make everyone in the UWI

community and beyond realise that UWI is now more

dependent than ever on the support of its alumni as

well as the wider Caribbean society and beyond.

Alumni must be cultivated and also made aware of

these facts while they are students, which is why we

have introduced a student alumni programme and

hope to introduce others over time.

We wish to ensure that our alumni will want to have

a lifelong affiliation with UWI and will want to play a

role in the life and perpetuation of this institution.

The IAD is working with the UWIAA Chapters to

educate alumni about where the institution is going

and how they can assist in ensuring the UWI‘s

success, as well as how they can be a part of the

journey.

We encourage our student alumni group UWI STAT

to keep advocating for alumni involvement among

their peers as we know that our students have the

potential to be our supporters and advocates. In this

issue we highlight the newly established British

Foundation for The University of the West Indies and

celebrate the achievements and contributions of our

graduates and staff members. Celia Davidson Francis

Editor-in-Chief

UWI Connect: For Alumni, Donors, Parents and Friends

Cover photo: The Queen's Wayentrance to the Mona Campusby Jeremy Francis, CARIMACgraduate

I trust that those of you who receive thisedition of the magazine will not only read itbut will also pass it on to those of your friendswho have not put their names on the mailinglist. I trust that you will particularly seek outalumni who have hitherto showed little or nointerest in reconnecting with the University.Perhaps some of you are collectors and believethat in years to come a pristine set of themagazines will fetch a high price on eBay orwhatever has replaced eBay as a method ofconducting commerce in cyberspace. I dobelieve however that the best magazine will beone that shows signs of having been read byseveral persons.

I share it and I have often reflected on why.Sometimes I believe it is because of my pridein the University and also because the threemost important moments of my life have beenconnected with it. My wife may differ, but Ibelieve that the three moments that havedefined me have been my entrance into theUniversity College as it then was, mygraduation and my marriage to a nurse fromthe University Hospital of the West Indies.

I confess that on coming to Mona, the thoughtof being an alumnus of a great institutionnever crossed my mind. My mind was focusedmuch more on pleasurable pursuits, most ofwhich had nothing to do with study. There wasthe freedom of being away from parents, theinteraction with students from differentcountries and backgrounds and the sheer joyof self-exploration. There was no effort fromthe beginning to so brand the University to methat it would always remain a part of me. Nograduate from an institution that I knew wasreferred to as an alumnus. They were “OldBoys” and “Old Girls” and there was fierceloyalty to the school. One only had to attendthe Jamaica Secondary School AthleticChampionships to appreciate the tie of theschool and indeed it was sport that tended tobind those graduates. The concept of strongalumni ties to our institution is something that

had and has to be built and we do not have the glue of sport to do so.The importance of football to American colleges for example is tied upwith retaining and fomenting alumnus loyalty and contributions.

But a few years after graduation and realising the richness of theUniversity experience from a distance, it became clearer to me thatthere was indeed a great debt that I owed to the University. TheUniversity experience had really shaped me for life! I believe that thatprocess of establishing alumni pride is a slow one that is helped by thekind of deliberate branding that is now being put in place slowly butsurely. We do wish you to reburnish your “Pelican Pride”. This cannotbe done by the University alone and therefore I ask your help inreconnecting others with the University and I can be absolutely sure ofthis if you go visit the website or if you send us an email with yoursuggestions as to how the branding might be made more effective andhow we may reach more of those whose perception of the usefulness ofreconnecting needs to be rekindled.

Good luck, happy sharing and please accept the role of proselyte!

Proselytizing in a good cause

We do wish you to reburnish your “Pelican Pride”. This cannot be done by the Universityalone and therefore I ask your help in reconnecting others with the University.

Chancellor’s Column

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4

Very Important Pelican (VIP)

Professor Anselm Hennis

Recognising Excellence

Husband to Heather, father of two, secondof his parents’ six sons, Professor AnselmHennis, grew up in Antigua and thenBarbados. While conducting experimentswhich on one occasion left him bereft ofhis eyebrows and his mother nearlywithout a stove, no one anticipated hisfuture contributions to glaucoma researchas well as studies in diabetes andcardiovascular disease. Certainly, when hewas ‘borrowing’ his father’s car on Fridayevenings to go joy-riding with hisbrothers, leading the region’s studies inbreast and prostate cancer must have beenfarthest from his mind.

He recounts reading Taylor Caldwell’s‘Lucanus, Dear and Glorious Physician’at the age of thirteen, which inspired himto seek a career in medicine. He vividlyrecounts his ‘aha’ moment to become adoctor, as he read the account of the lifeand works of St. Luke, the widelyacclaimed second century physician andauthor of The Gospel According to St. Luke.

It would seem that divine providence ledhim to UWI Mona. It was either that orthrough sheer luck that having won aBarbados Scholarship and with hisadmission to Mona uncertain, he receiveda call, offering him a place at the

University only two days before he was set to leave for college in theU.K. “This intervention altered the course of my future”, says Hennis,who has no doubt about God’s daily role in his life.

A model student, Hennis was also involved in co-curricular activitieswhich did not hinder him graduating with several honours in 1987.Hennis can boast of a broad experience of the Jamaican culture andlandscape.

Indeed, his range of experiences went far beyond what most non-Jamaicans in the early 1980s would have bargained for. Hissummation of this experience is insightful: “An encapsulation of life inthe real world – sunshine and rain, mountain tops and valleys; joys andsorrows - but on the whole a brilliant time away from home.”

One of the most notable aspects of Professor Hennis’ career is hisresearch. He is featured in UWI ‘60 under 60’ as a top researcher;“Professor Hennis was co-investigator with the Barbados Eye Studieswhich highlighted high rates of glaucoma in Barbados and identifiednew risk factors. He has collaborated on grants funded by the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH), Wellcome Trust and Alliance for Lupusresearch, and has published nearly 70 peer-reviewed articles. ProfessorHennis has won awards for his contribution to research including theEdward Kass Memorial prize and the inaugural Principal’s Award forResearch Excellence at Cave Hill. He serves as Scientific Secretary tothe Caribbean Health Research Council.” He later received the ViceChancellor’s award for excellence in November 2008.

Prof. Hennis attributes his move towards glaucoma research as “anothermiracle in my life”. While completing his PhD at the London School ofHygiene & Tropical Medicine, he made contact with Professor Leske,principal investigator of the Barbados Eye Studies. Dr. Leske invitedhim to join the project, and despite initial reservations he became a keyplayer in one of the region’s monumental research projects. The fruitsof this research have not only affected the Caribbean. Hennis notes that,“It has informed policy in the USA for the eye care of AfricanAmericans, and has contributed new information to our understandingof the major causes of visual loss.” He also noted the recent discoveryof a novel glaucoma gene in Barbadians.

Hennis notes that much of his work also focuses on diabetes andcardiovascular disease. He led the Barbados arm of the Hyperglycemiaand Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study, which followed25,000 women across the globe through their pregnancies, and hasprovided robust information about gestational diabetes.

When asked about how he regards the UWI as an institution, ProfessorHennis responded that, “The UWI is the single most important tertiaryinstitution in the region, and has been a major driver of the region’sdevelopment. As the Vice Chancellor has stated, education must be seenin terms of its value as a ‘currency’, and we all have to invest it wiselyin developing our principal resource; Caribbean people”. Prof. Hennishimself is a part of Caribbean history and its integration movement notonly as a researcher, but as a member of the first group of students whosat CXC Examinations in 1979.

President’s Profile

UWIAA New York ChapterDr. Gerald E. White-Davis, Ed. D., Ed. M., M.A. has worked both in theprivate and public sectors. He has over 30 years combined experiencein education, programme management and supervision. He is currentlyan Academic Advisor and Lecturer in the Freshman Year Program,Medgar Evers College, City University of New York; where hepreviously held the positions of Associate Director at the CaribbeanResearch Center; Education Director of the Immigration Center, Centerfor Law and Social Justice, and Associate Executive Director of theAccess Center for Workforce Development. Dr. White-Davis alsolectured at Brooklyn College and the College of New Rochelle in New York City, and has served as a consultant to the United NationsChildren Fund. Before migrating to the United States of America, Dr. White-Davis held positions as Regional Director of the NationalHousing Trust, and Junior Economist with the Ministry of Industry andCommerce in Jamaica.

He works very closely with the immigrant community, particularly withthe Caribbean Diaspora. He has organised and participated in severalcommunity based lecture series and forums. He has presented on topics such as: Navigating the Education, Social Service and CriminalJustice Systems; Return Migration: Challenges and Opportunities;Immigration 101: Know your Rights; Collaboration and PartnershipBuilding - Linking the Caribbean & its Diaspora: Strategies forAchieving Sustainable Development.

In addition, Dr. White-Davis holds positions on several Boards. He isthe President of The University of the West Indies Alumni

Association (UWIAA), New York Chapter; President and CEO ofthe International Consortium of Caribbean Professionals (ICCP);Board Chair, the Diaspora Press; the Transitional Institute,Medgar Evers College. Other Board memberships include: theWorld Association of Former United Nations Interns andFellows (WAFUNIF); the Caribbean American Chamber ofCommerce and industry (CACCI); XLCR Alumni Association -NY; Faith Initiatives Development Corporation Inc., and theUniversity of Technology Jamaica Alumni Association, NewYork.

He has a MA in Family and Community Education, TeachersCollege, Columbia University; a B.A. in Economics, TheUniversity of the West Indies, Mona Campus and a Certificatein Personnel Management from the University of Technology(UTech) Jamaica.

Dr. White-Davis' doctoral thesis is entitled: The Adaptation ofJamaican Immigrants in American Schools: Problems andPossibilities, Teachers College, Columbia University (1992).He is a proud graduate of UWI and is particularly pleased toserve his Alma Mater by volunteering his services to assistwith the continued development of the University.

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The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) which is basedin Barbados, has signed an agreement with the Institute ofCritical Thinking at The University of the West Indies, whichthe Chief Executive Officer of the CXC, Dr. Didacus Julesthinks could result in a “paradigm shift from rote learningand regurgitation to real thinking”. The syllabuses of elevenCXC subjects are to be reformed in order to produce youngpeople who will be able to impact positively and makemeaningful contributions to society.

Dr. Jules noted at the signing ceremony in July 2009 thatemployers, regional ministries and the private sector havebeen requesting persons who have the capacity to apply theirknowledge. In the next two years, the pilot project under thisagreement would focus on the following subject areas:Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) levelMathematics, Integrated Science, Physics, Biology,Economics, Caribbean History, Geography, Social Studies,Principles of Business and English A (Language) and B(Literature) and Literatures in English at the CaribbeanAdvanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) level.

UWI’s Pro Vice Chancellor, Planning and Development, Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie, indicated that critical thinkingshould start early, ideally in primary school, after pre-schoolexposure has instilled self-confidence as well as creativity inthe child and that the collaboration between the Institute andCXC would make a qualitative difference to education at thesecondary level which is welcome news to both parents andemployers alike.

The aim is to have students who graduate from secondaryschool develop their capacity for critical thought assessmentand analysis. The Caribbean requires this “to feed innovationand fuel entrepreneurship”, Tewarie underscored.

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“Critical Thinking”Powerful Programmes

Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie

Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie, PVC Planning and Development andDirector of the Institute of Critical Thinking and Dr. Didacus JulesChief Executive Officer of CXC sign the Memorandum ofUnderstanding to review 11 CXC subjects for secondary schools.

Dr. Tewarie and Dr. Jules shake hands after the successfulsigning of the MOU between UWI's Institute of CriticalThinking and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

“.......critical thinking should start early, ideally in primary school, after pre-school

exposure has instilled self-confidence as well as creativity in the child.”

Alumni Relations - The Way Forward

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that speedy action be taken to appoint the CampusAlumni Officer (CAO), which has the approval of thePrincipals, as a means of further strengtheningrelations between the University and alumni.

that the CAO provides administrative support forUWIAA Chapters as well as the AlumnusRepresentative and Council Representative.

that the concept of an “Alumni Contact” be established,to allow UWI alumni who live in areas where there arenot sufficient alumni to establish a Chapter to becomeinvolved in the work of the University.

that annually, University Marketing publishes andprovides to alumni, either online or in print, a singleUniversity calendar containing the schedule ofactivities for the four campuses. Alumni might beencouraged, through invitations and circulars, toparticipate in departmental, faculty and ceremonialactivities of the University.

that University-wide endorsement and active supportbe given at all levels to the centralised online socialnetworking community for the entire institution, i.e. all four UWI campuses: ALUMNI Online(www.alumnionline.uwi.edu). ALUMNI Online willassist with establishing and maintaining “lifelongconnectivity” with our alumni population on a globalbasis.

that alumni be invited to participate asvolunteers/resource persons for departmental and

faculty conferences/seminars and on planning committeesfor University activities, particularly special projects andprogrammes of the Alumni Relations Office.

that increasing joint initiatives in data collection anddissemination of information be undertaken between theUniversity and the alumni in areas of interest and ofimportance to the further development of the UWIAAChapters.

that the University, through University Marketingcooperates with the UWIAA Chapters to launch an “EveryDollar Makes a Difference” Campaign, which encouragesalumni to contribute as and when they choose, and anyamount they choose, rather than waiting to contribute asignificant sum to the University.

that minimum targets be set for the enrollment of studentsfrom all Caribbean countries annually, and that admissionsprocedures and timing be reviewed in the interest ofensuring that the University’s student body remainsrepresentative of the region.

that mechanisms and ongoing opportunities be provided forstudents (e.g. web-space, 360 degree evaluation exercises,strategically placed suggestion boxes and student surveys)to assess their lecturers, University administrative staff and services, accommodation and other areas of concern or with which they are particularly satisfied, in the interestof continuing improvement in all areas, as the “studentexperience” has a direct correlation with alumniinvolvement and loyalty.

Recommendations coming out of the meeting included:

Alumni News

At the annual Central Committee (CEC)meeting of the UWI Alumni Association(UWIAA) Presidents held in March 2009,it was agreed that the IAD and the UWIAAwould seek to ensure that the UWIcommunity recognises more that the valueand strength of UWI alumni should becalculated not only in terms of financialcontributions, but also in terms of theirinfluence, knowledge and skills base,networking capacity and investment intime, ideas and energy. The CEC was of theview that overall, the alumni providesignificant value to the University incritical areas that include: Education and Training, Profile Raising, StudentRecruitment, Alumni Recruitment,

Mentorship and E-Mentorship, Professors/Speakers/ConferenceParticipants and Networking.

It was also noted that in 2008, the University’s 60th Anniversary year, theUWIAA Chapters collectively contributed the following through the IAD:

Alumni Groups Donations in US$

60th Anniversary Collective UWIAAdonation to UWIREF 60,000.00Special Collective Research Grant 6,000.00Scholarships and Bursaries 20,664.00Individual Gifts 28,412.00AFUWI (Alumni and friends extra-regionally) 140,000.00GRAND TOTAL US$255,076.00

Note: The contribution of the Medical Alumni is not included here.

Cont’d on page 8

The Chapter marked its 20th Anniversary with a church service atthe Holy Comforter Episcopal Church on June 28, 2009, where theVice Chancellor, Professor E. Nigel Harris was the featured speaker.Dr. and Mrs. Winston Chutkan also hosted a cocktail reception forthe Vice Chancellor.

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Alumni Relations - The Way Forward (cont’d)

The CEC 2009 elected the following slate of Officers to represent the alumni at theUniversity Council meeting and at othercommittees and meetings:

Mr. Jerry Medford (Trinidad and Tobago)Alumnus Representative 2009–2011 (re-elected)Ms. Irma Edwards (Dominica) Council Representative for 2009 – 2010

The CEC and IAD have produced a print andan online version of UWIAA BESTPRACTICES for access by all those in theUWI community interested in assisting with the Alumni Relations effort, in order to provide the regional institution with a tangible and practical Caribbean reference. This is also available atwww.alumnionline.uwi.edu

The next meeting of the CEC will be held inThe Commonwealth of the Bahamas onMarch 25-26, 2010. The CEC, on behalf ofregional and international UWIAA Chapters,extended its appreciation to the Chancellor,Vice Chancellor and other University Officialsfor their cooperation and support.

The UWIAA Chapters are especiallyappreciative of the cooperation received fromUniversity Officials in the hosting of theirevents for the 60th Anniversary of theUniversity, and for the organisation of 60thAnniversary events at Cave Hill, Mona,throughout the Open Campus and at St.Augustine. The CEC also thanked theUniversity Centres in the Open Campuscountries, and the Consulates of UWIcountries worldwide for the cooperation andsupport they have extended to UWIAAChapters over the years. Special thanks werealso extended to the IAD especially the staffof the Alumni Relations arm for theirexemplary efforts to support the initiatives ofthe UWIAA Chapters, and to keep UWIalumni connected.

Edited Report of the CEC 2009 to University Council

Alumni News

UWIAA Washington DC Celebrates20th Anniversary

Dr. Winston Chutkan (left)and Noelle Chutkan

(hosts of the reception),and Michael Melton, Esq.

(a donor to our fund).

L-R: Mrs. Olive Lewis, Ms. Ayanna Kambui and

Dr. Lois LaGranade.

Vice ChancellorHarris (left) and Dr. Charles Lewis.

L-R: Richard L. Bernal, Alternate Executive Director, Caribbean, Inter-American Development

Bank and former Ambassador of Jamaica to the U.S.; Carmen Edwards (wife of E. Leopold

Edwards); E. Leopold Edwards, Secretary of the Board of Directors for the National Coalition

on Caribbean Affairs (NCOCA); Sha-Shana Crichton, President, UWI Alumni Association

Washington DC and UWI Vice Chancellor, E. Nigel Harris after the church service.

Photo by Derrick A. Scott, Embassy of Jamaica.

New Publications

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Eric Williams: The Myth and the Manby Selwyn Ryan

Eric Williams: The Myth and the Manseeks to illuminate the political careerof one of the Caribbean’s most elusivefigures, Eric Williams, the first PrimeMinister of Trinidad and Tobago.Selwyn Ryan uses a wide array ofprimary sources, letters, interviews,material from the Public Records Officein the United Kingdom, the StateDepartment Records in the United Statesof America and the Eric WilliamsMemorial Collection in Trinidad andTobago, and demonstrates a strongmastery of secondary sources to provide a sophisticated political analysis ofWilliams’ role in Trinidadian andCaribbean politics. The manuscriptfocuses on Williams’s entry into politicsand his tenure as Prime Minister from 1956 until his death in 1981.Ryan also provides an interesting analysis of Williams’ seminal workCapitalism and Slavery and his role as a scholar.

The book is a distillation of research and writings that have spannedtwo decades. The author brings a unique perspective to the work asboth a scholar and one who has studied, criticised and been active inTrinidad’s politics as Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission,Trinidad and Tobago.

A Crime-Solving Toolkit: Forensics in the Caribbean

Edited by Basil A. Reid

Unacceptably high murder and crime rates in the Caribbean havecaptured the attention of the world and Caribbean policymakers,

and forensics provide a key tool inprosecuting criminals and reducingthe crime rate. Although forensicsciences have been judiciously appliedin the Caribbean for decades, the vastmajority of forensic publications havefocused on North America and Europe.This volume embraces a diffuseperspective on forensics within theCaribbean and analyses disaster victimidentification protocols, forensicanthropology, computer forensics,geospatial technologies, shoe-printidentification, suicide hangings andforensic linguistics.

Desperately needed, this volume providesprescriptive formulas to mitigate the rising crime in the region and is ofparticular interest to policymakers,lawyers, police officers, anthropologists,computer specialists and interestedmembers of the public.

Echoes of the Haitian Revolution 1804–2004

Edited by: Martin Munro and Elizabeth Walcott-Hackshaw

The bicentenary of Haitian independencein 2004 triggered a renewed interest inHaitian history and culture. In many ways,however, much work is still required inthis fertile field. Reinterpreting theHaitian Revolution and Its CulturalAftershocks, the first collection of essaysedited by Martin Munro and ElizabethWalcott-Hackshaw, addressed therepercussions of the Haitian Revolution in

Haiti, the Caribbean,North America andEurope. This presentvolume develops andcomplements theprevious collection tomeet the growingdemand for originalscholarly work onHaiti. Widening thecultural lens to includediasporic studies, art,and questions of raceand gender, Echoes ofthe Haitian Revolutionexposes how thehistory of Haiti has

shaped our ideas of race, nation andcivilization in ways that we are oftenunaware of. Haiti’s lessons continue toengage us in a dynamic dialogue thatcompels us to question and revisitreceived arguments. The essays collectedhere provoke and stimulate thesenecessary conversations by approachingthe legacies and repercussions of therevolution from a cultural perspective.

University Bookshelf

Logo received

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Strategic Snapshot

The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the UWI Alumni Association(UWIAA) UK Chapter have collaborated and established the British Foundationfor The University of the West Indies (BFUWI), which was officially registeredwith the UK Charity Commission (Charity Number 1127408) on January 7, 2009.

The BFUWI will operate as a professional UK charity in compliance with therules and regulations of the governing UK Charities Commission to raise financesand other material support for The University of the West Indies throughpromotional and relationship building activities, principally in the UK.Preparations are now being made to formally announce the establishment of theBFUWI at a function in London in September 2009.

The UWI is the only pan-Caribbean tertiary institution offering many diverse,accredited programmes across 15 Caribbean countries to almost 40,000 regionaland international students, as they gain knowledge for future careers in theCaribbean region and beyond. The UWI is well known for its varied researchprogrammes aimed at sustainable viability and has produced graduates who areleaders in every field worldwide.

The BFUWI seeks to assist the UWI with the sustainable development of theCaribbean by providing funds for:

Contributing to global intellectual growth and human development to allowfor increased mutually beneficial professional interaction between theCaribbean, its Diaspora and the United Kingdom.

Preparing students to comprehend the significance of contemporary issuesand emerging global influences, especially from the United Kingdom.

Supplying a workforce ready to meet the needs of regional governments, theprivate sector and the needs of UK corporations and individuals withbusiness links to the Caribbean.

In this difficult economy, the UWI requires funds to support financiallychallenged students to enable them to start or complete their studies, as well aspostgraduate students who can contribute to areas of new knowledge that candrive Caribbean development and also affect positive global change.

The following charitable objectiveswill be fulfilled by funds raised for theBFUWI:

The financing of undergraduate andpostgraduate students based on meritand need

The financing of academic exchangesbetween the UK and the Caribbean toenhance knowledge development

The funding of Chairs/Professorshipsin specific areas of mutual interest

The funding of facilities to promotehuman resource and knowledgedevelopment

The financing of internships for UKstudents to study at UWI

The Office of the Vice Chancellor,through the Institutional AdvancementDivision looks forward to “connecting”with our UK-based alumni from our fourcampuses via our newly launched weband networking site ALUMNI Online(www.alumnionline.uwi.edu), as well asto the Caribbean Diaspora and otherstakeholders as we work with andthrough the BFUWI to forge and sustaindevelopment in a vitally important partof the world: The Caribbean. TheBFUWI is an official UK RegisteredCharity (No. 1127408) and is eligible,under UK taxation law, for the financialcredits arising from Gift Aid payments.A one pound contribution from a donor(for example) can therefore be valued atup to one pound and twenty-eight penceto the Charity.

market UWI take, but it is not the one that I choose. If, indeed, UWI isthe best choice for most West Indian young people, then my bestresponse should involve a measured consideration of the positives andnegatives of foreign universities in general and of the strengths andweaknesses of UWI. If it is that UWI isn’t the best choice for mostCaribbean people, then we need to recognise and fix this problem.

One way I might begin to answer those questions is with a list ofcontrasts – some statements broadly comparing UWI to otheruniversities that say a bit of what UWI is and what it is not. UWI is notthe most prestigious or oldest university in the world, but as far as I amaware, most UWI undergraduate degrees are challenging and wellrecognised. Excellent performance in any UWI undergraduateprogramme will help a person secure a place in a graduate programmeor a good job almost anywhere in the world.

I may then turn to some non-academic considerations. There areopportunities for regional and international exposure in sports. Otherextra-curricular activities at UWI are certainly better than someuniversities overseas, though they may pale in comparison to those atsome other, better-funded ones. Room, board and amenities are decentat UWI, but probably not better than most in the US or the UK. Mostsignificantly, UWI is certainly one of the most affordable optionsavailable to most West Indians, with the aid of open scholarships,generous financial aid packages, and the selective paying of students’economic costs by some governments.

Having completed my list of contrasts, I would then try to outline thepositives about UWI. Foremost among these is its West Indian

character. UWI is a true Caribbean university. It is not an Americanuniversity that has set up shop in the Caribbean, and it is not auniversity that is just local to any one Caribbean territory. It is a WestIndian university for West Indians, and it shows and should show thisunique characteristic in the composition of its students, its courseselections, its scholarship, its food, its fêtes and lymes, its studentpolitics, its faculty and its administration. UWI is where many of thefuture power-players of the Caribbean region mix and mingle as well asmeet lifelong friends and spouses.

And finally, for whatever it’s worth, UWI is our University. With all itsflaws and faults, its glories and strengths, UWI is ours to take from andto give back to, to praise and to criticise, to improve rather than ignore,and to love and support so that the Caribbean will continue to have itsown regional University for generations to come.

By Kamal Wood, VP of CARICOM Relations,UWI STAT Cave Hill

As a UWI STAT (UWI Students Today,Alumni Tomorrow) Ambassador, I amsupposed to ‘sell’ The University of theWest Indies to young people who may oneday become UWI students. “Tell me”, aperson might say, “what’s so good aboutUWI. Why should I go there? Why shouldI choose UWI over Oxford or Harvard, oreven the University of Toronto, or FloridaInternational University, or the CityUniversity of New York, or St. George’sUniversity in Grenada, or the Universityof Technology in Jamaica?”

How do I answer questions like these?How would you answer questions likethose? Should we launch into criticisms ofother universities and praises of UWI?Perhaps that’s the approach that some who

Our University

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“Excellent performance in any UWI undergraduate programme willhelp a person secure a place in a graduate programme or a good jobalmost anywhere in the world.

A Student’s Point of View

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Great Reasons to Donate to the UWI By the UWI STAT Ambassador Corps

“Behind every powerful university is a strong alumnibody which supports its Alma Mater. The UWI has earned its

place as the most prestigious university in the region andcertainly has staked out its name among some of the best

universities in the world. Donating to the UWI as alumni will nodoubt enhance and solidify the offerings of the UWI as the

region's bedrock for quality tertiary education.”Jermaine Case - Jamaican Student,

Cave Hill Campus

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“Why give back? Think about it, with every act of benevolence, theprogrammes at the University will be able to achieve more success, with the

implementation of new tools required for such. If you give back, you would be ensuring thatcurrent and future students of the UWI would have the same or even better opportunities than

you had. Donations given could go towards student aid, via alumni sponsored scholarships, grantsand/or bursaries, development of programmes and improvement to current facilities that will be

beneficial to both alumni and students. Contributions would also go towards enhancing ourresearch facilities, which in the future could produce Nobel laureates in fields that would

undoubtedly boost our University's image as one of the best when it comes toresearch and research initiatives.”

Donald Smith - Jamaican Student, Cave Hill Campus

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“Many of us would have benefitedtremendously from mentorship programmes,

clubs and societies or through forums organisedto help students network and consort with people

within their field of study. What we may not realise isthat many of these services are made possible by the

contributions of alumni members, and it is for this reasonthat those graduates of UWI who become part of the

alumni pool should volunteer their support financially orotherwise, to preserve these services they have

benefited from, and play their part, however small itmay be, to help foster the next generation.”

Westford Joseph - Vincentian Student,Mona Campus

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“The UWI is more than a university - it is a life experience. Inessence contributing to the UWI is a contribution to each island thatUWI represents and every student who receives the benefit of a UWI

education can then be a productive country citizen, an effective CARICOMcitizen and a successful global citizen. Therefore alumni should re-invest in

the UWI so as to give others an opportunity to experience University lifeand gain from the wealth of knowledge and expertise that this

institution provides.”

Prunella Mungroo - Trinbagonian Student, St. Augustine Campus

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“Whether financial or service wise the University'salumni should make giving a donation to UWI a priority

within their daily lives. Charity begins at home and so it can berightly stated that no other can fully understand the necessities

of UWI nor appreciate the benefits of gaining both academicand social growth from such an institution.”

Avendia Stuart - Vincentian Student, St. Augustine Campus

7

“Increase university funding in order to allow more bursariesto be available to current students who are in financial distress.”

“To allow the premier institution of learning of the Caribbean to increaseits facilities so that it produces students of a better caliber.”

Reignier Jeffrey - Dominican Student, St. Augustine Campus

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“I think it is important to give backso that those who come afterwards willhave a better experience and enhanced

facilities. It’s just like our lives growing up.We never had everything but when we have

children we want them to have everything andall the opportunities we did not have. The samewith UWI, giving back makes it better for future

generations to come and have an evengreater experience than we did.”

Teshia Jean Baptiste - St. LucianStudent, Mona Campus

1

“Alumni should donate to The University of the WestIndies out of a debt of gratitude to the Institution for having

such a significant impact on their lives. No matter the size ofthe donation, gifts are vital for sustaining studentprogrammes as well as funding for scholarships.”

Raenette Johnson - Bahamian Student, Mona Campus

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“Progression of an erudite Caribbean communityleans heavily on the support, loyalty and reciprocation of the

alumni of The University of the West Indies. As a fierceCaribbean patriot and student of UWI, I firmly believe that the

benevolence of the regional population at large and moreover theinstitution’s alumni is imperative if we are to sustain this great

pillar of excellence.”

Joelle Jamie Jackman - Trinbagonian studentOpen Campus (St. Augustine - SCS)

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Vox Pop

Student Alumni Programming

Future Leaders MeetUWI STAT (Mona)

13

The inaugural Jamaica Youth Diaspora FutureLeadership Conference 2009 took place on August 4-8with 400 youth leaders from Jamaica, Canada, UK andthe US in attendance. It was a collaborative effortbetween the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ForeignTrade, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, theJamaican Diaspora Institute, Mona School ofBusiness and The University of the West Indies,Mona. The objective was to engage youth leadersfrom Jamaica and the Diaspora to form relationshipsin unity and progressively develop and make validcontributions to national development.

The Conference featured networking sessions andworkshops. The dynamic and stimulating workshopsessions focused on areas of keen interest to Future Leaders in the Diaspora, as follows: Businessand Entrepreneurship - Investing in People,Strengthening the Economy; Education - Investmentin our Education System is an Investment in ourShared Future; Mentorship - Strengthening our Bonds andSupporting as we Climb; Crime and Violence; Engaging Youthin Governance and Culture. Each session was strategicallydesigned to formulate action plans that would assist in nationbuilding.

Groups participated in community service. The UWI STATAmbassadors assisted in the painting of the Multi-Care facilityin Cross Roads as well as the Rose Town Community Centre.

Through collaborative efforts these Delegates, Agents ofChange and Advancement, Future Leaders will in asustained manner make valid contributions to nationaldevelopment by executing their proposed action plans.The UWI STAT Mona Corps has continued to work withthe conference projects including volunteering at theRose Town Community Centre.

By: Naketa S. West, Secretary, UWI STAT (Mona)

Jamaica Youth Diaspora Future Leaders from left: Safia McNeishie, Jay-Sheree Allen, David Mullings, Kathryn Alliman-Mullings and Ashaney James(UWI STAT - Mona).

Mikhail Lutchman, UWI STAT Ambassador - St. Augustine (first row, secondfrom left) attended the first sitting of the National Youth Assembly Parliament2009 on July 28, 2009. He states, “This consisted of the elected Youth Membersof Parliament of all constituencies debating a mock bill: An Act to engender thePrinciples of Regional, Economic and Political Integration with special emphasison Youth Employment and the creation of a Secretariat to facilitate these aims. Iwas not a mere observer.”

Members of Parliament who were present includedthe Hon. Gary Hunt and Paula Gopee-Scoon.Ambassador Joan Yuille Williams also attended.This amazing experience was not only the perfectstage to see our future politicians in action, but anideal opportunity to network with enthusiastic andexceptional individuals and promote UWI STAT aswell. Youth MPs are in an ideal position to impactcommunities across the country by working with theofficial MPs.

Two other UWI STAT Ambassadors along withMikhail have been elected to the Trinidad andTobago Youth Congress. They are KimberleyMahabirsingh and Genesia Pierre. We are verypleased that members of the UWI STAT Corps arebeing recognised for their leadership qualities by thewider community.

National Youth Assembly Parliament 2009

UWI STAT St.Augustine

UWI Sports

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Dominica Gets Cricket Fever

with the Vice Chancellor’s XI, after a hard foughtmatch, being narrowly defeated by Bangladesh.

The final score was as follows: Bangladesh 167 for6, Captain Mushfiqur Rahim making 82 runs andRaqibul Hasan 34. The University of West IndiesVice Chancellor’s XI replied with 151 for 8 intheir allotted 25 overs. Even with Captain OmarPhillips making 49 runs, Chadwick Walton hitting21 from 16 balls and Crafton Clarke 29 from 19balls, they eventually had to concede a loss by 16runs to the visiting victors.

Full marks should be given to Dr. Severin and hisOpen Campus team for providing a day thatbrought pleasure not only to the many spectatorswho turned up in spite of the inclement weatherbut also to the players and officials who pulled outall the stops to ensure that a good game and a goodtime was had by all. We laud yet anothersuccessful effort by the Vice Chancellery inpromoting the sport of cricket within the region.

By Angella E. Brown, Events & Projects Officer, IAD

For the second year running the UWI (Mona) provided sportsscholarships for athletes who show a proven balance between sportingachievements and academic pursuits. The UWI Sports ScholarshipProgramme has as its primary goals student support and involvementin sporting events, the establishment of a website, and improvement tosporting facilities, as well as attracting new students with sportingtalents to UWI. The programme offers scholarships in football andtrack and field and can cover tuition, accommodation or both.

The 13th staging of The University of the West Indies ViceChancellor’s Cricket Match was held in the “nature island” ofDominica on July 24, 2009, at the Benjamin’s Park in the town ofPortsmouth where the VC’s XI played the team from Bangladesh.The Vice Chancellor’s XI comprised seven players from the threephysical campuses that is Mona, St. Augustine and Cave Hill andthree invited West Indies Cricket Board players, as well as localcricketer Shane Shillingford. The two emergency field men were alsoUWI students.

During the opening ceremony, an award was given in honour of Mr. Irving Shillingford, former West Indies, Dominica, WindwardIslands, and Combined Islands player. The citation was read by Mr. Roland Butcher, Director of Sports, Cave Hill. Dr. FrancisSeverin, Head of the Open Campus, Dominica presented the award toMr. Shillingford on behalf of The University of the West Indies.

Due to the inclement weather, the match got off to a very late startand was reduced to a 25 overs-a-side game; but this did not deter thethrong of supporters that came out to see the VC’s XI vs Bangladesh.Enthusiastic supporters who came in time for the expected 9:00 a.m.start, remained until the match finally started at 2:00 p.m. andenjoyed every second of the exciting competition. The game ended

UWI (Mona) 2009 Sports ScholarshipsParticipants also benefit from a nutritionalprogramme which ensures they are provided withthe right meals to excel in sport. This initiative hasalready brought success to the campus as the UWIfootball team placed second in the KASAFA SydBartlett League and was promoted to the MajorLeague. There were also improved performancesby the track team at intercollegiate championshipsand the UWI Games.

The 2009 recipients are: Football: Antony Grant, Kemar Douglas, GeorgeSmart, Andre Bernal and Yashima Love Track: Darrion Mitchell, Sean Robinson,Roderick Tennant and Odane Reid.

By Rashid Hall (Mona), Assistant Sports Co-ordinator, UWI STAT Alumni Ambassador

Young Medics

Smoker 2009“Knot the truth: thetruth is rarely pureand never simple”

The medical students’ class of 2012 presents Smoker 2009 “Knot the truth: the truthis rarely pure and never simple” from September 17-20, 2009. Smoker is an annualcharity event put on by third year medical students of The University of the WestIndies (Mona) and is considered to be one of the oldest cultural traditions at theUniversity. It generally takes the form of a theatrical performance showcasing thetalent of the M.B.B.S. students and includes drama, song and dance.

This year, the Smoker production features a young man who grew up without knowinghis father and decides to go on a “father-seeking” path which only leads to morequestions than answers.

A total of six (6) shows exhibiting two brilliant casts will be held at the Philip SherlockCentre for the Creative Arts. The target audience usually includes primarily UWIstudents and staff, medical alumni and their associates. However, this year there is athrust to expand the audience to include a greater facet of the Jamaican community.

Proceeds from this production will go to the UHWI Dialysis Unit, an establishedJAMSA/UWIDEF Scholarship Fund for needy medical students, The Kevin WilsonMemorial Fund and a newly founded Lia Lashley Memorial Fund in memory of theirdeceased 2012 member.

Alumni are encouraged to help these young medics to continue this longstandingtradition of helping the less fortunate through the talent and service of medicalstudents. Donations can also be sent to the IAD at: The Vice Chancellery, AssemblyHall Building (Mona Campus), Kingston 7, Jamaica. (Simply indicate Smoker 2009.)

Support the UWIAA Chapters' “Every Dollar Makesa Difference” Campaign. All donations are welcome andappreciated ... no matter the size. They will assist in providing

UWIAA student scholarships and bursaries. Donations may begiven to any UWIAA Chapter worldwide or sent to the IAD.(Please make cheque payable to “The University of the WestIndies” and simply indicate the Chapter with which you wouldlike your donation to be affiliated).E-mail iad.mona@alumni.uwi.edu for further details.

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Top Class

Amoako St. Patrick Evans(Jamaican) recipient of the RBTTScholarship, was accepted to theFaculty of Medical Sciences at theUWI Mona Campus.

“This award couldn’t have been granted to me at abetter time and it is my desire to be an inspiration inthe field of medicine to other young people especiallythe males throughout the Jamaican society.”

Mele-A Kyria Campbell(Jamaican) was awarded theMaud Fuller Scholarship andwill pursue her undergraduatecareer in the Faculty of Pure &

Applied Sciences at the UWI Mona Campus.“Thank you so much for this offer, I really needed it. Iam so happy, I thank you so much for such anopportunity. I cannot wait to thank the person(s) whocontributed to this scholarship. I cannot wait to beginstudying at this prestigious educational institution –The University of The West Indies.”

Anne-Teresa D.M. Birthwright(Jamaican) was awarded theRoydell Lawrence Scholarship topursue her undergraduate career inthe Faculty of Pure & Applied

Sciences at the UWI Mona Campus.“…Words cannot express how joyful, thankful, andgrateful I am that the Board has seen it fit to award methis prestigious honour. With my father being the onlybreadwinner of the family in an unstable economy,this award will help to relieve our financial burden.”

Samantha-Kaye Christie (Jamaican) was awarded a PartialScholarship pending her acceptance into the Faculty ofSocial Sciences at the Mona Campus.“I am indeed grateful for this award as it will enable me to have agreater level of access to my tertiary education at The University of theWest Indies, Mona Campus.”

Shaneek Allison Findlay (Jamaican) was awarded a PartialScholarship to advance her studies in the Faculty of Pure &Applied Sciences“This scholarship has relieved me of the financial burden that wasahead as I pursue my dreams and study at The University of the WestIndies.”

Adrian Stephens (Jamaican) received a Partial Scholarshipfor studies in the Faculty of Pure & Applied Sciences at theMona Campus.“I would like to say thank you with all the strength and humbleness ofmy heart for making this phenomenal dream possible.”

Melissa Anne De Freitas (Vincentian) was awarded theDame Bernice Lake Scholarship to pursue herundergraduate career in the Faculty of Pure & AppliedSciences at the UWI, Cave Hill Campus.“I thank you for the opportunity to pursue my undergraduate studies

at The University of the West Indies…and look forward to joining the UWI familyin August.”

Malissa Natalie Cornwall (Vincentian), was awarded the UWI Regional Endowment Fund Partial Scholarship to pursue her undergraduate degree at the Faculty ofHumanities & Education at the UWI, Cave Hill Campus. “I would like to thank the Board for allotting me this scholarship and

for providing me with the opportunity to further my studies and the ability to excelin my life…Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

UWIREF Scholarships

Scholarship Awardees

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The UWI Regional Endowment Fund (UWIREF) is coordinated by the Vice Chancellery with a Board ofDirectors supported by sub-committees for Scholarships, Divestments and Projects. It is not intended toreplace the existing Campus Endowment Funds, but in many respects will widen the donor scope, bycollaboratively soliciting donations and gifts regionally and internationally. Secondly, the UWIREF willbroaden the opportunities for Units throughout the University, including the Open Campus, to receive giftsbased on merit and need as determined by the UWIREF’s Board rather than awards being primarily dependenton the wealth and economic circumstances of a contributing country. Thirdly, the UWIREF offers theopportunities for the broad leadership of the University in collaboration with broad regional representativeson the Board to allocate funds based on transparent, defined guidelines. In instances where donors designatea specific campus, unit or project as a recipient, the UWIREF Board will honour that request. The AmericanFoundation for UWI (AFUWI) operates on a similar basis, where donations to the Foundation from the USA-based entities are directed to specific areas in the University as requested by the donor.

Androy Andriana Emery (St. Lucian) was awarded the UWI Regional EndowmentFund Partial Scholarship forenrollment in the Faculty ofPure & Applied Sciences at the

UWI, Cave Hill Campus. “For an entire yearI struggled to find employment without success,and when I applied for a student loan to attendUWI, Cave Hill, I was denied because my familycould not provide valid security…I can neverexpress in words alone how grateful I am for thisaward. When everything seemed to be goingdownhill and obtaining my B.Sc. was only in thedistant future, I was given the opportunity…Because of their (donors’) generosity I canpursue my dreams and be the best that I can be.”

In pursuit of her PhD in Clinical Anatomy & Education,Candice Myers (Trinidadian)was awarded the UWI RegionalEndowment Fund Bursary for

the academic year 2009-2010. The formerBarry University Chorale and ChamberEnsemble member will enroll in theFaculty of Medical Sciences at the UWI,St. Augustine Campus in August.

Jennifer Samantha Mofford(Barbadian) is a recipient of theUWI Regional EndowmentFund Bursary. Ms. Mofford willpursue her tertiary studies at the

UWI, Cave Hill Campus in the academicyear 2009-2010. Her interests lie in theFaculty of Pure & Applied Sciences.

Keiran Prescott-Joseph (St.Lucian) was awarded the UWI Regional EndowmentFund Full Scholarship tenablein the Faculty of Humanities &

Education for the academic year 2009 -2010 at the UWI, Cave Hill Campus. Shewill advance her studies in Literatures inEnglish. “I am truly appreciative of the opportunity whichyou have given me. I fully intend to commit myselfto my studies so that at the end of my course ofstudy, I would have reaped maximum results.”

Corazon Emily Durand(Dominican) was awarded theUWI Regional EndowmentFund Partial Scholarship for theacademic year 2009-2010. She

will pursue her career in the Faculty of Pure & Applied Sciences at theCave Hill Campus.

Lauralee Cindy Samaroo (Trinidadian) was awarded theUWI Regional Endowment Fund Bursary for the academicyear 2009-2010. She wishes to pursue her career in the fieldof Medical Sciences at the St. Augustine Campus in August.

Shanique Alecia Sterling (Jamaican) was awarded thePamela Rodgers-Johnson Scholarship by the UWIRegional Endowment Fund for the academic year 2009-2010. She now looks forward to pursuing her career in theFaculty of Medical Sciences at the UWI Mona Campus.

“It is during these few moments in time, that our lives are uniquely touched andforever impacted by the kind and self-sacrificial gestures of remarkable humanbeings such as the donor of this award. It is within these moments that a fire isignited within the very core of our being that urges us to press forward andmotivates us to work assiduously to making our aspirations a reality.”

Valdene Ariadne Leonore Jack (Vincentian) was awardedthe UWI Regional Endowment Fund Scholarship for theacademic year 2009-2010. She has enrolled at the Cave HillCampus in the Faculty of Social Sciences in the field ofBusiness Management.

“I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for being selected as a recipient…This actof generosity is greatly appreciated, especially in these challenging economic times.I am looking forward with much anticipation to pursuing my dream of a Universityeducation.”

Pettia Gay Williams (Jamaican), final-year student of theUWI, Mona Campus, was awarded the Sylvan and GeorgeAlleyne Social Work Scholarship by the UWI RegionalEndowment Fund, for the academic year 2009-2010. TheGlenmuir High School Alumna is pursuing her career in the

field of Social Work and was elated to have received her award.“This opportunity has helped me in creating a favourable environment in which Iwill be able to excel educationally and to further explore and experience more ofThe University of the West Indies in this, my final year.”

Amelia Carol-Ann Rouse (Barbadian) was awarded a UWIRegional Endowment Fund Bursary tenable in the Faculty ofPure & Applied Sciences at the Cave Hill Campus. She is extremely grateful for the scholarship as she says that,“This Bursary will go a long way in funding my tertiaryeducation.”

Felisha Cashareen Henry (Jamaican) is the recipient of afull RBTT Scholarship offered through the UWI RegionalEndowment Fund to pursue an undergraduate degree at theMona Campus of The University of the West Indies.

“As an individual who enjoys being involved in my school community, I willcontinue to do so in an effort to emulate the well established and sociallyresponsible RBTT.”

Top Class

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Scholarship Awardees

Dr. John Stewart belongs to the firstmedical class to graduate with a UWI andnot UCWI degree and has had a long anddistinguished career in the medical field,one that continues to evolve. He considersone of his most important achievements to be the textbook, Focal PeripheralNeuropathies, first published in 1988.“Why?”, you may ask. He will respond:“It discusses the many disorders of thenerves of the body starting with theirorigins in the spine right down to the smallbranches in the fingers and toes.” Thebook has received glowing reviews inmany journals and is considered to be thedefinitive text in the field. He is actuallynow working on the fourth edition.

At the UWI, he received Honours inAnatomy and Physiology in 1964 and theClinical Gold Medal; Distinction inMedicine and Therapeutics; Honours inSurgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology in1969.

Dr. Stewart attributes his success to many inspiring teachers and mentors, for example at the second MB level, Prof. Dan Hoyte (Anatomy) and Dr. E.V.Ellington (Biochemistry) who were both superb teachers and charismatic

A Top “Brainiac” with UWI Roots

18

individuals. On the wards and in the operating theatres Andrew Masson,Sir Harry Anamunthodo, John Golding, Mike Woo Ming, RolfRichards, Don Christian, James Ling, Orin Barrow and U.N. Pathakwere inspiring and painstaking, humorous and stimulating in theirteaching. He says that there was also a richness of ‘near-peer’ teachingfrom the students in the classes above and the house staff on the clinicalservices. “We wanted to learn and everyone wanted to teach us. It wasan extraordinarily collegial and stimulating environment.”

He left Jamaica after graduating and went to Britain where he didfurther training in internal medicine at the University of Wales inCardiff. He obtained the M.R.C.P. (U.K.) in 1972 and started training inneurology. However the zeal for travel supervened and he went to theUniversity of Nairobi, Kenya as a lecturer in medicine for two years.There he teamed up with two neurosurgeons and a radiologist to form a‘neuro team’. They discovered a high prevalence of congenitalanomalies of the craniovertebral junction in two of the large Kenyantribes and studied and published the findings establishing the nature andsurgical treatment of this otherwise disabling disorder.

He then entered the neurology programme at McGill University andcompleted that training in 1978. In 1989 he obtained the DetweilerTravel Fellowship and the WHO Travel Fellowship (AutonomicLaboratory at the Mayo Clinic and the Neurology Research Laboratoryat the Middlesex Hospital in London, U.K.). He was appointedconsultant/staff physician at the Montreal General Hospital andassistant professor with McGill University. After fifteen years he movedto the Montreal Neurological Hospital and Institute and was promotedto full professor.

The focus of his career has been clinical practice in a university hospital setting, teaching and mentoring students and residents, doingclinical research into disorders of the neuromuscular and autonomicnervous systems and clinical administration. He established anAutonomic Testing Laboratory at the Montreal Neurological Hospital.He has had several leadership positions including Director of ClinicalNeurological Services, Montreal General Hospital, Chairman of theMcGill University Residency Training Programme, Chairman of theCouncil of Physicians of the Montreal Neurological Hospital andNeurologist-in-Chief at the Montreal Neurological Hospital.

He has been invited to give numerous lectures, talks and presentationsin the Caribbean and all over the world and has published in journalsand peer-reviewed journals, done book chapters, publications, non-medical articles and conference presentations.

He now lives with his wife in British Columbia where he has set up a clinical practice in North Vancouver and is also working at the non-teaching/community based Lions Gate Hospital. He has found hisreturn to clinical ‘grass-roots’ to be both stimulating and challenging.He is also Chair of the Canadian Neurosciences Federation and Vice-Chair of the Scientific Programme Committee. He is happy thattwo of his three daughters are physicians and finds time forphotography, cycling, cross-country skiing and “hanging out” with hisfour young grandsons.

Focal Point

Dr. John Stewart

The De La Rue ScholarshipThe De La Rue Scholarship for theupcoming academic year has beenawarded to Kester Thompson, whograduated with a B.Sc. in Economics andManagement (Upper Second ClassHonours) from UWI (St. Augustine). Thescholarship is jointly awarded by theCentral Bank of Trinidad and Tobago andDe La Rue Currency, a UK Company.Kester is the sixth recipient of thisscholarship and has a strong interest inmonetary economics and econometricswhich he views as areas of criticalimportance globally. He was selected bythe interview panel because he epitomisesacademic excellence, commitment anddetermination and is a well-roundedindividual, being an active member of thechurch choir and an executive member ofthe group “Youth with the Answer”.Awardees must be enrolled in the MSc.Economics Programme.

Professor Brendan Bain,CHART Director, secondedto the Vice-Chancellery

Since 2001 Dr. Brendan Bain, Professor ofCommunity Health and former Head ofthe Department of Community Health &Psychiatry at the Mona Campus hasheaded the UWI HIV/AIDS ResponseProgramme (UWI HARP). In 2003,Professor Bain also assumed duties asDirector of the CHART RegionalCoordinating Unit (RCU), which wasestablished at UWI as part of the regionalresponse to the HIV epidemic.

With the growth of activities anddeepening of responsibilities of the RCUand the entire CHART network, it hasbeen decided that Professor Bain needs todevote his full attention to this criticalwork. Accordingly, he is being relieved ofhis teaching duties in the Department and has been seconded to the Vice-Chancellery, to continue as Directorof the CHART Regional CoordinatingUnit, for four years, effective June 1,2009. As such, Professor Bain will reportdirectly to the Vice Chancellor.

Accolades

Donations Needed!

We need your HELP!Support for Student Scholarships and Bursaries is still urgently

required.

The Regional Endowment Fund

Accounts that facilitate deposits of Sterling as well as United

States and Jamaican currency have been set up as follows:

National Commercial Bank Jamaica Ltd.

University BranchMonaAccount #: 402599987

Currency: Jamaican dollars

SWIFT/SORT Code: JNCBJMKXAXXX

Account #: 406398293

Currency: US$

SWIFT/SORT Code: JNCBJMKXAXXX

Barclays Bank PLCKnightsbridge International

68 KnightsbridgeLondon SWIX 7NTAccount #: 50853860

Currency: Sterling

SWIFT/SORT Code: 20-47-35

When you have made the donation it is important that you notify

the Vice Chancellor’s Office of the amount, currency and date and

the bank account to which the deposit was made.

All major credit cards are accepted.

Please contact the Institutional advancement Division at:

iad_mona@alumni.uwi.edu for more information.

Naming opportunities for individuals, corporations or in memoriam

at The University of the West Indies are available to contributors.

For donations in the USA:

The American Foundation for The University of the West Indies

Tax status: The AFUWI is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organisation

and gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent of state and federal

laws in the USA. Cheques should be made payable to the

American Foundation for The UWI.

Show Your “Pelican Pride” and Donate Today!

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Campus News

“Happenings” on the Campus you attended

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“Happenings”

Mona

NCB Foundation donates to MonaCampus

The NCB Foundation gave the BusinessDevelopment Office at Mona a chequefor J$240,000.00 towards the MonaCampus Culture and Heritage Bus Tourfor schools which targets 4-6th formstudents across the island and exposethem to UWI’s campus experience,highlighting the historical grounds, theartifacts and structures of culturalsignificance located on the campus.

GPS Navigation System nowavailable for Jamaica

The Mona GeoInformatics Institute hasunveiled a GPS Navigation System forJamaica, with turn-by-turn directionson over 10,000km of roads and over15,000 points of interest, ranging fromgas stations, hotels, shopping places,tourist attractions, eating places, and 64other categories. In addition to this,over 3,000 towns and villages have alsobeen mapped and navigated to.

Features include text-to-speechfunctionalities, hands-free operation(on certain units), detour and route re-calculation functions, and digitalatlas uses.

The system is now commerciallyavailable on the Garmin line of GPSproducts through 2 packages: a data-only option, or a bundled device-and-data kit. Individuals mayalso bring in their own Garmin devicesto be uploaded with the Jamaican data.

The Mona GeoInformatics Institute isoffering these units at discounted prices

to members of the UWI community. Visit www.monagis.com fordetails

UWISON collaborates on HIV Risk Reduction Project

The UWI School of Nursing, Mona (UWISON) in collaboration withNew York University (NYU) College of Nursing and University ofPennsylvania School of Nursing is in the third year of theRandomised Controlled Behavioural Intervention entitled, ‘MotherDaughter HIV Risk Reduction Project’ funded by the NationalInstitutes of Health, USA.

The behavioural intervention is culturally and developmentallyappropriate, gender specific, theory-driven and involves skill-building; it aims to reduce adolescent girls’ sexual riskbehaviours and increase mothers’ sexual risk communication andtheir parental monitoring and supervision.

The research team comprises of Principal investigators Dr. M. Katherine Hutchinson Professor at NYU College of Nursing, New York and Dr. Hermi Hewitt, Head and Director, TheUWI School of Nursing, Mona and Director PAHO/WHOCollaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development in theCaribbean; Project Director Ms. Juliet Weir, NYU and SiteCoordinator Ms. Deon Simpson, UWISON and Co-investigators Dr. Loretta Jemmott van Ameringen, Professor Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and Director, Center for Health DisparitiesResearch at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Dr. Norman Waldron and Dr. Eulalia Kahwa, UWISON and Mrs. Pansy Hamilton, Research Coordinator in the AdvancedTraining and Research in Fertility Management Unit, The Universityof the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica.

The team conducted the pilot testing of the intervention from August10 – 15, 2009 at UWISON.

St. Augustine

UWI Seminar in Indian Diaspora in the Caribbean

The University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus inTrinidad and Tobago hosted “Indian Diaspora in the Caribbean”, aseminar exploring issues and challenges facing the Indian people andculture in the Caribbean context.

The seminar took place on Sunday 16th August, 2009 at the

Campus News

21

St. Augustine Campus’ LearningResource Centre. It was organised bythe High Commission of India, theMinistry of Overseas Indian Affairs,the Global Organisation of People ofIndian Origin (GOPIO) TrinidadChapter and the National Council forIndian Culture.

UWI Planters for Social Change

UWI Planters for Social Change, incollaboration with the 2009 SummerClass of Social Policy Camp,Administration III, hosted “Seeds of aCaring Society”, the formal opening ofThe Trinity Hall Food Park in August.Sir Ellis Clarke, former President of theRepublic of Trinidad and Tobago,spoke at the opening.

UWI signs MOU with ChaguaramasDevelopment Authority

A new Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) signed between The Universityof the West Indies (UWI) and theChaguaramas Development Authority(CDA) is expected to strengthen therelationship between both parties. UWIPro Vice Chancellor and CampusPrincipal, Professor Clement Sankatand Ms. Judith Mark, GeneralManager, CDA signed the agreementon Wednesday 12th August, 2009.

Cave Hill

CLR James Research Centrereceives Alleyne papers

The CLR James Research Centre atCave Hill Campus received a majorenhancement to its library resourceswhen the cricket papers of the lateStephen Alleyne, former ChiefExecutive Officer of World CupBarbados Inc (2007) were handed overto The University of the West Indies.

The presentation took place on Friday, June 26, 2009 during a briefceremony attended by Principal of Cave Hill Campus, Sir HilaryBeckles, Alleyne’s widow Dr. Yolanda Alleyne, his sister Lisa andhis long time friend Philip Nicholls who was also a long-servingmember of the Barbados Cricket Association’s Board ofManagement.

The papers comprising thousands of documents which were savedover more than a decade, including part of the Cricket World Cuplegacy, will be used to assist students in their research in thedevelopment of Barbados and West Indies cricket. Dr. Alleyne whohanded them over to Sir Hilary felt they would add to “thedevelopment of thought in the future and plans for the future of thegame”.

Sir Hilary said he believed the papers would be used by generationsto come in cricket research and noted that the UWI had plans tohonour Alleyne’s legacy for his tremendous contribution to cricket inBarbados and the Caribbean.

He pointed to the invaluable role which Alleyne played in facilitatingthe hosting of World Cup matches at the 3Ws Oval, enabling it to bethe first university worldwide to be accorded such a privilege.

Alleyne died at age 47, in October 2007 months after the final of thetournament was played at Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Open

The UWI Open Campus Deputy Principal Dr. Vivienne Roberts hasbeen elected chair of the CANQATE Core Group. CANQATE standsfor The Caribbean Area Network for Quality Assurance in TertiaryEducation. CANQATE established in Jamaica in 2004, is aCaribbean sub-regional network of the International Network ofQuality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). Itspreads across 15 Caribbean and neighbouring nations.

UWI Open Campus recently became a member of InternationalCouncil for Open and Distance Education (ICDE). The OpenCampus took part in the 23rd Annual ICDE Conference inMaastricht, The Netherlands.

Congratulations to Dr. Ian Austin for acquiring his Doctor ofPhilosophy degree from the University of Virginia. Dr. Austin isHead of Open Campus Barbados (at the Pine).

“ONE UNIVERSITY, FOUR CAMPUSES”

Toronto ChapterOn May 24, 2009 the UWIAA Chapter held its Annual Luncheon at theDelta Toronto Airport Hotel West. The event opened with Maud Fuller,the outgoing chapter president introducing Co-Presidents MichaelHenville and Ferdinand Fortune. Mr. Henville then took the post ofcaptain to a lovely afternoon.

The toast to the UWI was proposed by Leroy Crosse. Lynette Spencereflected on the life and passing of Her Excellency Ambassador Dr.Lucille Mathurin-Mair, a distinguished alumna and recipient of manyprestigious awards including the CARICOM Triennial Award in 1996.The guest speaker Frances-Anne Solomon, an award winning filmmaker, writer and producer was introduced by Elizabeth Parchment.Francis-Anne is the daughter of two alumni, Frank Solomon and AnneMarie Solomon. She is a Trinidad and Tobago Island Scholarship winnerand studied in Canada and the United Kingdom. In addition, she hastaught courses at Cave Hill and St. Augustine. Frances-Anne spoke onthe state of cinematic arts in the Caribbean.

A tasty Caribbean luncheon was followed by raffles of variousindigenous Caribbean products. This friendly atmosphere waspunctuated by a brief report on the Central Executive Council Meeting2009.

The 2009 Luncheon was a success as it will enable the Chapter tocontinue their gift of annual scholarships to the UWI campuses and theylook forward to another productive year.

Frances-Anne Solomon at the podium (left) and with Maud Fuller(right). She is the daughter of two alumni and is working onbuilding a Caribbean film industry.

From left: Ferdinand Fortune’s two daughters, his wife, Ferdinand, Deighton and MargaretHutchinson’s daughter, Deighton and Margaret. (Deighton is the Chapter treasurer.)

Elizabeth Scott (nee Barrett), Michael Henville, Elizabeth Parchment (nee Blake), Frances-AnneSolomon, Dr. Robert Ogilvie, Barbara Henville (nee Carey).

Ferdinand Fortune (L) and Michael Henville, Co-Presidents of theToronto Chapter.

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UWIAA Chapter Highlights

UPCOMING UWIAA TRINIDAD &TOBAGO EVENT

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In Celebration of Their Lives

Mr. Cordel Nelson

Mr. Nelson served the UWI withdistinction for twenty six years. He startedin the Faculty of Education in 1983 andbecame Assistant Registrar in theExaminations section (Mona) in 1996. Hewas promoted to Senior AssistantRegistrar in 2006 and was one of therecipients of the Vice Chancellor’s Awardfor Excellence in 2005/06.

His administrative abilities, dedicationand his commitment to excellence werewell known and he had a special place inthe hearts of both students and staff. Hismany attributes were recognised acrossthe Institution, from student Guilds, theExaminations sections of all thecampuses, to the Offices of the ViceChancellor and Principals of the campusesand many others. His presence and adviceat the graduation ceremonies and hisknowledge regarding the rules andregulations of the Institution will be sorelymissed, as will his wit and sense ofhumour and his inimitable sense offashion and style. He had a talent for mathand tutored many students who went on tosucceed in their examinations and heloved music. He was a kind and caringindividual who “gave back” to his homecommunity of Gibraltar, St. Ann as well.He will never be forgotten.

Dr. Olga James–Reid

Dr. Olga James-Reid, former Head ofEducational Studies and Senior Lecturerin Education Administration at the MonaCampus obtained her BSc. from the UWI Mona and her M.A. and PhD inEducation from Columbia University. Sheis the author of the book: Teaching: ItsManagement and Function.

She served the School of Education withdistinction, as a lecturer and supervisor ofstudents’ research, mentor and colleagueand made a sterling contribution to the UWI community as Head of theDepartment of Educational Studies.

Mr. Dave Baptiste

Mr. Baptiste served the St. Augustine Campus as Senior LibraryAssistant. He was employed in the School of Veterinary Medicine sinceApril 1995 and gave of his best, working with commitment anddedication and making a lasting contribution to the UWI.

Dr. Selwyn Griffith

Dr. Selwyn Griffith, a former lecturer in the then Department of SoilScience, Faculty of Agriculture (St. Augustine), passed away in July2009 in Toronto, Canada. He was not only a scientist but a mastercricketer and footballer as well as a musician. His dedication to hiswork was his hallmark and his contribution to the UWI will be longremembered.

Ms. Carmen Elreta Dias

Miss Dias served the UWI for thirty-seven consecutive years. Her firstappointment was at the Domestic Bursar’s Office. Over the years shemoved up the ranks and in 2003 she was promoted to the position ofLodgings Officer (Mona) in the Office of Student Services andDevelopment in which capacity she served until her passing.

She was a committed and dedicated member of staff and was well lovedand respected by students, staff and those persons with whom sheinterfaced in the execution of her duties.

Mrs. Maria Cover-Alao

Mrs. Maria Cover-Alao, an administrative secretary in the Departmentof Modern Languages & Literatures, Language Laboratory (Mona) diedon June 25, 2009. She was employed at the University for 37 years andshe was meticulous at the duties she performed while working at theUniversity. She had a passion for Spanish and thus became fluent in thelanguage and she further went on to be the coordinator for theUWI/Columbia exchange programme hosted every summer by theFaculty of Humanities and Education.

Ms. Jennifer Michelle Mwaisela

Jennifer Mwaisela attended St. Hilda's High School and the ImmaculateConception High School in Jamaica before obtaining her Bachelor ofScience (Hons.) from UWI (Mona) in 1984. She completed twoMaster's programmes simultaneously at the University of Miami inOccupational and Environmental Health and Safety and Public Healthand then obtained her MBA from Florida International Universitywhere she worked for almost twenty years.

At the time of her passing she was the Associate Vice President for RiskManagement and Environmental Health and Safety. She was creditedwith crafting and implementing an enviable programme of Emergencyand Risk Management for the institution which earned her and her teamnumerous awards over the years and catapulted FIU into leadership inthis industry segment. She was the sister of Ann-Marie Grant, Directorof the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies.

Chancellor’s ColumnUWI Alumni Association

(UWIAA) Chapters

Campus Alumni Offices

The University of the West IndiesVice Chancellor’s Presidents Club

Mr. Frederick Bowen - Trinidad & TobagoMr. Ulric Warner - Trinidad & TobagoMr. Daniel Sankar - Trinidad & TobagoProf. Franklin Knight - Washington DC

UWIMAA - PresidentsDr. Michael Charles - BarbadosDr. Karl Massiah - Canada Dr. Homer Bloomfield - Commonwealth ofThe Bahamas Dr. Victor Boodhoo - Florida (Central)Dr. Aileen Standard-Goldson - Jamaica Dr. Deo Singh - Trinidad & TobagoDr. Gerry Groves - USA Tri-State

UWIMAA - Past PresidentsDr. Jeff Massay - Barbados Dr. Michael Hoyos - BarbadosDr. Robin Roberts - Commonwealth of The BahamasDr. Cecil Aird - Florida (Central)Dr. Novelle Kirwan - Florida (Central)Dr. Anna Matthews - JamaicaDr. Peter Fletcher - Jamaica Dr. Sonia Henry-Heywood - JamaicaDr. Richard Whitelocke - JamaicaDr. Nadia Williams - Jamaica Dr. Wendel Guthrie - JamaicaDr. R. E. David Thwaites - JamaicaDr. Vijay Naraynsingh - Trinidad & TobagoDr. Godfrey Rajkuma - Trinidad & TobagoDr. Winston Mitchell - USA Tri-State Dr. Hardat Sukhdeo - USA Tri-State Dr. Kathleen Watson - USA Tri-State

UWIGNA (Canada) - PresidentMs. Millicent Robb

UWIGNA (Canada) - Past PresidentMs. Sybil Bent

UWIEA - PresidentsEng. Hopeton Heron - JamaicaEng. Clyde Philip - Trinidad & Tobago

UWIAA - PresidentsMr. Ricardo Knight - BarbadosMr. Frederick Sandiford - BelizeDr. Marcia Potter - British Virgin Islands Mrs. Leonora Wynter - Cayman IslandsMrs. A. Missouri Sherman-Peter - Commonwealth of The BahamasMs. Irma Edwards - DominicaMrs. Margaret Barrett - Florida Ms. Claudia Halley - GrenadaMr. A. Gilbert Bellamy - Jamaica Mrs. Delmaude Ryan - MontserratMr. Gerald White-Davis - New York Dr. Caroline Lawrence - St. Kitts & NevisMr. Nkrumah Lucien - St. LuciaMr. Randy Boucher - St. Vincent & TheGrenadinesMr. Ferdinand Fortune and Mr Michael Henville - TorontoMr. James Richardson - Trinidad & TobagoMr. Vernon Barrett - United KingdomMs. Sha-Shana Crichton - Washington DC

UWIAA - Past PresidentsMs. Maxine McClean - BarbadosProf. Frank Alleyne - Barbados Dr. Lisa Johnson - BelizeDr. Kedrick Pickering - British Virgin IslandsMrs. Deborah Ann Chambers - Cayman Mr. Anthony Williams - Florida Mr. Ronald White - Florida Prof. Marcia Magnus - FloridaMrs. Beverley Pereira - JamaicaMrs. Brenda Skeffrey - Jamaica Prof. Neville Ying - JamaicaMrs. Patricia Sutherland - JamaicaMrs. Nadine Marriott - Jamaica Dr. Cameron Wilkinson - St. Kitts & NevisMs. Sheree Jemmotte - MontserratMs. Laurine Fenton - MontserratMrs. Candia Williams - MontserratDr. Hazel Carter - New York Ms. Maud Fuller - TorontoMr. Jerry Medford - Trinidad & Tobago

BarbadosCave Hill CampusTel: 246-417-4544

alumnioffice@cavehill.uwi.eduContact: Mrs. Roseanne Maxwell

JamaicaMona Campus

Tel: 876-927-1583uwialumni@kasnet.com

Contact: Mrs. Charmaine Wright

Open CampusTel: 246-417-4505

deputyprincipal@open.uwi.eduContact: Office of the Deputy Principal

UWI Open Campus

Trinidad and TobagoSt. Augustine Campus

Tel: 868-663-1579, 868-662-2002, Ext: 2099

Charmain.Subero@sta.uwi.eduContact: Ms. Charmain Subero

Alumnus and Council RepresentativesFor Aug 1, 2009- July 31, 2011 (2 Years)

Alumnus RepresentativeMr. Jerry Medford (Trinidad and Tobago)

For Aug 1, 2009 - July 31, 2010 (1 Year)Council Representative

Ms. Irma Edwards (Dominica)

Barbados Belize

British Virgin Islands Cayman

Commonwealth of The Bahamas

DominicaFlorida

GrenadaGuyanaJamaica

Montserrat New York

St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia

St. Vincent and The Grenadines

Toronto Trinidad and Tobago

United KingdomWashington D.C.

UWIAA Alumni ContactOttawa