S T . A UGUS T IN E N E WS

October 2012 - March 2013

The Accidental Author Jonathan Ali interviews writer Barbara Jenkins

Nazma Muller goes Behind the Scenes at Graduation

Anna Walcott-Hardy Connects with Faculty of Medical Sciences Dean Ramsewak

Research Scholars & Mentors Celebrated by Stacy Richards-Kennedy & Lois St. Brice

UWI STUDENTS GO TO FRANCE Serah Acham

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan Campus Correspondents Alma Jordan Library Exts. 82336/82337 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES (STARRS)/3600 (UEC) ST. AUGUSTINE CAMPUS Ms. Allison Dolland 22 October 2012 - March 2013 Alumni Association (T&T Chapter) 751-0741 Mr. Maurice Burke

Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business 662-9894 / 645-6700 Ext. 341 Ms. Adi Montas

Bursary Ext. 83382 Mrs. Renee Sewalia

Campus Bookshop Exts. 83520/83521 Ms. Michelle Dennis

Campus Information Technology Centre (CITS) Ext. 83227 Mr. Nazir Alladin

CARDI 645-1205 Ext. 8251 Anna Walcott-Hardy Mr. Selwyn King Editor CARIRI 662-7161/2 Ms. Irma Burkett

Caribbean Centre for Monetary Studies (CCMS) Ext. 82544 Serah Acham Mrs. Kathleen Charles

Jonathan Ali Campus Projects OfficeC ( PO) Ext. 82411 Bianca Beddoe Mr. Alfred Reid Centre for Criminology & Criminal Justice Lois St Brice Exts. 82019/82020 Stacy Richards Kennedy Mr. Omardath Maharaj 14 Dr Jo-Anne S. Ferreira Centre for Gender & Dev. Studies Exts. 83573/83548 Contributing Writers Ms. Donna Drayton Distance Education Centre (UWIDEC) Ext. 82430 Ms. Colleen Johnson Johann Bennett Division of Facilities Management Ext. 82054 Zennille Swann Mr. Suresh Maharaj Sales Assistant Engineering Exts. 83073/82170 Dr. Hamid Farabi / Dr. Clement Imbert Safiya Alfonso Engineering Institute Exts. 83171/82197/82175 Dr. Edwin Ekwue Benedict Cupid Food and Agriculture Ext. 82018 Abigail Hadeed Ms. Sarojini Ragbir Mark Hardy Guild of Students (GOS) 743-2378 Aneel Karim Mr. Mervin Alwyn Agiste Humanities & Education Exts. 82378/83338 Arthur Sukhbir Mr. Satanand Sharma Photographers Mrs. Janet Fullerton-Rawlins

Institute of International Relations (IIR) Ext. 82291 Ms. Tamara Brathwaite STAN is a publication of The Marketing and Communications Office, Law Ext. 82542 The University of the West Indies, Mr. Timothy Affonso St. Augustine. Law School 662-5860 Mrs. Margaret Adams-Stowe For more information please contact the Editor, Medical Sciences Exts. 84614/85219 Anna Walcott-Hardy Dr. Monica Davis 60 Tel: 662-9387 • 662-2002 Ext. 82013 Fax: 662-3858 Office of the Campus Principal Ext. 83937 Email: [email protected] Mrs. Elizabeth Nivet-McComie

© 2013. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE School of Continuing Studies 645-3127 Mrs. Heather-Dawn Charles REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER OR AGENT. Science and Technology Ext.82429 Mrs. Indira Ousman Visit us online at Seismic Research Unit 662-4659 www.sta.uwi.edu/stan Ms. Stacey Edwards Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) Ext. 82306 Dr. Sandra Sookram

Social Sciences Exts. 82039/83045 Mr. Douglas Mendes / Dr. Nasser Mustapha

Sport and Physical Education Centre (SPEC) Ext. 82307 Mrs. Lystra Francis

Student Services Ext. 82096 Dr. Deirdre Charles

UWI Campus Security Ext. 82121 Mr. Wayne Richardson

UWI Credit Union Exts. 83350/82600 Mrs. Jill Thompson / Mrs. Marlene Sobers 2 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE in this issue... 66

2 Campus Correspondents 50 APPOINTMENTS 3 Contents 4 Editorial CROSSING BORDERS 5 Mailbox 54 A Chance To Dive Into 7 J’Ouvert: Calendar of Events the Caribbean Basin 56 Be Heard, Be Informed, Be Engaged: UWI PEOPLE UWI website coming soon 10 The Accidental Author Barbara Jenkins IN THE NEWS 14 World Exchange: 58 Principal Hosts End of Year UWI students travel to France Celebration 22 An Officer and A Gentleman - Clarence Harvey CONNECT 60 FMS Dean Ramsewak GRADUATION 24 Behind the Scenes BOOKS 64 Light Falling On Bamboo; ON CAMPUS DigitalMath; UWI Press Celebrates 28 Moolchand Raghunandan 30 Yalla - UWI fundraiser LANGUAGE MATTERS 34 Through the Looking Glass: 66 Patois in T&T Disappearing Architecture & 50th Anniversary Commemorative SPORTS Photography Collection 72 UWI-SPEC International 39 South Campus on Target Half-Marathon

RESEARCH TRIBUTE 40 Seismic Research Centre 74 Angela Cropper

AWARDS POEM 42 UWI/Guardian Life Premium 78 Laurie and the flea talk anansi Teaching Awards; Celebrating Research Scholars & Mentors; QUOTABLE QUOTES High Tide: mFisheries Triumphs 79 Angela Cropper, Sunity Maharaj, V.S. Naipaul

UWI STAN Cover STAR Photo competition Congratulations to our UWI STAN Cover Photo 1st Place: Rene Toyer Competition winners. For the second year, we asked “Yellow Hooded Blackbird” students and staff to capture special moments of (TT$4,000 prize) life on Campus from a range of perspectives. Our photographers took up the challenge and captured 2nd Place: Kevin Jemmott unique images of our multifaceted campus from our “JFK Quadrangle” architecture to natural landscape. We are pleased (TT$1,500 prize) to have expanded our cash prizes and awards and would like to congratulate all those who submitted 3rd Place: Yaasir Hosein their photographs. Special congratulations to our “Froggy” winners: (TT$1,000 prize)

Visit STAN online to read more about our winners and the images that inspired them at www.sta.uwi.edu/stan www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 3 [EDITORIAL]

Laying the Foundation Professor Clement Sankat Pro-Vice Chancellor & Campus Principal

As we close one year and look forward to focusing on ensuring that the quality of As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the opening of another, I would first like to academic offerings and service delivery our newly formatted UWI STAN magazine, thank all of my UWI colleagues and students remain of the highest calibre. Also, the which began as a gazette edited by retiree, for the instrumental, collaborative initiatives attainment of accreditation of a broad Robert Henry, and has grown into a flagship you have achieved in 2012. It is interesting spectrum of professional programmes, publication for the Campus, I wish to thank that during particularly difficult socio- such as Engineering, Medicine, Veterinary you all for your support. At this juncture, economic times, we can rise to the challenge Medicine and Dentistry, capped off by the let me congratulate the Editor, Ms. Anna and achieve, what may seem at times to be, achievement of institutional accreditation Walcott-Hardy for her excellent leadership Herculean tasks. by the Accreditation Council of Trinidad & in establishing UWI STAN as our flagship Tobago (ACTT), are achievements that we Campus publication, which has won four I believe that our strategic, highly productive, should all celebrate. international awards and was a finalist for student-centric way of operating has an International Association of Business augured very well for The University of the We know that the growth of our student Communicators (IABC) Gold Quill Award West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus. For body has made space a premium on our in recognition of excellence in publishing. instance, one of our major achievements Campus and we have been working long During Anna’s 12-year engagement with at St. Augustine is the renewal of a and hard to enhance our infrastructure with The UWI St. Augustine Campus, her intellect, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of the Sir George Alleyne creativity, warm personality and always agricultural technology cooperation with Health Economic Centre, the Sir Arthur Lewis thoughtful writings, have endeared her The Crop Research Institute of Guangdong Hall of Residence on St John’s Road, the to many at our University. But the STAN Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CRIGAAS) Canada Hall Renovation, refurbishment of publication has also been a team effort, of China, in December 2012. This MoU the Main Administration Building, the New and our entire Department of Marketing underscores a milestone in The UWI’s University Inn, the Facilities Management and Communications must be thanked for commitment to investigating sustainable Head Office, the Teaching and Learning this. We look forward to this creativity being solutions to current food and agricultural Complex located on Circular Road, St enhanced in the next decade. challenges. After 25 years, The University Augustine, and the establishment of the has finally acquired lands at Orange Grove. satellite South Campus at Penal-Debe − It was Saint Augustine who asked, “Do you The research done on these lands will build site of the Faculty of Law currently under wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan capacity and have a tremendous impact on construction − among many others. a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first our agricultural future. the foundation of humility.” Over the years, our administrators, For the past 35 years I have seen our Campus researchers, teachers, students and alumni It is with great joy and humility that I say face numerous challenges, yet we continue have helped us to lay a resilient foundation ‘thank you’ as I look forward to serving this to learn from our mistakes and challenge and forge robust partnerships, not only with great institution for another term. ourselves to enhance our strengths. During the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, my tenure I have seen colleagues, staff and stakeholders in the private sector, but I hope you enjoy this anniversary issue and alumni work together to ensure the also with local, regional and international and keep sending us your comments and expansion of both the undergraduate and organisations. contributions. postgraduate student communities, while

4 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [MAILBOX]

10 and counting… UWI STAN magazine celebrates tenth anniversary

We’re proud to celebrate the tenth and UWI alumni, who wanted more anniversary of the revamped UWI frequent, extensive communication St. Augustine News (STAN). The with The University. magazine was first edited by Campus Communications Coordinator, Mr. Undeniably, the magazine would not Robert Henry, over two decades ago. have thrived without the support of a Back then, the Campus newspaper was multitude of individuals and groups, a highly informative, black and white including the UWI STAN academic and (with spot colour blue) gazette. Over administrative correspondents, then the years, the publication has become Campus Registrar, Mr. William Iton, an award-winning, flagship magazine Campus Principals, Dr. Bhoendradatt which is produced by the Marketing Tewarie, Prof. Bridget Brereton and and Communications department. Its Prof. Clement Sankat and, of course, pages have documented the struggles, the Marketing and Communications ingenuity and milestones of our staff, Director, Mrs. Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill. students and St. Augustine community. The Marketing and Communications team also needs to be thanked for The transition from newspaper to its commitment and hard-work, magazine came at a time when the with special thanks to Mrs. Marion Campus community was expanding and so were the programmes, outreach activities and research initiatives. There was a need to enhance the reach and scope of the publication and include stakeholders, from our staff and students, to the corporate community

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 5 [MAILBOX]

Front row (L-R): Kim Kirton, Renata Sankar-Jaimungal, Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill, Asha St. Bernard, Rayna Maharaj, Anisa Persad-Bajnath. Second row (L-R): Cynthia Yearwood, Marion Almandoz Khan, Zennille Swann, Marissa Brooks, Jules Sobion, Safiya Alfonso, Rhonda Jaipaul-O’Garro, Aneel Karim. Back row (L-R): Nazma Muller, Nia Modeste, Terri-Ann Thompson, Christine Nanton, Asha Claxton, Marissa Gordon-Baksh, Nicole Huggins-Boucaud, Wynell Gregorio, Vaneisa Baksh, Joseph Drayton

Almandoz Khan, Ms. Christine Brown, congratulate us and share that he Ms. Zennille Swann, Mrs Anisa Persad- “collected every issue” of UWI STAN. In Bajnath, Mr. Johann Bennett, Mr. fact, he was so pleased with the latest Aneel Karim, Mr. Joseph Drayton and issue, that he recalled that he had Ms. Serah Acham. thrown a copy on a colleague’s desk and said with his customary aplomb, Our dedicated corporate advertisers “take that”. This advice and the constant Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill have stayed with us over the years support of the then Vice Chancellor University & Campus Director, Marketing & Communications and we greatly appreciate their and the ongoing support of the current commitment. We wish to thank: bpTT, Chancellor, Sir George Alleyne, Vice CIC Brokers, Colfire, Courts (Trinidad Chancellor, Professor E. Nigel Harris, and Tobago), First Citizens, Guardian and of course, Campus Principal, Life of the Caribbean, National Gas Professor Sankat, has inspired our team Company (NGC) of Trinidad and to ensure we deliver a quality magazine. Tobago Limited, Optometrists Today, In closing, I would like to thank my RBC/RBTT, Republic Bank, Scotiabank, family for their astute advice and kind Southern Sales Car Rentals, Toyota and words that came with every issue. To the Unit Trust Corporation (UTC). our readers, thank you for helping us to achieve this milestone and keep sharing During the early years, when your thoughts with us. resources were limited and deadlines unforgiving, the late Professor Rex Enjoy! Nettleford walked into the Marketing Anna Walcott Hardy and Communications Office, taking Editor time from his hectic schedule to

6 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [ J’OUVERT ]

Calendar of Events 2013

Semester II begins Seismic Research Centre 20 January, 2013 Open House 31 January, 2013 Teaching begins UWI, St. Augustine 21 January, 2013 In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the Seismic Research Centre will host a monthly Open House on the last Thursday Seismic Research Centre of each month throughout 2013. The Open House will include 60th Anniversary Opening Ceremony a tour of the facility, insight into monitoring techniques used 29 January, 2013 for earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis, simple hands-on UWI, St. Augustine activities, important safety information and 60th anniversary memorabilia. All members of the public are invited to attend. The Seismic Research Centre (SRC) will launch a year-long Advance bookings are encouraged. celebration in recognition of its 60th anniversary, with For further information an official opening ceremony at the Centre’s offices in St. Please contact Ms. Stacey Edwards Augustine. The SRC monitors earthquakes, volcanoes and at 662-4659 or email [email protected]. tsunamis for the English-speaking countries of the Eastern Caribbean and manages the Montserrat Volcano Observatory jointly with the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. The Centre also operates a dynamic education and outreach programme to raise awareness of geo-hazards in the region.

For further information Please contact Ms. Stacey Edwards at 662-4659 or email [email protected].

SRC Volcanologist, Dr Pat Joseph, talks to the public about monitoring volcanic gas emissions and geochemistry at St Augustine, Trinidad. www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 7 [ J’OUVERT ]

UWI School of Education Teaching ends Biennial Conference 19 April, 2013 23-25 April, 2013 UWI, St. Augustine Campus Semester break 22-26 April, 2013 The UWI Schools of Education, situated at The University’s three physical Campuses, will host their biennial conference Examinations themed “Advancing education through a culture of inquiry, 29 April-17 May, 2013 innovation, and indigenization.” This conference aims to answer the questions: What are teachers’ conceptions/ Semester II ends perceptions of indigenous knowledge? How do teachers 17 May, 2013 tap into learners’ indigenous knowledge? What are the barriers to establishing a culture of inquiry, innovation and indigenization? First Year Experience 2013 19 August-21 November For further information Please contact Krishna Seunarinesingh at email [email protected]. Meet & Greet Airport greeting for all regional and international students 19-30 August

5th Biennial International Business, Campus Tours Banking & Finance Conference Faculty tours for all new first-year students 2-3 May, 2013 20-30 August Hyatt Regency Trinidad Port of Spain Check-in Weekend activities for all regional and international students This conference is themed “Re-engineering growth: Doing 24-25 August business in the new global environment” and serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas on critical business, banking and financial issues currently facing the Caribbean region. It will bring together international and regional business leaders, senior officials from regional and international financial institutions, as well as academics.

For further information Please contact the BBF5 Conference Secretariat at 465-0433 or email [email protected].

8 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Welcome Home Health & Well Being Halls of residence welcome activities Health Services Unit workshops 2-4 September Throughout Semester 1

Know Your Faculty UWI Clicks Faculty orientation sessions An introduction to UWI website and student portal 26-28 August and 2-7 September 28 August; 2 September

UWI Life Support Matriculation UWI Administration forum for parents/guardians Official ceremony to formally recognise new students as 29 August members of The University 12 September UWI Life Student & Information Village UWI Administration orientation forum for all first-year students The Postgraduate Experience 30 August Postgraduate orientation workshops 18 September; 9 October UWI Guild Fest The Guild of Students’ orientation events Study Skills 28 August-6 September Workshops on developing practical study habits 19 September; 19, 24 October; 21 November Know Your Library Library orientation events Career seminars 2-14 September A step-by-step guide to career planning and development 26 September; 3, 10 and 17 October

QUESTIONS or COMMENTS? Contact us at Tel: (868) 662-9387 • Fax: (868) 662-3858 Email: [email protected] or visit us online at www.sta.uwi.edu/stan

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 9 [UWI PEOPLE]

The Accidental Author Jonathan Ali

Barbara Jenkins is protesting too Titled Sic Transit Wagon, the book – “We’d meet once a month or more often. You much. “I didn’t set out to be a writer,” she which, in another form, was Jenkins’s had to write something that could stand up says, seated in the garden of her Diego MFA thesis – is a collection of 12 short to people’s criticism.” Martin home on a sunny afternoon with stories inspired by contemporary life, as a cup of Earl Grey tea in her hand. “This well as the world of pre-Independence The first major piece of writing Jenkins is accidental.” Trinidad and Tobago. They’re written did for the group came out of a personal with skill, honesty and humour, and the experience, one that many Trinidadians The “this” that Jenkins, a retired wisdom they contain reflects a lifetime’s could unhappily relate to – vehicular traffic. secondary school geography teacher, is accumulation of varied, deeply felt so casually referring to is the remarkable experiences. “I was going to UWI to a dyslexia conference. success she has been enjoying since It took me an hour to do a hundred yards,” becoming a writer of fiction, five short This late-in-the-day life as a writer she recalls. “I said I’m not going and came years ago. She has won plaudits and began, as Jenkins would modestly back home after two hours. Since we were prizes – including the Commonwealth have it, quite by chance. Back in 2007 a meeting that evening and I had nothing Short Story Competition prize for the British friend was in the country for an prepared I wrote a piece called 120 Minutes Caribbean region, two years running – extended period of time and wished to in Vision 2020, which was the big thing at the and completed a Masters in Fine Arts start a writing group. She invited one of time. The group loved it. They laughed a lot (graduating with high commendation) Jenkins’ other friends to join, who would at my predicament and about the situation at the St. Augustine Campus of UWI. only go along if Jenkins accompanied and said, ‘You really ought to show this to Soon, her first book will be published her. somebody, you know.’” through Peepal Tree Press in the UK.

10 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE “I didn’t set out to be a writer,” Barbara Jenkins, UWI post graduate student. [UWI PEOPLE]

That somebody was Nicholas Laughlin, of their subject area. I fell in love with Overall, did she find the degree useful? editor of The Caribbean Review of Professor [Barbara] Lalla, she was a great Books. He liked it, and encouraged introduction. Vijay Maharaj, Maarit Forde “Useful?” She pauses. “I don’t know Jenkins to apply to the workshop for and Gabrielle Hezekiah were great, too. about the utility of things, but I tell regional writers hosted by the Cropper you, it was a fantastic ride. I loved every Foundation. She did, and was accepted. “But best of all was the friendship that single minute. It was all stuff I had “And when I got there and I saw that I forged with my supervisor, Professor never been exposed to. I’m 70 years everybody was under 30, I kind of felt, Funso Aiyejina – a kind friend and old and here I am saying my God, Aimé Oh, OK, I’m twice their age, and when massive encourager but ferocious critic Cesairé, how come I never met this man you hear the things they’d done, those of my work.” before?” who’d been writing their own blog for years and had published here, there Still, she felt the MFA fell short of Blame Jenkins’ ignorance of the great and everywhere, I did feel a little bit helping her acquire the tools with Martiniquan and other Caribbean inadequate.” which to analyse the written word. She writers on her sound colonial education. had gone into the degree expecting to The experience did, however, show be given “a training in creative writing”, “Caribbean literature did not exist when Jenkins that writing was possible but admits: “UWI did not, does not, I was growing up; certainly not for the not just as “frivolous enjoyment”, do that, the nuts and bolts. It came as public library in Belmont.” but something more. This led to her something of a surprise to me that the decision to do the MFA in Creative course was not teaching people writing, Belmont – the Port-of-Spain Writing at UWI. word by word, sentence by sentence.” neighbourhood that has been the nurturing ground of so many of the “I go into things without thinking Instead she did classes in literary and country’s artistic and creative minds – about them,” says Jenkins breezily, cultural theory, optional courses in was where Jenkins spent her childhood. “and the MFA is one of those things. gender studies, and something called Growing up in modest circumstances, Without finding out anything about it, poetics. She feels that “There should be there were no books in the house. I boldly went up to UWI, paid fees and more courses, and more courses to do registered for it.” with the craft of writing.”

Returning to a university campus after

so many years was quite an experience Dean Funso Aiyejina for Jenkins, a mother of three children and a grandmother of six.

“I was at university in Wales in the early Sixties. The university environment then was an entirely different animal from what it is now.”

Whatever the differences, however, she found the UWI experience to be a “tremendous” one.

“The teachers at UWI, the ones that I’ve been exposed to, I don’t think I could have met better people anywhere,” she says. “ Thoroughly into their subjects, and well aware of a lot of stuff outside

12 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Professor Barbara Lalla

“There wasn’t even a newspaper,” she says. “Not because we were philistines, but because, why you going to buy a newspaper when you could buy a hops bread?”

It was the free public library on Pelham Street, where Jenkins lived, that was to be the place where she would discover the joys of reading.

“It was always Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, the Just William series and, when I got older, PG Wodehouse and so on. Borrow two in the morning, and by two o’clock I’ve finished with both of them. And I’d go down to the library and the woman would say ‘No, you’ve had your two for Despite being much more versed in the short story. But she admits that “a the day already. Come back tomorrow Caribbean literature now – indeed, able man for all seasons for me is Graham morning.’ I’d be waiting outside when to count Caribbean writers as her peers Greene. Maybe he’s not very much in she opened the place at eight o’ clock and some of them as friends – Jenkins favour these days, but I love the way he to exchange my two for another two to declares that “my most enduring read is was able to get to the heart of people’s devour.” still Walcott.” motivations for doing things, no matter how base the motivation.” Jenkins’s introduction to Caribbean Jenkins credits her late husband with literature came in the fifth form of keeping her love of literature alive Now that she is a writer herself, getting St Joseph’s Convent, Port-of-Spain, during her years as a geography to the heart of the matter (as Greene courtesy of an Irish nun. teacher. “I was very, very lucky Paul might have put it) is what Jenkins tries recognised that I had this appetite that to do herself, whether she’s writing “She came into the classroom one needed to be fed. I was at school all about a long-time smartman trying day saying she had just come from day, had to see about the family in the to trick his way into bringing out a St Lucia and she had been reading evenings, but I wouldn’t settle down at Carnival band, or a gaggle of modern, the work of a marvellous young man night unless I had read something. middle-class women gossiping over the who was writing poetry, and she read goings-on in their neighbourhood. us something from Derek Walcott’s “So he would buy books, particularly 25 Poems.” Jenkins almost goes into a collections of short stories. (You just “I think through writing you’re forced to reverie at the memory. didn’t have time for the long haul of think more deeply about things and not a novel. By the time you picked back just have things wash over you,” Jenkins “And there was something about up East of Eden you’d forgotten the observes. And as her writing career Choiseul, and coming ‘round the characters.) I’d read a story and then I’d kicks into high gear, she doesn’t seem bay, and the headland, and it was feel as if I had had, not escape really, but worried about what most writers would miraculous to think that what we had a life other than life. I didn’t know then consider their greatest fear: running out was worthy of being put into words and how important it was.” of material. immortalised in print with a kind of a validity that we only gave to Tennyson She became partial to women writers, “Life gives you a lot of traffic and Wordsworth and stuff like that.” especially Alice Munro, the doyenne of opportunities to write about.”

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 13 WORLD EXCHANGE UWI Students travel to France Serah Acham [UWI PEOPLE]

UWI students are travelling all over French-speaking country for up to Stringent though it may be, this the world thanks to a multitude one year. MOUs have been signed policy has paid off. “Our standard of study abroad and scholarship between UWI and Université des for our students who are going opportunities offered through The Antilles-Guyane in Martinique, the to France is significantly higher in University’s International Office. University of Montreal in Canada, language proficiency than their With agreements with more Université Michel de Montaigne - students from Bordeaux. It’s not to than 50 universities in the United Bordeaux 3 in France, and another congratulate ourselves at UWI but States, Europe, South and Central is in the works with Université Paris our students are doing extremely America, Asia, Africa and within the Sorbonne - Paris IV, also in France. well if not better internationally”, Caribbean, students and staff can she continues. study art history at the Louvre in Undergraduate students in the Paris, become a dental resident in second year of their French Majors, Eric Maitrejean, Lecturer in French New York, investigate agricultural as well as Postgraduates reading at The UWI, adds that the student best practice in China, or learn for their MPhil or PhD degrees in exchange programme with computer programming in Kenya. French are eligible for each of the Université Michel de Montaigne study abroad opportunities, as long - Bordeaux 3 “has proven a Students of the French programme, as they’ve demonstrated a certain resounding success”. He explains at the Department of Modern level of fluency in the language. that, since the MOU was signed Languages and Linguistics (MLL), Students who participate in the in the late 1990s, “we welcome can enhance their language skills by student exchange programme undergraduate and postgraduate living and studying or teaching in a at Bordeaux spend from one students from Bordeaux on a semester to a full academic year at regular basis – albeit in small the university, where, as full-time numbers”, and in return, each year students, they take courses which Bordeaux accepts an average of count towards their final degrees. three UWI students who typically “We are quite selective about who stay for the entire academic year. goes to France”, says Dr. Boufoy- “Our students are so appreciated Bastick. “They need to have reached that Bordeaux 3 has without a specific level of proficiency to do interruption hired past UWI the Bordeaux exchange because students as visiting lecturers in it’s really a big step. It’s a whole their English department for the year where they’re fighting by past 10 years … They even started themselves in a new education a (postgraduate) programme on system, in a new context.” International Politics mounted in collaboration with Haiti, UWI and Bordeaux.”

Four students who visited France as part of the student exchange programme with Bordeaux 3 describe their experiences. [UWI PEOPLE]

Tevin Gall

3rd year French and Spanish double major Visited Bordeaux in academic year 2011-2012 Spent 1 academic year in France

What was your living situation at Bordeaux? We (including the other two UWI students he went with) lived off- campus in student housing (which) is actually difficult to get ... but because we were sent up with an exchange programme we were able to reserve those rooms ... they were very, very, very tiny ... but very comfortable because only one person is meant to live there. Dr. Beatrice Boufoy-Bastick at the Universite de la Sorbonne - Paris IV. What were the courses at Bordeaux like, as compared Another thing I really loved was the I still haven’t seen. Apart from being in to UWI’s? reliability of the public transportation Bordeaux, I visited Paris twice, I went to With regards to the Spanish, it wasn’t system. I loved being able to check Leon and I went to Toulouse. Because the same. I actually am going to say online and know that a train or a tram it’s such a large country and there’s so that those of us that did Spanish at or a bus is coming at whatever time. much variety within the boundaries of Bordeaux are at a bit of a disadvantage They have the oddest of times, like the country itself, you’d find a different now, in year three, because UWI has a 6:07 and you know that at 6:07 the bus culture in Toulouse, a different culture very comprehensive programme. They would come. It’s not like that here and I somewhere else ... for anywhere try to cover all the bases and it’s very think that Trinidad has a long way to go between €30-something to €50- challenging, especially for year two, with regards to having a reliable public something, you can jump on a train and so it’s a bit of a jolt coming back into transportation system. get to another city. It’s nice because ... year three and not having had that you get to see another French city and foundation in year two Spanish. I loved the general sense of safety. I it’s different and travel is affordable. would walk in the dark at late hours What was your favourite part and I would have my iPod and I would What did you find or your experience? have my phone and I wouldn’t be most challenging? I loved the independence, because concerned that someone would rob Self control with regards to getting I had never lived on my own before. me ... of course, you’re not going to walk things done and finances ... I have I loved being able to make my own in every dark alley because it’s France, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity decisions ... You had to take care of not paradise ... (but) if you would go to Disorder) and for the first time in my everything ... There’s no one to help you a show or out liming, you had to get life there was no support system to say do your laundry, no one to help you home and it was after midnight, it was “okay Tevin it’s time to do this now”. ... wash dishes and no one is designating not uncommon to walk the streets at There were certain days I felt things tasks to you ... you have to do it because that time and feel safe and see other were spinning a little bit out of control, if you don’t, things would pile up ... in people doing it and feel safe. but I got it back together ... Skype and a couple years I would be living on my cell calls can only do so much ... You own and be fully independent, so it was I also liked the fact that France is a find yourself playing so many roles a taste of what that would be like. large country and there’s a lot of it that that other people have played for you

16 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [UWI PEOPLE]

and the change was so sudden, because it’s a pleasant surprise. People don’t went to Montreal ... I think that the one minute you’re home and literally a greet each other with that much joy in thing is just to leave ... it broadens your day later, after all the hours of travelling, Trinidad, but outside, because you’re horizons ... I would say go and speak you find yourself having to do it as an in the minority, you leap towards that to Marcia McDonald Howard in the independent person. It was a bit of a connection. It’s not just Trinidadian, it’s International Office. She’s extremely shock I would say. Caribbean. I think there’s something helpful and she got us through the that ties Caribbean people together. whole process. You have to make sure What was your most memorable that you get your courses approved. experience? Any advice for students Make sure that your GPA is at a certain Being in Paris ... it’s one of those idyllic thinking of studying abroad? level. things ... you get to do things that seem Go. There are only three spots for like a big deal but then you look back the Bordeaux programme but what What did you get out of it? and you say to yourself, “I did it” ... literally a lot of people do is apply to do the I think that I’m a lot more open minded two days after I had got back the Tour de assistantship which can be done at the ... I’m a lot more comfortable with France was going on and they showed it end of the degree or at the end of your myself because I know I was able to on television and I think that a year ago, second year ... Even if it’s not French, I exist outside what I’ve always known. had I watched that, I would say “oh wow encourage people to go. There were they’re riding through the streets of Paris girls who did French with us and they and look there’s the Arc de Triomphe and there’s the Eiffel Tower,” ... (but) it was like “about two weeks ago, I was here!” You identify with it. It’s one of those landmark things ... and I did it ... you actually shock yourself.

One thing that was underwhelming was seeing the Mona Lisa because that’s something that people hype up and ... it’s so small ... you don’t even get a chance to get near it. I had to push and shove to get a picture. (He points to the cover of the T&T telephone directory that’s nearby) They had cordoned off a whole area for that and there are hordes of people trying to see this historic thing and you can’t even see it properly.

How did you spend your free time? I think the most intimate moments I had were with Trinis, which is both good and bad, but I think that connection that you’d have with a Trinidadian is unsurpassed ... There was a guy that was spending some time in Bordeaux, I think he lived One thing that was underwhelming was seeing the in Ireland, but he was a Trinidadian and Mona Lisa because that’s something that people he came up to us very randomly and hype up and...it’s so small...you don’t even get a said “are you guys from Trinidad?” and chance to get near it.

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 17 [UWI PEOPLE]

Whitney from Canada, Russia and France, (Third), I spent several weeks throughout the watching football and of course visiting year with a French family in Carcassonne. Punch-George other cities in Europe. This was incredible because each time I went my French improved in leaps and bounds 3rd year French and What was your favourite part Spanish double major ... they only spoke to me in French and Visited Bordeaux in of the entire programme? spending time with the children who spoke academic year 2011-2012 That I was able to make so many friends no English was another way I had to learn to Spent 1 academic year in France from so many parts of the world who I express myself. educated about my country. How did you enjoy your experience in France? What did you gain What did you find At first, I was a bit scared because it was from studying abroad? most challenging? my first time on my own and I was so Even though we do have a problem of To be honest, the most challenging far away from home. Then the other co-existing in Trinidad, at least we really aspect was having to cook for myself students came up and the excitement embrace our cultures. I encountered people, every day. It was so hard to resist the to face our new adventures began. children and adults who wanted to touch my temptation to go buy food and what The majority of that experience was hair because they had never seen anything made it worse was that everything to really like a dream because even now, like it. eat was so far away. I would watch movies and say “Wow! I was there!” But obviously, at times Secondly I, have a new desire to travel more What was your most and learn about these different cultures with like Christmas I missed my family and memorable experience from which I co-habited. I want to visit my Russian coming down to the end, even though your time in France? I was travelling, I was getting a little and Turkish and African friends. I do believe I don’t have one, I have several. homesick. that I am now more independent of my I will just mention my favourite three. parents. I have also learned how to manage First of all, when I went to the Eiffel What was your living my money, which is really good because I Tower, the symbol of France, that kind situation at Bordeaux? used to spend blindly ... it has enriched me in of confirmed for me that I was actually I lived on Campus ... I had four floor so many ways. in France. Then going up to the top mates with whom I shared a kitchen. and seeing the Trinidadian flag with the Jessica Bion, a French girl; Mathis, a What advice do you have for distance from the Eiffel Tower was just French guy who stayed with me for other students interested overwhelming. the entire year. There was Alice, and studying abroad? Whenever an opportunity such as this one Sebastien, a French guy who was (Second), when I went to the Camp is available and you have the means and are there for the first semester; and they Nou Stadium in Barcelona – this football capable to take (it) ... think of the Nike slogan were replaced by Cyril, a Turkish man; stadium is like Mecca to my family, “JUST DO IT”. There will be no regrets. and Lamine who was from Senegal. It somewhere we all aspire to go and I was interesting to encounter so many was the first member to do so. Even different styles of cooking in a day and though I did not see a match or the to taste the food as well. players, just being there was amazing. How did you spend your free time? I spent my free time exploring Bordeaux with a few of the other Trinidadians, meeting up with friends I made there

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Miriam Lochan

3rd year French and Literatures in English double major Visited Bordeaux in academic year 2011-2012 Spent 1 academic year in France

What classes did you take? I took courses in French language, such as translation, French literature and courses in British and American Literature as well.

What was your living situation? The French Literature classes were challenging, I lived in a student room on campus. It because, unlike the French Lit classes in UWI, the was very easy to clean seeing as there other students were mostly native speakers. was not much to clean – it was pretty small – but I did not have to share so brochures for the most famous sites in Paris. there was some degree of privacy. I had It was so wonderful to see these majestic my own bathroom but unfortunately What did you find monuments unfold before my eyes and I there was no kitchen, shared or private, most challenging? was even filled with a sort of nostalgia for in the entire building. So my cooking for The French Literature classes were my French classes in secondary school. the entire year was done on a hotplate challenging because, unlike the French in my room. On the upside, my building Lit classes in UWI, the other students What did you gain was recently built so all the furnishings were mostly native speakers. Therefore, from studying abroad? ... were brand new. it took an extra effort on my part to try I think this experience helped me improve and keep up. my confidence and proficiency in the How did you spend French language and gave me a better your free time? It was also a bit difficult adjusting to the insight into French culture. I also got the I did a lot of travelling. I took a trip cold in winter. It is very exciting in the chance to become more independent almost every long weekend and beginning when you see snow and you since I was responsible for managing my semester break. There were also a lot of are excited to put on those brand new budget, paying rent, cooking and laundry. activities such as going on wine tours winter boots. But after two months, it’s and visiting the opera house that I tiring to have to put on endless layers What advice do you have for enjoyed a lot. to walk to class in the dark at half past other students interested seven in the morning. studying abroad? What was your favourite part I thoroughly recommend the study abroad of the entire programme? What was your most programme to other students. There is so With regard to my English literature memorable experience? much to learn and experience, not just with courses, it was awakening to study It is very hard to choose and it may the lecture hall, but in the wider world. I works from a European point of view. sound cliché, but my first trip to Paris think it is important to broaden your mind In UWI, much stress is placed on was definitely quite memorable. In and expose yourself to other cultures and colonialism and post-colonialism. secondary school, I had often studied, meet people from different backgrounds. It seen pictures of or even created can really give you a new take on life.

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 19 [UWI PEOPLE]

Christian How did you spend What was your most your free time? memorable experience? Holder The little free time that I was afforded Although I studied in France, visiting was spent visiting different cities within Amsterdam was the most memorable Recent UWI graduate with a BA in French and Spanish, with Honours France, touring museums, attending experience of all. Taking the time to see Visited Bordeaux in academic year occasional operas and learning about and explore what such a city, that is 2010-2011 the country and city that I called home. more notably infamous than celebrated, Spent 1 academic year in France during his time at UWI and is now Nevertheless, I also took the time to has to offer taught me quite a lot about a part of the English Teaching attend parties with friends and to go European history and the reasons for Assistantship programme, where he clubbing, European style. certain customs and traditions. teaches English at a high school in Bordeaux What was your favourite What did you gain Why did you choose part of the entire programme? from studying abroad? to go to Bordeaux? Undoubtedly, I treasured the This opportunity opened my eyes to Since my first encounter with French opportunity to be completely even more than I could have possibly and Spanish, one of my most elusive immersed in such a rich and vibrant imagined and displayed the wealth goals had been to travel and possibly culture. The sights, the sounds, the of knowledge and experience that live in France or Spain. This being smells, the people, the architecture and one can possibly acquire outside of the case, I naturally jumped at the the way of life have all made indelible our shores. Travelling has always been opportunity to realise one of my goals marks upon me and will forever remain something that I enjoy doing and at such an early age. close to my heart. living among such a large number of Europeans and immigrants from other How did you enjoy your What did you find most countries, I was able to travel without experience in France? challenging during your physically leaving the country. I have While the mastering of two foreign time abroad? gained a greater sense of appreciation languages did take its toll from time At the beginning, I found it somewhat for certain things that I once took for to time, I thoroughly enjoyed my time challenging to express myself in French granted and have learnt to see things in spent in French and Spanish classes in an eloquent and articulate manner. a broader perspective. in France. To be able to see languages Though, with much practice and taught and learnt in a completely determination, I was able to master What advice do you have for unfamiliar setting was quite an eye the language and now speak French other students interested in opening experience and one which fluently. Likewise, being constantly studying abroad? made me greater appreciate my own. immersed in French culture proved There is a difference between somewhat difficult where the upkeep visiting a country and living in a What was your living situation? of my Spanish language skills were country for an extended period of I lived on campus at a student concerned. However, being a two-hour time, especially for those seeking to residence known as Village 5 and had train ride away from Spain worked to master a foreign language. Such a six roommates who came from China, my utmost advantage as I grew close to feat remains unattainable unless one Algeria, Tunisia and France. Our cultural many Spaniards during my stay. has the opportunity to fully immerse and culinary differences often made themselves in the culture and way for quite interesting conversation and of life of the country that speaks the for the most part allowed for a very language. enriching living situation. Learning about each other’s likes, dislikes and ways of life gave a newfound definition to the term ‘melting pot’ as we came together to form a very unique group of floor mates.

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[UWI PEOPLE]

An Officer and a Gentleman If you ever have the good fortune of meeting Constable Clarence Harvey at the St Augustine Campus, you’ll never forget him. He’s a rare mix of old-world Clarence veteran estate guard, combined with crafty comedian (with a keen talent for imitating any Caribbean accent you throw at him) melded with a large dose Harvey of new world musician. Having worked with the UWI estate security force since 1992, he is also a triple-threat, having won the popular UWI Credit Union Annual Calypso and Ole Mas’ Competition in 2012, 1996 and 1995.

Clarence Harvey grew up San Fernando, in a ‘Brady-bunch’-styled extended family, where his father, who worked with the Texaco Oil Company, and his mother an enterprising housewife, entrepreneur and baker, each brought seven children to the union. Together they had three more – two boys and a girl. Clarence was the second boy and a favoured performer. On nights, the family would have mini-concerts, their take on the local television show ‘Scouting for Talent’. The children would perform songs and the parents would act as the judges. Clarence was always selected as the final performer, and although he also accompanied his siblings on the guitar, his comedy act was the crowd-pleaser.

Today, he favours playing the keyboards, a gift from his wife. As for the future, he also has plans to “perhaps have a band” and record a series of singles before launching an album.

22 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE When did you start playing and composing music? I started playing back in the eighties, playing piano at first, not seriously, but then one day a friend of mine who plays guitar, told me I’m very rhythmic and asked why don’t you play the Bass. I play keyboards more than anything else now, but the Bass (guitar) is my true love.

And what about composing? I started composing songs in church because at our San Fernando Open Bible Church we used to have a lot of productions and they would ask me to write the songs…one time we did a programme called ‘Precious Promise’, I Mr. Clarence Harvey – member of staff at UWI - Campus Security and aspiring musician wrote the theme song - that was back Photos: Aneel Karim in the eighties… Inspired by Gypsy’s song? So you have rhythm in your So you’re inspired Same concept, but so different to bones. But who inspires you? by the church? Gypsy’s song, in fact I had never heard David Rudder inspires me, he really Well, I started off there and before Gypsy’s song when I wrote that one... does. I worked at UWI, I used to work at The one last year was ‘SOE’, State of Republic Bank and then when I joined Emergency – so the concept for 2012 I know that you’ve completed UWI in 1992, my first entry to the UWI was on that and I came first as well, so several training and academic courses and in September (Credit Union) Calypso competition was that was three times. you’re starting an Associate in 1995, I think, a song called ‘Stay of Degree in Music – when do you Execution’ and the first time I entered How do you explain your love expect to graduate? I came third. And then in 1996, I wrote of music-what moves you? You seem to be quite the When I finish. (Laughs) a song called ‘Lotto Philosophy and comedian- sort of a unique Play Whe Ideology’ because they had mix of being a security guard, Anna Walcott Hardy just legalized the Play Whe and then I musician and comedian- any won first prize and then I also won Best connection, any chord linking Social and Political Commentary. And all these facets together? after that I wrote another song, the way I don’t know if you find this sounds I write songs is that I try to write songs far-fetched but when I was small my that will have a shelf life… then my mother told me when I was a little boy second winner was ‘Another Black Boy’ and I was going to sleep, I would sing – I was talking about boys committing myself to sleep and my feet would be crime and why don’t they pick-up their shaking like I’m hearing a rhythm… school books and educate themselves instead of picking up the gun. www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 23 [GRADUATION] Graduation: Behind the scenes Nazma Muller

For Zameed Juman-Ali, the most were jumping up with me,” he recalled. the most treasured memory of the memorable moment at graduation was “It was there that I reflected on the ceremony. Others say that the highlight hearing his name called and walking past. Once you are determined to do of the day for them was the procession, across the stage. He had endured many something, there is nothing that can seeing their friends, taking photos, trials on his way to earning his MSc in keep you from accomplishing it.” the honorary graduand’s speech, and Tropical Animal Science and Production, having their families there to witness including being in an accident that Zameed’s triumph was felt by many their shining moment. made it almost impossible for him to others who had trod difficult paths write. Eventually he was able to write to attain their academic goals. Every Over the last 18 years, Betty Mc Comie, again, and he returned to UWI to year The UWI prepares a survey on Personal Assistant to the Campus complete his Master’s degree. the graduation experience and many Principal, has played a key role on the graduates say that the moment their organising committee, which is chaired “Just before exiting the stage, I threw name is called and they cross the stage, by the Principal or his representative my hands in the air, pumping it up and shake the Chancellor’s hand and receive (the Deputy Principal or the Campus down, and my parents in the stands their scroll from the Registrar, is by far Registrar). This year, she also took part in

24 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [GRADUATION]

and the selection of the honorary functions of a Campus Events Manager graduands. An evaluation meeting and handles all protocol arrangements is held as soon as possible after the for the Principal, the Vice-Chancellor, graduation exercise to review and make the Chancellor and visiting dignitaries. recommendations for the following year. Jessie-Ann George, Senior Assistant Registrar, Campus Examinations, has To pull-off a massive operation such responsibility for all aspects as it relates as the graduation ceremonies, the to the graduand: obtaining the final committee usually comprises between results and pass lists for all graduating 15 and 18 people. Among the most students; preparation of the graduation crucial areas they must handle are the package that is sent out to students; undergraduates, the post-graduates, printing of certificates; gowns; and the honorary graduands, and the preparation of the Programme and physical arrangements. Order of Ceremony for the entire exercise. “Graduation is all about the graduating students,” Mc Comie pointed out, “so These days, students receive their we spend a lot of time making sure they certificates a few weeks after their are taken care of. Without them, there degree has been awarded. A decision would be no graduation ceremonies.” was taken by The University’s Board for Betty Mc Comie also carries out the Undergraduate Studies that certificates

a different role – as a graduand, having earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management. Not surprisingly, she revealed that it takes months of planning to ensure that everything runs smoothly at these ceremonies. This year, as has been the case for the past few, there had to be six ceremonies to accommodate the 3,642 graduands.

She explained that, while the physical Mrs Elizabeth “Betty” Mc Comie, personal assistant to the Campus planning can begin as early as May, Principal, with former Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago planning for the next year’s graduation and Chairman of the UWI Campus starts the day after the last ceremony, Council, Mr Ewart Williams. especially for the Examinations Section www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 25 [GRADUATION]

should be prepared and made available Teelucksingh, from as early as July. Then there is the marketing, the security to students as soon as they have been He does diligent research on each arrangements, ensuring that everything awarded their degrees, which makes honorary graduand and presents conforms to OSHA specifications, looking for jobs or the transition to the a very concise but comprehensive preparing the SPEC auditorium, next level of tertiary education much summary of each individual’s work and booking photographers, videographers, easier. contribution to society. lighting technicians, electricians, Port-a-Cool, tents, transportation, Deborah Charles-Smythe, Senior Days before the start of the ceremonies, accommodation where needed, sorting Assistant Registrar, Graduate Studies committee members’ days can begin as out parking arrangements and the and Research, takes care of the early as 6am and end as late as 11pm, to order of the ceremonies. postgraduate or higher degree ensure that all arrangements are put in graduates. This can take a little longer place. The actual physical arrangements “Luckily, we have a lot of fairly young to award, due to the sometimes lengthy include organising adequate seating for [administrative] people in senior process to complete theses/projects, everyone – all the graduands, plus their positions who have been involved in followed by the process to award the guests. the planning and execution, so they can degrees, which must be fair, trustworthy carry on with the succession planning,” and meets UWI/international standards. On the Monday of the week before the said Mc Comie. “Most of us have been At the same time, The UWI also makes ceremony, Jessie-Ann George holds involved in planning graduation for every effort to graduate its students. a rehearsal for all graduating students. more than 20 years, so when we Included in the information provided leave, these trained persons can do it The preparation of citations, which to students is a video presentation themselves.” presents the honorary graduands to covering all details of the ceremony the Chancellor for the conferment of – from the students’ arrival to their She has watched the process the honorary degree, is another very departure – as well as how to wear evolve from one ceremony in the important aspect of the ceremony. their gowns, and the significance of the JFK quadrangle to two at the SPEC, This is undertaken by the Campus’s hood and their different colours. then, as the cohorts increased, to six Public Orator, Professor Surujpaul

Valedictorians for Graduation 2012 with Campus Principal, from left to right Kiron Neale, Sameer Alladin, Nara Anderson-Figueroa, Nayaatha Taitt, Professor Clement Sankat and Dennilson Christopher. Missing is Maryam Mohammed.

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ceremonies. Catering has to be ordered for the hundreds of support personnel, as well as the police and regiment bands, entertainers, ushers, and university staff working on the event. “It [catering] generates goodwill,” explained Mrs Mc Comie, “and it’s a good way of containing people in one spot. Sometimes when a few people disappear, they don’t return in time for the afternoon ceremony.”

Another informal dining room is set up at the Office of the Campus Principal for the Chancellor’s platform party, which includes the Vice-Chancellor, other Campus Principals, Deputy Principals and members of the organising committee. Here they can have a meal and take some time afterwards to refresh themselves or go to their respective offices to catch up on email or matters as it relates to the St. Augustine Campus.

As new technology became available, it was adopted to make the entire process easier; for example, a teleprompter is now used to call out the names of the graduates, and students can confirm their attendance online through the MyUWI website. All of the proceedings were streamed live for the first time too, this year.

The stock of robes, one of the most important features of graduation, has also grown over the years. In the early days, the St Augustine Campus would borrow and lend from/to our sister campuses. As the number of graduands increased, so did the gown count. Indeed, the Campus may still need to purchase some more.

“It takes a lot of people to do graduation,” concluded Betty Mc Comie. “And there is still room for some tweaking and improving, but this year was one of the best graduations, I think.”

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 27 [ON CAMPUS]

Moolchand Raghunandan

“I teach people for life, not for an exam,” retired UWI Lecturer, Moolchand Raghunandan, explained while seated in the conference room in the Office of the Campus Principal, surrounded by his wife and children. For more than two decades he has taught at UWI, and raised a family in and around the historic Campus. Now, he was about to embark on a new journey. Forever grateful to the dedication of his wife of 34 years, Carol, he also spoke proudly of the achievements of their children Odessa, Raul, Ravindra, Koshina and Reno - all UWI graduates who have During the interview, he also shared “I am grateful to many, but three people gone on to have successful careers in a his achievements, having co-authored really touched me and were very range of professions, from accounting three books and contributed several helpful: Mr. Errol Simms, Dr. Rajendra to chemical and process engineering. articles to business and finance journals. Ramlogan and Prof. Surendra Arjoon.” He added that, with retirement around Raghunandan began working at UWI the corner, he will look back at his After retirement, he has a lot to look in 1990 and has seen the Campus years at UWI with fondness. Some forward to, including “continuing to develop its programme offerings and of these “stellar” moments included engage in scholarly activities, doing infrastructure, while becoming a second being honored as an outstanding some travelling and continuing to serve home to his wife. Born in Guyana, teacher by the Faculty, being part of mankind.” he rose from self-described “humble the Bookshop Management group, and beginnings”, through the ranks in the being instrumental in the development “My happiness lies in making others public service, to become a Deputy of the BSc Accounting degree. But, happy.” Permanent Secretary in the Ministry receiving the many cards, plaques and of Agriculture, before deciding to tokens given to him over the years by migrate to Trinidad. At the St Augustine appreciative students, remains foremost Campus, he has taught a myriad of in his mind. Although there have been programmes in finance and accounting challenges, from motivating students to in the Department of Management expanding class sizes, he is grateful for Studies, at both undergraduate and the honour of teaching and being part postgraduate levels. of “a great West Indian tradition” at UWI.

28 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Born in Guyana, he rose from self-described “humble beginnings”, through the ranks in the public service, to become a Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, before deciding to migrate to Trinidad. [ON CAMPUS]

YALLA Middle Eastern vibes at annual fundraiser

Once again, thousands turned out for the popular Carnival fete (for a cause) at the grounds of the Office of the Campus Principal on January 13th. Proceeds from the annual fundraiser – which was launched 22 years ago by then Campus Principal, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Professor George Maxwell Richards – have enabled the UWI Development and Endowment Fund to provide scholarships to hundreds of undergraduate students. This year, in keeping with the theme, ‘Yalla’ (Let’s Go), patrons were plied with Arabic delicacies, as well as a wide selection of dishes, and had the luxury of a premium bar at their disposal. Music was provided by the cream of the 2013 soca crop, including Kes the Band, David Rudder, Roy Cape All Stars and Dil-E-Nadan, among others. A great time was obviously had by all and everyone felt well and truly Yalla-ed by the end of the evening!

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www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 31 32 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 33 [ON CAMPUS] Through the

Law School building, St Augustine

34 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [ON CAMPUS] Looking Glass

Office of Campus Principal, The UWI St. Augustine

Two artists, Jackie Hinkson and Abigail Hadeed, capture the intrinsic beauty of the historic Campus.

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 35 [ON CAMPUS]

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Disappearing Architecture

Jackie Hinkson

The Alma Jordan Library at UWI of Port of Spain. The family home was a profane, socio-economic rural-to- hosted the exhibition of renowned large, aging, gabled, colonial house on urban disparities, colonial plantation artist and UWI Honorary Graduand, Richmond Street and a popular “liming” architecture vs post-modern urban Donald “Jackie” Hinkson, from 10th spot for his friends from the Richmond sprawl, are apparent in his sketches, as October to the 7th November. The Street Boys Primary School. At a time well as in the larger works, such as ‘The exhibit featured drawings of buildings when Trinidadian middle and upper- Christ in Trinidad’ oil on board series across the Campus and country in the income society had strict, unwritten and the Queen’s Hall Mural. Hinkson artist’s distinctive style. It was part of an rules on divisions according to class, contends that he gives little thought expansive retrospective which featured colour and religious affiliation, the to the meaning of the images, to the Hinkson’s watercolours, drawings and Hinkson household could be described symbolism, but there are facets of his sculpture at the National Museum and as quite a liberal, welcoming space. biography that may have informed at select galleries across T&T. these dichotomies. “I grew up in one of those portico- Hinkson has had a life-long pre- ed, jalousied houses, aware of Like any “artist” worthy of the title, occupation with capturing the unique this vernacular style which was drawing is the foundation of Hinskon’s landscape, architecture and culture of disappearing and that there was a need work – it is what makes, not only Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. to chronicle it,” Hinkson explained in the architectural pieces, but also his Over the past five decades he has been October, during an Artist’s Talk at the figurative drawings and landscape plein unrelenting in his drive to, not just Soft Box Gallery in Port of Spain. air paintings so powerfully moving. document, but interpret the changing landscape of these islands. And we can only be thankful that “Drawing became the dominant he has done so, as our architectural medium in my work, eclipsing painting. A prolific painter and draughtsman heritage seems to be disappearing I was comforted by the fact, that in the who has produced thousands of oils, before our eyes: including the historic history of Western Art, so many great watercolours and drawings, Hinkson’s not-so-“Magnificent Seven” buildings painters were prolific draughtsmen talent was apparent from an early that are almost disintegrating with each and, in some cases, drawing dominates age. Born in Corbeaux Town, Port of breeze that crosses the Queen’s Park their oeuvre,” he explained in an Artist’s Spain, Trinidad, in 1942, into a close- Savannah and the President’s House, Statement for the Soft Box catalogue knit family of four boys and two girls, still without a roof, leading some of us ‘5 Decades of Paintings’. “Since he was introduced to the complexities to surmise that as a people, we have that introduction, I have produced of Trinidad society as a young boy. little care for preserving our past. thousands of drawings. For decades my His parents came from different sketch pad accompanied me wherever backgrounds. His father, A. Lennox Although it is not a priority in the I went”. Hinkson, was a Travelling Officer with drawing process, one cannot help but the Colonial Government, who grew- make reference to certain germane Thankfully, we are able to better up, for the most part, in the rural Brasso/ statements or tropes, which seem to view and understand our history and Caparo area, while his mother, Jeanette echo throughout the pieces. Through ourselves through these works of art.

(nee Bain), came from a large family of effective working of light against Anna Walcott-Hardy urban professionals living in the capital dark, references to the sacred vs the

36 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [ON CAMPUS]

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS 50th Anniversary Commemorative Photography Collection

Abigail Hadeed

Administration Building, The UWI St. Augustine

Dr. Glenroy Taitt, UWI Librarian in charge of the West Indiana and Special Collections (WISC) section of the UWI Alma Jordan Library, has always understood the importance of documenting the past. An avid admirer of the collection of archival photographs UWI has acquired over the decades, he decided to commission a project of photographing the modern-day Campus, according to international archival standards in a holistic, timely, cost-effective manner. Seated: Dr Glenroy Taitt and Mrs. Kathleen Helenese Paul (front row) and Ms Lorraine Nero (centre). Standing: Keeno Gonzale, Dexter Baird and Ruillanni Mahon (behind Dr Taitt), Maude Marie Sisnette and Darron Small (behind Ms. Nero), and at the side, Rebecca Alexander Holder (at the back), Justina Lucille St John Soso, Sandra Singh and Aisha Baptiste at the front. www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 37 [ON CAMPUS]

This need for documenting contemporary Campus life was underscored when he assisted Professor Bridget Brereton while she was selecting images for a book on the history of the UWI St Augustine. They looked at hundreds of images before making a short list.

“What struck me,” Dr. Taitt explained recently, “is that we are very good on early photographs, documenting the days of the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture [the forerunner to UWI] – but not so good at contemporary ones. I thought it would be a good idea to take pictures of the diverse scenes of the Campus…images we can use when we commemorate our 75th and 100th anniversaries.”

After the tendering process, award winning photographer, Abigail Hadeed was selected and commissioned for the “UWI St Augustine Fiftieth Anniversary Commemorative Photography Collection”. A list of scenes with detailed instructions to ensure “archival permanence” was provided. Just over a year later, the project was completed. The resulting 75 colour and 70 black and white photographs, (along with negatives, proof sheets and a photographer’s log book) depict the architecture, greenery, research, teaching and recreational life at the Campus in Hadeed’s winning, vanguard style.

The digtal colour prints which are reproduced on cold pressed, textured paper, are almost as fluid as watercolour paintings, beautifully crafted, they give the viewer an intimate look into the classrooms, laboratories, kitchens, student recreation centres and even work stations at UWI, as well as capture unique perspectives of the colonial and post-modern architecture of the Campus. You will have an opportunity to see the work first hand in an upcoming exhibition of this invaluable collection in 2013. – AWH

38 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [IN THE NEWS] South Campus On Target

The UWI South Campus, located on the outskirts of San Fernando on the undulating hills of Penal/Debe, is on target for opening its doors in 2014.

A modern, eco-friendly compound, inspired by the beauty of the surrounding cane fields, the development of the 187 acre parcel of land is part of the regional university’s strategic plan to expand UWI to better serve it communities in Trinidad and Tobago. The project, which was approved by the UWI Council, is being developed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education and the Public Sector Investment Programme.

“The first phase of the development will include the flagship Faculty of Law, as well as a multi-faculty building that will be fully equipped for multi- modal learning. There are also plans to establish a student dormitory, a student union building and other sport and recreational facilities,” Campus Principal, Professor Clement Sankat explained at the sod-turning ceremony in 2010.

Designed by the locally based team of architects, Jenifer Smith, Kenneth Armstrong, Sharon Bidaisee, Stephen Jameson and Robert Thompson (JSAL), the schematic designs and site strategy for nine buildings on the nascent development include a is on target for the enrollment of compilation of data that showed that Law Faculty, Moot Court, Library, two students in September 2014 at the state 66.87% of stakeholders believed that auditoria and dorms all connected by of the art campus. UWI should establish a Campus in ramps, terraces and paths. Senator, South Trinidad. The UWI is also focused the Honorable Minister Fazal Karim In 2007, a Planning Task Force on developing its infrastructure and recently told reporters that the project submitted a report including a offerings at its Tobago Campus.

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 39 [RESEARCH]

Guardians of the Caribbean Seismic Research Centre turns 60

With 19 live volcanoes in this seismically active region, the importance of the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) cannot be underscored enough. In fact, for several decades, the SRC has been the official source of information for earthquakes and volcanoes in the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean. The Centre, which is housed at The UWI St. Augustine Campus, and is currently getting an infrastructural face-lift, is the regional agency responsible for monitoring earthquake, volcanoes and carrying out

fundamental research. Research Technician Lutchman Pollard with SRC Acting Director, Dr. Joan Latchman collecting data

In recent years, the SRC has not Some of the key research projects regional seismographic network for only been involved in seismology include: Real Time EArthquake tsunami detection and promote data and volcanology, but also in geo- RisK ReducTion (REAKT), which sharing which will enable a greater hazard education and outreach. Its is a collaborative project with 23 understanding of the plate tectonics role has grown over the years to primarily European countries, to of the Eastern Caribbean; and the include promoting geological hazard generally improve the efficiency of installation of two radon monitoring awareness, as well as having an active real time earthquake risk mitigation stations in south-west Tobago (funded role in the regional effort to establish methods and its capacity of protecting by the SRC DCF and Campus Research a tsunami warning system for the structures and people; TSUnami and Publication Fund Committee), to Caribbean and adjacent areas. In 2008, Alert REGional (TSUAREG), which is name a few. the Centre assumed joint management a collaborative project funded by of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, the Institut de Physique du Globe de The region is a significantly active one, in an arrangement with the Institut de Paris (IPGP) for the installation of four SRC Acting Director, Dr. Joan Latchman Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) of VSAT stations in Antigua, Carriacou, explained recently, and in several France. Dominica and St Lucia, to enhance the islands capital cities were built on, or

Lutchman Pollard collecting data Soufrière Volcano, Montserrat [RESEARCH]

very near to volcanoes, and the results “It was a scientific job and I was “The pyroclastic flow was coming down have been catastrophic. fascinated with that field. And what we the hillside to the airport, it slowed learnt from being there was even better down, didn’t actually reach the water, “Now that we know and understand-we than the classroom… I’ve seen some but it was very close. There were rocks can plan how we use the land.” spectacular sites,” explained Research the size of a house and boulders of Technician Lutchman Pollard. Although varying sizes, heat and water vapour, She has first-hand knowledge, having he retired in 2006, he continues to work and at the same time there is a completed several tours-of-duty on special assignment with the SRC. billowing convection cloud coming during volcanic eruptions to monitor Over the years, he has had several tours, down the hillside at a terrific speed, the activity and educate the public including to St. Vincent and Montserrat 20-30 km per hour, sending ash into the through radio and print programmes. to monitor and gain data. air. It looked like two pulses of eruption, She also added that “the SRC velocity one in front and another behind it like models and data processing modules The team underscores that they are a train, two distinct flows, although the were also specifically developed to professionals who are committed to scientists said that there were actually produce more reliable earthquake safety, and there is no doubt that they three”. locations in the region”. And she have been integral to monitoring and obviously has great admiration for the sharing information during times of The SRC team helped many to safety. team of seismologists, volcanologists, crisis and playing a key role in saving Pollard remembers assisting a family engineers, technicians, research interns, lives; but there have been some close with a small child who was badly burnt, information officers and administrative calls. on to the helicopter. Unfortunately, staff. there was loss of life for some farmers “In Montserrat, in 1997, I remember who did not heed the warnings. “I think I am one of those blessed clearly. I was sitting at the airport facing people who loves everything (she) the volcano and there was heightened Read the full article at www.sta.uwi.edu/stan does… I think that here’s a field that’s activity,” Pollard explained. “The making a difference.” scientists, on the slopes of the volcano, To learn more about the Centre called on the radio saying that we please contact Stacey Edwards Many members of the team echoed needed to do a phased evacuation… at (868) 662-4659 her sentiments, including SRC secretary, by the time I called them again they or email: [email protected] Yvonne Joseph, who has been working said we needed to evacuate and it at the Centre for 37 years. was dangerous…Heavy dark clouds were billowing into the atmosphere, I “I like the camaraderie of the staff, even ensured everyone was evacuated, the the work that the Centre is involved Governor’s airplane from Antigua was in…and I like the one-ness of everyone. the last airplane to land… and then I It’s like family”. drove to higher ground.”

SRC secretary, Yvonne Joseph 1952: Dr. Patrick Willmore atop the Soufrière of St. Vincent (photograph courtesy Prof. P.J. Willmore, 1993) [AWARDS]

Congratulations to the UWI/ Guardian Life Premium Teaching Award winners for 2012 : Professor of Business and Profesional Ethics and Head of the Department of Management Studies (2011 to present, 2002-2005), Professor Surendra Arjoon; Lecturer in Caribbean, American and Gender History, Dr. Gelien Matthews; Senior Lecturer and Unit Coordinator, Department of Para-Clinical Sciences and former Associate Professor, Manipal University, India, Dr. Chalapathi Rao A.V.; Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Dr. Sandra Reid; and lecturer, tutor and coordinator in the Faculty of Humanities and Education, Dr

Geraldine Elizabeth Skeete. Dr. Geraldine Elizabeth Skeete Professor Surendra Arjoon UWI/Guardian Life Premium Teaching Awards

Dr. Gelien Matthews Dr. Chalapathi Rao Dr. Sandra Reid

42 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

[AWARDS]

Celebrating research scholars and mentors UWI Research Awards Ceremony 2012 Stacy Richards-Kennedy and Lois St. Brice

In October 2012, The UWI St Augustine Professor Pathmanathan Umaharan Campus formally celebrated research excellence through a Research Awards Ceremony, organized under the auspices of the Office of the Campus Principal, with the generous support of the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC). The Campus Principal, Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Clement Sankat, viewed this awards ceremony as a very important undertaking for this Campus. In speaking about its objectives, Professor Sankat stated quite succinctly that, “By showcasing the accomplishments of our researchers and postgraduate students, we are not only recognizing their hard work and dedication to advancing the Campus’ research agenda, we are also contributing to building an even more vibrant research community and strengthening collaborations between Faculties, UWI Campuses and our public and private sector partners”. institutes over the past three years. Impacting Research Project and to Prof. This Ceremony took place as the Award categories at the faculty John Agard for the Most Internationally regional University of the West Indies level included Most Outstanding Successful Research Project. was nearing the end of its 2007- Researcher, Best Research Team Researchers who were successful 2012 strategic planning period and (Multidisciplinary Research), and Most recipients of grants from the first Call awards were based on the research Productive Research Department. At for Proposals of the highly competitive projects, outputs and experiences the campus level, the two prestigious UWI-Trinidad and Tobago Research and of staff and students in the various Campus Awards were given to Prof. Development Impact Fund (RDI Fund), faculties, research units, centres and Pathmanathan Umaharan for the Most were also recognized at this ceremony.

44 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [AWARDS]

A very important aspect of the conceptualization of this Award Ceremony was the emphasis placed on recognizing the research conducted by post-graduate students and the mentorship provided by their academic supervisors. Professor Funso Aiyejina, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education, felt strongly that this unique component would celebrate the purpose of our university as the preeminent institution for research and scholarship in Trinidad and Tobago and across the region. “The desire to ignite the spark of inquiry and critical thinking, to challenge our students to push the frontiers of knowledge through research and, where possible, its application, and to contribute to expanding the existing body of knowledge on any subject, particularly as it relates to the Caribbean, is what motivates many of our academics who Professor John Agard dedicate their time, effort and energy to guiding and nurturing the more than 900 postgraduate students and St Augustine, and this will continue to The inextricable link between the young researchers at the St. Augustine be a priority as we continue to foster university’s Teaching and Research Campus,” explained Dean Aiyejina. strong partnerships between academia, functions must also be underscored. As industry, civil society and government. in all leading universities, research and The 2012 Research Awards Ceremony The RDI Fund provides additional teaching sustain and fuel each other, was an occasion to put the spotlight opportunities for research mentorship creating a supportive environment for on our most outstanding graduate because it strongly encourages the creativity and innovation; one that not researchers and research mentors. participation of postgraduate students only facilitates effective knowledge These awards were presented in two in research teams. It is about building transfer, but also serves to enrich the categories, one for the Arts, Humanities a critical mass around key issues and teaching and learning experience and Social Sciences and the other having the capacity to take the research and deepen the students’ learning for the Sciences. The awardees in the agenda forward well into the future outcomes. On this point, Professor former category were Dr. Stephen to ensure its sustainability. RDI Fund Kit Fai Pun, Campus Coordinator for Nigel Geofroy and his mentor, Mr. projects bring cross-faculty research Graduate Studies and Research, further Carol Keller, while the awardees in teams together to use their knowledge highlighted that “students who are the Sciences category were Dr. Albert to address specific problems linked to actively engaged in research say that Auguste and his mentor, Professor national and regional development there is nothing more exciting than Christine Carrington. and, in so doing, help to enhance the knowing that your lecturer is at the ability of our junior researchers and cutting edge of the topic being taught, Ensuring a sustainable pool of postgraduate students, to compete and what you are learning cannot be academic talent is central to building for research funding and to execute found in any text book because the a strong research culture at The UWI research projects. concepts are so novel, they are still

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 45 [AWARDS]

being threshed out in the lab, studio or mind of the researcher”. Research Award Recipients 2012 CAMPUS AWARDS In this way, the 2012 Research MOST IMPACTING RESEARCH PROJECT Professor Pathmanathan Umaharan Awards Ceremony, organized by The UWI St. Augustine MOST INTERNATIONALLY SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH PROJECT Campus and sponsored by NGC, Professor John Agard complements the UWI/Guardian FACULTY AWARDS Life Teaching and Learning MOST OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER Awards. It has allowed us to Faculty of Engineering - Professor Kit Fai Pun feature our Campus’ research Faculty of Humanities and Education - Dr. Beatrice Boufoy-Bastick Faculty of Medical Sciences - Professor Vijay Naraynsingh in a very prominent way and Faculty of Science and Agriculture - Professor Dave Chadee to build greater awareness of Faculty of Social Sciences - Dr. Moawia Alghalith the outstanding and relevant research being undertaken by our BEST RESEARCH TEAM – ENCOURAGING MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH Faculty of Engineering - mFisheries Project Team various academic departments so Faculty of Medical Sciences - Tropical Medicine Cluster: Infectious Diseases that persons in our communities Faculty of Science and Agriculture - Plant Genetics/Biotechnology Group can appreciate the value of MOST PRODUCTIVE RESEARCH DEPARTMENT this research and how it can be Faculty of Engineering - Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering beneficial to their everyday lives. Faculty of Humanities and Education - Department of Liberal Arts Faculty of Medical Sciences - Department of Preclinical Sciences Faculty of Science and Agriculture - Department of Life Sciences As the Campus Principal Faculty of Social Sciences - SALISES emphasized in his speech during the Research Awards Ceremony, MOST OUTSTANDING GRADUATE RESEARCHER (HUMANITIES) The UWI St. Augustine Campus Dr. Stephen Nigel Geofroy is committed to strengthening OUTSTANDING RESEARCH MENTORSHIP (HUMANITIES) its research enterprise from Mr. Carol Keller all angles – research quality, MOST OUTSTANDING GRADUATE RESEARCHER (SCIENCE) intensity, productivity, funding Dr. Albert Auguste and partnerships and, very importantly, impact. By OUTSTANDING RESEARCH MENTORSHIP (SCIENCE) Professor Christine Carrington facilitating and actively rewarding a culture of inquiry THE UWI- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FUND and scholarship at our Campus, Grant Recipients – 1st Call for Proposals The UWI St. Augustine will Professor John Agard Dr. Tony Bastick continue to play an integral role Dr. Denise Beckles in the development of Trinidad Dr. Margaret Bernard and Tobago and the region for Dr. Benjamin Braithwaite Professor Christine Carrington another 50 years and beyond. Dr. Sandra Celestine Dr. Asad Mohammed Dr. Christopher Oura Dr. Govind Seepersad Professor Pathmanathan Umaharan

46 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

[AWARDS] High Tide: mFisheries Triumphs Serah Acham

Fisherfolk around the world can now turn to an innovative cell phone app (application) to help them surmount the challenges they may face in the small- scale fishing industry. mFisheries, the brainchild of Dr. Kim Mallalieu and her team of researchers, won two awards recently – the FRIDA (Regional Fund for Digital Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean) award, closely followed by the UWI Research Award.

mFisheries came into being after Dr. Mallalieu, a Senior Lecturer at UWI’s Department of Electrical and Computer Back (L–R): Ravi Deonarine, Kevon Andrews, Kim Mallalieu, Mark Lessey Front (L–R): Yudhistre Jonas, Candice Sankarsingh, Tremayne Flanders. Engineering, was asked to assist the then Trinidad and Tobago Ministry “We started by conducting a survey and Claxton Bay, Dr. Mallalieu explained. of Science, Technology and Tertiary of 542 small-scale fishers to probe She added that the “logistical cost in Education, in developing a method for their livelihood challenges, determine time, money and HR (human resources) training small-scale fisher-folk using cell the level and nature of their mobile associated with the field aspect of the phones. This request was motivated by phone usage and get a sense of their action research initiative” was a challenge. a necessity to ease the disruption that perceptions of the mobile phone,” she Yet, they moved ahead. Following vital face-to-face training posed to the explained. the design stage, came the testing, daily workload. deployment and support phases, each Once this data was collected, the of which “continued to consume time, Dr. Mallalieu then set about organising team continued to work closely with money and HR resources”. a 13-person, multidisciplinary team the fishermen, including them in the that included researchers from across app’s design process. This “meant that Their efforts were clearly not in vain, the board of UWI’s faculties as well we often had to go to field,” which however, since earlier this year the team as members of the smallscale fishing included five-day visits to the key won not just one, but two awards for industry. areas they worked with, Blanchisseuse, mFisheries. The first lot of good news Toco, Mayaro/Guayaguayare, Moruga came on August 17th, when they were

48 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [AWARDS]

notified that, out of 60 applicants, they “We received word of the UWI very important skills in the future when were one of the five winners of the 2012 Research Award shortly after we had government services become, as they FRIDA award which, according to its received the Latin American and will, more available through internet and website, seeks to recognise “important Caribbean FRIDA award so it was mobile channels.” ICT contributions that innovation a very exciting time for us,” says Dr. initiatives have made to the social and Mallalieu. “We were most pleased At the moment, the team has moved economic development of the Latin about the legitimization of the action on to preparing interested fisherfolk American and Caribbean region. Based research methodology and our focus to use the application. “Digicel has on Internet Governance themes, it on the application of appropriate offered a special 150 MB per month focuses on the areas of access, freedom, technology to solve local problems. data plan for local fisherfolk at one third development and innovation.” This legitimization was most the commercial rate,” she reveals, so important as a point of inspiration the mFisheries team is “transitioning mFisheries won in the area of Access, for, and influence on, our young interested fisherfolk to this plan, training which FRIDA’s website defines as students.” This merited a celebratory, them how to access the internet via “initiatives that expanded fixed “hearty lunch at our favorite spot – free Wi-Fi hotspots and demonstrating and mobile access to the internet Gate Boys Barbeque”. various other mobile applications, both through new forms of technical and on-Net and off-Net, that could be of organizational arrangements, as well as Though it’s still ‘fresh out the box’, use and interest to them. We are at improved the quality of access based the mFisheries application plays a the same time, researching different on issues of accessibility, disability and big role in Trinidad and Tobago’s schemes for extending the emergency linguistic diversity.” small-scale fishing industry. Dr. communications capabilities of the Mallalieu explains that, in addition mobile phone at sea using a variety of A little over a month later, on October to demonstrating “that the mobile relay mechanisms.” 3rd, 2012, the team’s efforts were phone can be used as a tool of highlighted once again at The UWI St. the trade to address a number of Dr. Mallalieu assures that mFisheries Augustine Campus’ Research Awards pressing livelihood problems,” it also isn’t confined to just to T&T’s shores. It’s Ceremony, where they were lauded builds “users’ capacity to interact with available for use by everyone – locally, as Best Research Team – Encouraging the mobile internet, thereby building regionally and internationally. It’s an open Multi-disciplinary Research. their digital literacy. These will be source application, so users are free to “develop it further or customize it”, Dr. Features offered by the mFisheries suite of applications Mallalieu explains. As a matter of fact, the

FEATURES DESCRIPTION team has had “several demonstrations

GFNF (GOT FISH See all Got Fish posts by local fishermen or make a request for fish through the Need Fish Portal. of interest for use abroad,” and right now NEED FISH) they’re actually working with ground Quick access to wholesale market prices collected by NAMDEVCO in both Orange Valley and POS PRICES fish markets. personnel in the Cook Islands in the COMPASS A simple compass that shows you the direction of north together with your bearing in degrees. Pacific, to implement the app there.

This application allows you to see your current location anywhere in the world and enables you to GPS save that position for future reference. In the future, Dr. Mallalieu sees mFisheries The Info Zone is a separate application where you’ll find very useful life saving information as well as common useful tips on preparation yourself for going out to sea. You also have access to INFO ZONE evolving to “better serve the needs of informative web links for fishermen as well as access to the mFisheries survey tool which we’d like you to check often to complete our short surveys. fisherfolk at sea ... the team is poised to Feedback allows you to submit your comments or concerns directly to the mFisheries team and we FEEDBACK work with individuals and agencies to will get back to you. increase the scope and impact of local A simple one touch emergency button that 1) Alerts the Trinidad & Tobago’s coast guard about your position and the time the SOS is sent via SOS usage through the virtual marketplace web service as well as text message. 2) Immediately calls the Coast Guard so you won’t have to be looking for their number to dial. component, GFNF (Got Fish Need Camera allows you to take pictures of any noteworthy events and issues happening around you, CAMERA Fish) ... We are keen to play our part in tags them with a description and allows you to send them directly to us. the national development ecosystem mFisheries has the ability to track your position while you are fishing outside the borders of TRACKING Trinidad and Tobago. This information will then be used by the Coast Guard only in the case of an through partnerships such as these.” emergency at sea so that they can trace your general direction of travel.

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 49 [APPOINTMENTS]

Reappointment of Professor Clement Sankat as Principal

Recently, the Vice-Chancellor, of The University of the West Indies, Professor E. Nigel Harris announced that the University Finance and General Purposes Committee (the Standing Committee of the University Council) has accepted his recommendation for the reappointment of Professor Clement Sankat as Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of the St Augustine Campus for a further four years, until his retirement on September 30th, 2016. At that time, he would have served The UWI for 38 years as a Professor, Head of Department, Dean, PVC (Graduate Studies) and as PVC and Campus Principal.

Professor Sankat was first appointed as Campus Principal on January 1st, 2008, succeeding Professor Bridget Brereton who acted as Principal for six months following the appointment of former Principal, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie, as Pro Vice Chancellor, Planning and Professor Clement Sankat Development.

During his first term as Principal, Alleyne Health Economic Centre, the Professor Sankat has overseen a Sir Arthur Lewis Hall of Residence on St significant expansion of both the John’s Road, the Canada Hall renovation, undergraduate and postgraduate refurbishment of the Main Administration student communities; attainment of Building, the New University Inn, the accreditation of several professional Facilities Management Head Office, programmes in diverse fields, including the Teaching and Learning Complex Engineering, Medicine, Veterinary located on Circular Road, St Augustine, Medicine and Dentistry, capped off and the establishment of the satellite by the achievement of institutional South Campus at Penal-Debe − site accreditation by the Accreditation of the Faculty of Law currently under Council of Trinidad & Tobago (ACTT). construction − among many other Under his watch, the St Augustine projects. Professor Sankat has also Campus has also benefitted from contributed to the advancement of the substantial infrastructural development, graduate education and research agenda including construction of the Sir George of The UWI.

50 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [APPOINTMENTS]

New PVC Undergraduate Studies at UWI

Professor Alan Cobley has been peer-reviewed journals; he has also appointed as Pro Vice Chancellor for been a consulting editor of the Journal Undergraduate Studies with effect of Caribbean History since 2002. His from February 1st, 2013, succeeding record of service to The University, as Professor Alvin Wint, who had served in well as public service over the 26 years the position for two outstanding three- since joining The UWI’s staff has been year terms. prolific, including seven years as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Professor Cobley joined the staff of The Education, five years as Dean and one UWI at the Cave Hill Campus in 1987, as semester as Acting Head of the Centre Assistant Lecturer in the Department of for Gender and Development Studies. History, and rose quickly through the His position of Campus Coordinator academic ranks, having been awarded of the School of Graduate Studies and tenure in 1991, been promoted to Research for Cave Hill immediately Professor Alan Cobley Senior Lecturer in 1995 and to a preceded the current appointment. Professorship of South African and His very active university service also Comparative History in 2002. includes membership on various Campus and University Boards and Professor Cobley has authored, co- Committees, as well as several terms as authored and edited several books a member of the University Council. and written numerous articles in

5 Newly Appointed Professors

Congratulations to five UWI senior lecturers who have been promoted to the rank of Professor, based on their academic qualifications, research achievements and active involvement in The University community:

Professor Jeremy Brent Wilson and environments), and health, safety is renowned for his field research and environment (HSE) issues. His HSE and teaching as a senior lecturer research involves using microscopic in Palaeontology & Geology in creatures to examine the impact of the Petroleum Geoscience Unit, oil-drilling facilities around Trinidad. Department of Chemical Engineering, His current research project is a at the St. Augustine Campus. He United Nations Global Environment joined The University in 2002, Fund undertaking, where he is using was awarded tenure in 2008 and microscopic organisms to assess the promoted to senior lecturer in 2009. health of coral reefs around St Kitts. Professor Wilson’s research interests include ecology, sedimentology, stratigraphy (using microscopic fossils to determine sedimentary rock ages

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 51 [APPOINTMENTS]

Professor Russell Pierre has gained many awards over the years for his research and university service, he has also lectured in the Department of Child Health at the Mona Campus. He is also a specialist in perinatal and paediatric HIV/AIDS. His work on the epidemiology of paediatric HIV/AIDS in Jamaica has contributed to a reduction of mother-to-child transmission of HIV from more than 25% (1986-2002) to less than 5% (2007-present), and significant reduction in morbidity and mortality of children with HIV. Professor Pierre joined The UWI in 1993 and was given indefinite tenure in 2004. As the current MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) Programme Director, and Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, the Trinidad-born Professor Pierre coordinated the academic expansion of the programme to the Western Jamaica Campus in Montego Bay for the first cohort of medical students.

Professor Byron Wilson is well- has made this UWI-led effort a success respected for his work as a senior story that has received international lecturer in conservation biology in recognition. In the last decade, Professor the Department of Life Sciences Wilson has received 34 individual at the Mona Campus. The work awards (totalling US$630,000) from being conducted at his UWI-based 13 funding agencies for the Jamaica laboratory has been featured on the iguana project alone. Altogether, he BBC. His commitment over the last 15 has been the principal investigator (PI) years to the Jamaican iguana project or collaborated on, no fewer than 54 has resulted in the core breeding different funding awards, the majority population of this critically endangered from external donors, which total more species tripling in recent years. This than US$1.8 million.

“His commitment over the last 15 years to the Jamaican iguana project has resulted in the core breeding population of this critically endangered species tripling in recent years.” photo: Charles Knapp

52 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [APPOINTMENTS]

Professor Carlisle Pemberton is the interface between environmental and Dean of the newly formed Faculty of agricultural resource use. His current Food and Agriculture at St. Augustine. research areas include non-market As senior lecturer in Agricultural valuation; watershed management; Economics, he has been a consultant modelling the economic behaviour of to the Caribbean Development Bank farmers and national and household (CDB), Inter-American Institute for food security. The well-published Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the academic has collaborated with Food and Agricultural Organization the International Crops Research (FAO) of the UN, CARICOM, the Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics European Commission and the (ICRISAT) in Nairobi, Kenya, on a Inter-American Development Bank project to assess the potential of (IDB), as well as the governments of agricultural development to increase Trinidad and Tobago and St Vincent rural employment in the Caribbean Professor Carlisle Pemberton and the Grenadines. The focus of his and Sub-Saharan Africa. Professor research has been on the application Pemberton is currently collaborating of quantitative techniques, especially on research projects with the Centre econometrics and statistics, to small for Food Security at Ryerson University farm production and management in Toronto; and EuropeAid (natural with emphasis on risk analysis, and the resources management).

Professor Bharat Bassaw is acclaimed for his research and innovative lectures in the Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences. He is the head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at UWI St Augustine. A consultant at the Mt Hope Maternity Hospital, he is also the University Examiner for the MBBS and DM exams. Professor Bassaw has developed a modular-based curriculum for the DM programme in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which has been

Professor Bharat Bassaw accepted by the Board of Graduate Studies. His record of distinguished original work is substantial, including books, textbook chapters and papers in medical journals. The volume of his work and his in-depth understanding of Caribbean women’s health issues makes him a highly renowned academic within the region.

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 53 [CROSSING BORDERS]

A chance to dive into the Caribbean Basin Bianca Beddoe

For Leah Fouchong, life has changed In her application for a postgraduate dramatically in the past few months. scholarship, Fouchong emphasised In September, the UWI alumna left her passion for her field of study, as her home in Trinidad and embarked well as her desire to make a significant on a journey which has impacted and sustainable impact on her home her profoundly. A former secondary country. school Geography teacher and nature lover, Fouchong was craving a change Fouchong’s drive to contribute to the of environment when she learned advancement of Trinidad was coupled about the scholarship opportunities with her desire to learn about a different offered by the Caribbean-Pacific Island culture. Her dream of becoming a key Mobility Scheme (CARPIMS) at UWI. player in Caribbean environmental

54 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [CROSSING BORDERS]

conservation came closer to reality Leah Fouchong when Fouchong was selected for a CARPIMS scholarship. In September, she travelled to the University of Belize and began her Master’s programme in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development.

CARPIMS is an academic mobility scheme established with the objective of fostering institutional links and enhancing socio-economic development in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. It is the largest South- South mobility programme ever funded by the European Union, and is being coordinated by UWI. Partner universities include The University of the South Pacific, University of Papua New Guinea, National University of Samoa, Universidade da Paz Timor “I love that the Belizean people are so the bonds and common heritage of Leste, University of Guyana, University of proud of their culture and hold on to different parts of the Caribbean Basin, Belize and Universite D’Etat D’Haiti. their indigenous traditions,” she says. and the great benefit to be derived “Unlike Trinidad, it’s not uncommon from regional cooperation. Fouchong explained that leaving the in Belize to hear people speaking in more hectic island of Trinidad for the their aboriginal tongues of Mayan Fouchong recently had the opportunity peaceful plains of Belize took some or Garifuna. They pay tribute to their to learn to free-dive in the Belize Barrier getting used to: “At first it was hard,” she indigenous culture with celebrations Reef, the largest barrier reef in the admits. “Coming from Trinidad which is such as the ‘Festival of Drums’, which Western Hemisphere and the second so busy, then being thrust into this new commemorates the settlement of the largest in the world. She is extremely environment, having to adapt to the Garifuna tribe.” excited about the prospect, one change in conditions, climate, especially which would not have been realised food! But everyone has been so friendly She was also surprised to encounter had she not completed the CARPIMS and so welcoming that I really feel good elements of Trinidadian culture in Belize. application. now.” “For Belize’s Independence celebration there was a big street parade with With a broad smile, she offered the She added that once she acclimatised, different floats. I was so surprised to see following advice to students, “Applying she became extremely appreciative of a float with a steelband!” for a scholarship like CARPIMS is a Belize’s lifestyle and was fascinated by wonderful way to not only develop life the country’s traditions and celebration Her experience speaks to the skills, but to discover your own sense of indigenous cultures. importance of programmes like of self. I am really happy I did – it’s so CARPIMS, which strive to highlight worth it!”

The new call for CARPIMS Scholarship Applications opened in December 2012. For more information log on to http://www2.sta.uwi.edu/carpims or contact the CARPIMS Coordinators at [email protected]

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 55 [CROSSING BORDERS]

Be Heard, Be Informed, Be Engaged New Strategic Plan website coming soon

Engagement has been the engine giving momentum at every stage in the development and implementation of UWI’s new five-year Strategic Plan. Staying true to the Plan’s action call to stakeholders: Be Heard, Be Informed, Be Engaged, The University will soon launch its Strategic Plan website, www. uwi.edu/strategicplan.

The website is an online collection of resources, packaged to give audiences a clear understanding of the strategic direction that will govern all UWI operations over the next five years. The site systematically takes visitors through the plan’s foundation elements in to the six core strategic perspectives and explains just how The UWI intends to implement these initiatives.

It also offers easy-to-read e-book versions of the plan and links to key documents, video features, and frequent updates and announcements. In addition, the website invites staff The launch of the Strategic Plan website Log in today and learn about the and students to join the conversation marks The University’s transition into UWI vision, mission, core values and through the feedback forum and the operationalisation phase, which aspirations for UWI’s future. request additional resources, such as focuses on the process of shaping and Be Heard. Be Informed. Be Engaged. PowerPoint presentations and progress executing the action agenda for the first reports. In the coming months, the two years of the plan. site will also unveil the ‘Living the Plan’ segment, which highlights staff An imperative in the process remains and student achievements, as well as that of involvement; and the new site profiles the members of The University provides that platform to sustain the community who embody the key momentum of engagement as the plan attributes of The UWI’s core values. evolves.

56 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

Principal Hosts End of Year Celebration

PHOTOS: ANEEL KARIM

The End of Year Celebration hosted by the Campus Principal, Professor Clement Sankat, was an opportunity for staff to relax and enjoy the season of celebration with dance, music and delicious food. The December event held at the Office of the Campus Principal, was also a way for the Principal to say “thank you” to those who continue to go the extra mile and ensure that UWI continues to provide excellent teaching, learning and research opportunities.

58 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [ON CAMPUS] [CONNECT]

The UWI Medical Faculty is highly respected, no doubt, and over the years there have been many advancements, but there have also been some fundamental challenges. Can you tell us about them? When I took over the Deanship of the Faculty, much advancement had already been made, but significant challenges remained, which I addressed to the Faculty Board at the first meeting. These included the need to be student focused, the issues of infrastructure demands for students’ support, as well as our relationship with stakeholders, in particular the Regional Health Authorities, the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, our line Ministry, and the Ministry of Health. Additionally, there was a need for a concerted response to the demands for additional post-graduate training. Finally, we would be the subject of accreditation visits by the Accreditation Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Medicine and Other Health Professions. So you can appreciate, there was a lot to be done!

Yes, definitely. What grade would you give the Faculty ? Professor Samuel Ramsewak Happily, I can say that our report card has been advancing the teaching, research shows a positive grade, since these areas have been well addressed. For and outreach programmes at the Faculty example, having expanded clinical of Medical Sciences during his tenure. teaching to San Fernando, we were able to provide, with the great support He talks with Anna Walcott-Hardy of the South West Regional Health Authority and the Ministry of Health, a about the challenges he has faced, the three-storey building on the compound advancements made and the strategic of the San Fernando General Hospital which was refurbished as students’ plans for expansion. accommodation and teaching facility. This was a huge success, since on-call students can feel very comfortable and

60 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [CONNECT]

safe to access the hospital at nights. A Why is it so difficult to gain students’ recreation and study building admission to the Medical is in the final month of construction School? and will provide much-needed mental As you know, The UWI was launched and physical relaxation on site in Mt in 1948 as a medical school in Mona, Hope. Students have been provided Jamaica, and the progress of medical with a dedicated 24-hour study-area training and research over the past in the medical library, so that they do 63 years have been nothing short not have to leave the library at late of remarkable. There are now three hours of the night and undertake risks full faculties in Jamaica, T&T and to their security and safety. The nursing Barbados, as well as a clinical training school is being expanded with the programme in the Bahamas. The quality near completion of the refurbishment of our graduates is beyond question, of a three-storey building in El Dorado which is also supported by our on- as part of the Nursing Academy, going accreditation. Furthermore, our which has been the brainchild of the graduates move ahead to fill major Minister of Tertiary Education and positions in health facilities all over the Skills Training, Honourable Fazal Karim, globe and there have been many areas “The quality of with the mission of responding to the of research in which The UWI has been shortage of trained nurses in Trinidad an innovator, either independently or in our graduates is and Tobago. The Dental School has had collaboration with research institutions approval for expansion and the Campus elsewhere. beyond question, Projects Office has developed the plans and tenders have been invited. The Students in the Caribbean, and which is also Caribbean Accreditation Authority for particularly in Trinidad and Tobago Medicine and other Health Professions are well known to excel in CAPE supported by our (CAAM-HP) has granted an extension of examinations and they have also been accreditation to the School of Medicine focused in co-curricular activities in on-going for five years, the first time this duration order to demonstrate social awareness has been awarded to a Medical and excellence in other skills, so accreditation.” School in the Region, and extensions that they easily fulfill the criteria for of accreditation to the Schools of selection. Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry, and these have been granted without the Our facilities are limited so that the need for site visits for two years and limit for numbers to be admitted gets one year respectively. Furthermore, the saturated rapidly and some students Faculty has been pleased to note that have to be given guaranteed placement collaboration with the Regional Health for the subsequent year. We have to Authorities has progressed to the point resist the temptation of admitting where Memoranda of Understanding excessive numbers because we are were signed with all RHAs in Trinidad, mindful of not compromising quality of in 2012. This is a critical association as education. it augurs well for further strengthening of ties and cooperation, which I hold as However, the Faculty of Medical the cornerstone of successful training Sciences has been successful in of our students and of UWI faculty, receiving a substantial grant from the Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training providing much needed service to the Inter-American Development Bank Honourable Fazal Karim patients of the RHAs. for a consultancy on expansion of the www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 61 [CONNECT]

Faculty in the short term, as well as to It seems well-targeted, but develop a five-year business plan. The what of the dire need for process of awarding the consultancy more nurses and doctors in has been completed and the Central our hospitals and health care Tenders Board is currently finalizing institutions? the award on behalf of the Ministry of As you can imagine, this is a need which Public Administration. we have really tried to address and I believe the success of our efforts will soon be evident. Tell us about the new programmes being introduced in 2013? Can you tell me about your I am so pleased to see that members of outreach activities? my faculty have responded with vigour One of the social responsibilities of to the call for new programmes. Some the faculty is dissemination of relevant of these which have been developed research and we work hard at that by during my tenure are: holding our faculty out to the public • Doctor of Medicine (Postgraduate in the form of inaugural professorial DM) in Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology lectures and a number of articles (Ear, Nose and Throat), which we contribute to the UWI STAN Ophthalmology, Cardiology magazine and UWI Today newspaper.

• Master of Public Health (in conjunction with University of You spoke of The UWI Alabama, Birmingham) having Campuses across the Caribbean. What do you think are the benefits of being a • MPhil or PhD in Pathology regional institution? (Anatomical Pathology, Chemical We benefit from the strengths of each Pathology, Haematology, other in terms of quality controls and Immunology and Microbiology) size. For example, we are able to have common admissions criteria, common • Master of Science in Health Service courses and common examinations, in Management which colleagues from each Campus will work together in curriculum Furthermore, we have developed planning and examinations, we do have the BSc Nursing as a first degree, BSc an all-encompassing University Medical We are proud of our progress, both as Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, Curriculum Committee, as well as a individual faculties, and well, as a family the Diploma in HIV Management. vibrant Committee of Medical Deans. As of professionals, and we look forward to In 2013, we will launch the Masters a regional university we have been able serving the peoples of the Caribbean Programme in Forensic Sciences, in to launch a cross-Caribbean response in the most diligent way particularly conjunction with the University of to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to come as we have a new University Strategic Central Lancashire, (UK), so that we can together for grant-seeking because, Plan which addresses many of the meet the need for professional training as a group, our resources can match challenges which the region faces. in Criminal Scene Investigation, which is many of the largest and well known a need all over the region. universities in the world. Thank you.

62 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE PHOTO: ABIGAIL HADEED

“We have to resist the temptation of admitting excessive numbers because we are mindful of not compromising quality of education.”

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 63 [BOOKS]

Described by Wilson Harris as “a very gifted writer”, the celebrated novelist, Light Falling Lawrence Scott, visited The UWI St Augustine Campus for the launch of his On Bamboo latest book, Light Falling on Bamboo. Lawrence Scott Hosted by the Faculty of Humanities Tindall Street Press and Education (FHE), at the Centre for Language Learning (CLL) in November, the launch was organized by students of the Faculty’s MFA Creative Writing programme. The event featured a conversation among the author, Bridget Brereton, Professor Emerita in History, and Dr. Geraldine Skeete, a lecturer in Literatures in English, both at the Faculty Humanities and Education, and a reading by Scott.

Sam Selvon had lauded Lawrence Scott’s previous books as being “rare and magical…[giving] a loving, touching insight into human and family relationships”. Scott’s latest work is set in Trinidad in 1848. The book follows artist, Michel Jean Cazabon, on his return home after living for several years with his European wife and children in France. He has come home to be at his mother’s deathbed. Here, he finds life quite different to the one he had in Paris, where his paintings hung in the Louvre. In Trinidad he is Augusta. All this is underscored by the caught between the “powerful and letters from his French wife about her the dispossessed”, –for although he imminent arrival. enjoys the governor’s patronage as he paints commissioned works of Lawrence Scott was born on a local landscapes, his equanimity is sugarcane estate in Trinidad. Three threatened by the youthful passion of his books have been shortlisted for which Josie, the daughter of a slave, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. He invokes in him, combined with the divides his time between London, on-going flirtation with his muse England, and Port of Spain, Trinidad.

64 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [BOOKS]

Dr. Noel Kalicharan, Senior Lecturer in Computing and Information Technology at The University of the UWI Press West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine, recently celebrates launched, DigitalMath: Math In Your Hands on December 10th at the St 20 years Augustine Campus. Founded in 1992, The University of the West Indies Press celebrated In his feature address at the launch, Pro 20 years of publishing Caribbean Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal, scholarship in October 2012. To honour the contribution of all its Professor Clement Sankat, described the stakeholders and authors to its text as “a publication that truly promises publishing programme, the Press will host its Twentieth Anniversary and to add value and cause a fundamental Author Awards Ceremony in Jamaica change in everyone who uses it, from on Thursday January 24th, 2013, at children to adults.” The University of the West Indies DigitalMath: Regional Headquarters. The author has focused on empowering According to Director Linda Math In those who use the book, to have a Speth, “The UWI Press Twentieth fundamentally new, fun approach, so Anniversary and Author Awards Ceremony is designed to celebrate Your Hands that arithmetic calculations are solved the contribution of all 16 countries Dr Noel Kalicharan quickly and easily. as it relates to the creation and dissemination of the Caribbean “Numbers play a big part in our scholarship produced by the Press.” everyday lives and those who are ‘good The UWI Press is a not-for-profit with numbers’ are normally regarded scholarly publisher serving local, as ‘more intelligent’ than those who regional and international markets. The Press publishes in 13 academic aren’t. This becomes a self-fulfilling disciplines and is particularly well prophecy. DigitalMath gives you a known for its work in Caribbean unique opportunity to become good history, Caribbean cultural studies, Caribbean literature, gender studies, with numbers. With it, you can have education and political science. The the world in your hands,” Dr. Kalicharan Press has over 350 books in print and explained recently. has 60 of these books available in the Kindle and Kobo stores. Its books are peer-reviewed and approved by an Dr. Kalicharan has been teaching at editorial committee composed of The UWI since 1976 and has published local and international scholars. Over 15 other books in computer science, the last 20 years, UWI Press has won 42 international, regional and national teaching computer programming and book awards for scholarly, editorial problem solving from the beginner to and production excellence. expert level. For more information, please contact: DigitalMath is currently Donna Muirhead, available at the University Marketing and Sales Manager Tel: (876) 702-4081/2 • (876) 977-2659 Bookshop. Email: [email protected]

www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 65 [LANGUAGE MATTERS]

PATOIS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: From John Jacob Thomas to Lawrence D. Carrington

Dr. Jo-Anne S. Ferreira

‍Many popular myths surround Patois (known to linguists as French Creole or French- lexicon Creole), one of which, is that it is not a ‘real’ language, or that it lacks a ‘real’ grammar, or that it cannot be written, or that it is ‘simplified’ French. Patois may have many names: Patwa, Patuá, Creole, Créole, French Creole, Creole French, Kwéyòl and Kreyol, but the ones that do not befit the language are ‘patois’ with a common

or ‘broken French’. The term ‘broken French’ implies that speakers of Patois have never learned or been able to learn ‘good’ French, and, ultimately, that both the language and the speakers of the language are inadequate and inferior to French and to the French. As no language is ‘broken’, this view is the opposite of the truth. The European, African and mixed groups who contributed to the formation of Patois were resourceful, creating a new language to meet the needs of its multilingual African and European speakers, later including speakers of Indic and Chinese languages and Arabic.

Note that in Trinidad, the name French Creole refers to Franco-Trinidadians, not the name of the French Creole language, which is known as Patois or has historically been known as both Creole or Patois.

66 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE While French has long had a reputation around the world as the language of culture, haute civilisation, and refined living, the reputation of Patois has been the reverse. In the past and, to some extent, the present, because of the higher socio-economic status of French speakers and the lower status of Patois speakers, Patois has been looked down on, even scorned, by native and non-native speakers alike. (Negative views of the language even extend to the common

, whereas the names of all respected languages such as English, French and Spanish are written with their initial upper case letters.) This has everything to do with the social and historical origins of the language (namely, its association with slavery and with the lower socio-economic classes in French-governed societies), rather than any inherent and intrinsic linguistic ‘flaws.’

French Creole is spoken almost the world over, from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. In the Americas, French Creole is spoken from Louisiana in the USA to Paria (Venezuela) and Amapá (Brazil) and in at least eight Caribbean territories. In the Caribbean, more than 12 million people speak the language, second only to Spanish. This is more than the number of English speakers and French speakers combined.

In countries around the world, the social and/or official status of French Creole varies greatly. In Haiti, Ayisyen (Haitian) is an official language along with French; Moriysen (Mauritius), Seselwa (Seychelles), Réunionnais www.sta.uwi.edu/stan [LANGUAGE MATTERS]

(Réunion), and Kwéyòl (St. Lucia) are all as free coloureds, entry into Trinidad. speakers of over 20 languages in the making strides, with more and more French citizens and others (including mid-19th century. Many Patois speakers literature being produced in each of some Irish) came in droves, soon also spoke French and/or sang French these national varieties. In the French outnumbering the Spanish. With the songs, and many speakers of French, Caribbean départements, the language French came the French and French namely, French Creoles and others also is a CAPES (postgraduate) subject. Creole languages. By the time the spoke Patois and/or sang Patois songs. In the north of the Brazilian state of British arrived, Trinidad’s population was This suggests that there was no real Amapá, it is one of the languages of about 28,000 people, of whom 20,000 dichotomy between the two languages primary bilingual education, along with were French Creole-speaking enslaved and two different socio-economic Portuguese. In these nations, specialists Africans. communities speaking the two have helped to develop standardised languages. Antony de Verteuil and Louis spelling systems, and dictionaries and While Spanish remained the language Davidas, in their writings on the French grammars have been published. Apart of government, of archival records in Trinidad, both indicate that the from academic works, pedagogical and of the law courts, French was the linguistic borders between the élites materials and story books, documents language of commerce and society for and non-élites speaking Patois were such as the Universal Declaration of many years. For some four decades after quite permeable as the ancestors of Human Rights and the Bible have been the arrival of the French, the French both groups were both involved in the translated into Haitian (St Lucian Kwéyòl language was used for official purposes, development and use of the language. has the New Testament). French Creole until 1823, Governor Ralph Woodford ‍The number of Trinbagonian surnames is used for an increasingly wide number having ruled in 1814 that English should of French and French Creole origin of functions in a range of domains. be introduced into the law courts. (including Corsican names) is great, and ‍ Advertisements and correspondence these names are borne by individuals Although Tobago was claimed by the in French continued to appear in the of a variety of ethnic backgrounds: French, little or no trace of French or English-dominated newspapers of Aguiton, Annisette, Antoine, Arnaud, French Creole remained in Tobago, the mid-to-late nineteenth century. In Baptiste, Barcant, Bégorrat, Besson, except for very few toponyms. Trinidad, 1845, attorney-general Charles William Boisselle, Boisson, Bon, Borde, on the other hand, was never claimed Warner, very powerful in his time, Cazabon, Charlerie, Christiani, Cipriani, by the French. Although under Spanish declared in the Legislative Council that Coussement, d’Abadie, de la Bastide, control for some 300 years, from 1498 “English rights and privileges should (de) Boissière, de Four, de Gannes, de up to the period 1797–1803, (officially only be given to those who would la Grenade, d’Heureux, de Lapeyrouse, British from 1797), Trinidad became take the trouble to learn English and de Lisle, de Meillac, de Montagnac, de similar to former French colonies in to bring up their children in an English Montbrun, des Anges, de Verteuil, Du many ways. The island was socially way”. By 1851, English was introduced Bois, Duval, Espinet, Fortuné, Fournillier, and culturally ‘colonised’ by the French via primary schools, which probably Francheschi, François, Ganteaume, from 1783. As historian Pierre-Gustave- marked the beginning of the end of Gillezeau, Girod, Granger, Gregoire, Louis Borde put it, “Trinidad at that French, Patois and other languages in Guillaume, Jean-Baptiste, La Borde, time seemed like a French colony Trinidad. La Foucade, Lange, Laurent, Le Cadre, which Spain had recently acquired”. Le Gendre, Léotaud, Ligoure, Lopinot, This came about because of the In Trinidad, Patois became the lingua Louison, Majani, Melizan, Montrichard, proclamation of the second Cedula de franca, crossing every ethnolinguistic, Moreau, Mouttet, Olivier, Petit, Pitilal Población that allowed Catholic settlers social and geographic boundary, and (half Patois, half Hindi/Bhojpuri), Pierre, and their enslaved workers, as well facilitating communication among Pollonais, Pouchet, Poujade, Rochard,

68 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Renaud, Rostant, Rousseau, Seheult, Bonasse, (Le) Carenage, Cascade, Coco Sellier, Thavenot, Toussaint, Voisin, Yuille, Jean/Jah, Covigne Ravine, Crapaud and many, many more. Village, Croisée, Embacadere, Felicity, Francique, La Fantaisie, La Fillette, La Although now endangered, our Patois Florissante, La Fortune, LambeauLa remains a living language in some Paille, Lapeyrouse, La Retraite, La Rufin, communities and families. Patois is La Rue Pomme, La Sagesse Road, La still spoken in Paramin, Cameron, Romaine, La Vache, Le Platte, L’Eau Blanchisseuse, Toco, Arima, Valencia, Michele, Louis d’Or, Macaque Hill, Lopinot, Santa Cruz and Moruga, Mal d’Estomac Bay, Matelot, Mt d’Or, and a number of other communities, Plaisance, Pois Cassé, Roussillac, St Clair, including wherever cocoa was grown. St François, St Julien, Sainte-Croix, Ste Patois was the first language of calypso, Marie Point, Ste Madeleine, Saline Bay, riddles, folktales (Patois expressions San Francique, Sans Souci, Saut d’Eau, such as Crick Crack and Tim Tim are Trois Rivières, Trou Macaque, all others part of the storytelling tradition), and with Belle, Bois, Bon(ne), Bourg, Grand(e), PHOTO: MARK HARDY proverbs (many translated into English Champs, Lagon, Les, L’Anse, Mon, and Trinidadian English Creole or Petit(e), Mitan, Morne, Pointe, Terre, Ville, Laventilla > Laventille, any name with Dialect). Atilla, Executor, Invader, Tiger, surnames like Lopinot and Lapeyrouse, Petit(e) (see above) or Piti, San Juan, Caresser, Roaring Lion, Sparrow and etc., and many, many more in street Siparia > Sipawee, and more. Patois also others, used Patois in their calypsos, names, former estates, topographical has its own names for Arima (Arime), up to Machel Montano, Denise Belfon, features, and the hyphens in Port-of- Port-of-Spain (Òpò), Mayaro (Maywo), Leston Paul and RemBunction. (The Spain. and others, such as Güiria (Lawil) in Mighty Zandolie has a Patois sobriquet.) Venezuela. Up to recently, Patois flourished in the After the second Cedula de Población form of Christmas Kwèch (crèche) music opened the doors to French Roman The language is still one of the in Paramin. The language continues to Catholic immigration, Spanish contributors to the lexicon of the live on in the lexicon and grammatical names were translated into French, following domains: structures of the everyday speech of or adapted to a French/Patois a) traditional Carnival (Canboulé, Trinbagonians. pronunciation. Examples include La Chantwèl, Dame Lorraine, Dimanche Luna which became La Lune (now Gras, Jabjab, Jab Molassie, Jouvert, Evidence of the reach of both French Lalin in pronunciation), Punta de Piedra Nèg Jardin, Pierrot Grenade, Santi- and Patois may be seen in the dozens became Pointe-à-Pierre, Punta Gorda manitay, Viey La Cou), and cultural and dozens of place names in Trinidad became Point Gourde and Río Grande elements such as La Reine Rivé, Bois and Tobago, many originally French that became Grand(e) Rivière. Many other and more; now have Patois pronunciations. Some non-French names also gained a French b) folklore (Lagahoo, Lajablesse, Trinbagonian place names of French and Patois pronunciation: Chaguanas, Mama Glo, Papa Bois); and French Creole origin include the Chaguaramas (in Venezuela, these two c) flora (for example, Barbadine, following: Abbé Poujade, Anglais Point, names are of course still pronounced Bois Bandé, Bois Cano(n), Cerise, Avocat, Bagatelle, Bande Leste, Beau with the of church, as opposed to Chataigne, Chennette, Dasheen, Di- Pres Road, Begorrat’s Cave, Belmont, the of machine), Gaspar Grande tay Payee, Fig, Flamboyant, Geritout, Beausejour, Biche, Blanchisseuse, > Gasparee, Icacos > Icaque, La Brea, Gros Michel, Grugrubef, Immortelle, www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 69 [LANGUAGE MATTERS]

Mango Doudous, Mango Long, Belly Dun-dun, Chak-Chak, Gangan, system, including issues of naming and Mango Rose, Mango Vert, Mango Kalenda, Lengay, Nennen, Soucouyant, spelling the language’s names, which Zabiko (and other mangoes), Pika, Bobolee, Callaloo, Hototo, Mook, Sousou, is useful for future generations, and Pois Doux, Pommecythere, Pom- Toolum, Tambou Bambou, and maybe for a greater regional reach within the merac, Shadon beni, Sikyé, Ti Mawi, Congoree. All of these words and over Caribbean and beyond. Topitambu, Vetivert, Zaboca, Zikak); one thousand others are recorded and d) fauna (Battimamzelle, Biche, Cor- analysed in the Winer 2009 Dictionary of Courses in French Creole have been beau/Cobo, Crapaud, Jashwa, Jep, the English/Creole of Trinidad and Tobago offered at St Augustine since 1977. Keskidee, Kobo, Krapaud, Mapipire, (DE/CTT). The former Extra-Mural Division first Pag, Shinney, Zandolie, Zebafam, offered a Patois course in 1977 with Zebapique); Just as there are standard writing and late Carnival Minstrel, Morilla Theresa e) some foods (for example, Paime, spelling systems (orthographies) for Montano of Maraval, spearheaded Toolum, Kouveti Pocham, Soupee, languages like English and French, there by Rawle Gibbons, who is again and also Macafouchette), and is a standardised alphabet for French offering Patois through the Caribbean f) several aspects of everyday life Creole. Linguist, Lawrence D. Carrington, Yard Campus in 2013, in Paramin in Trinidad (for example, Bazodee, helped to develop this spelling system with Richard Mendez and Tunapuna Bosi-back, Cagoo, Commesse, Doux- in 1969, part of the Lesser Antillean with Nnamdi Hodge. Since 1991, doux, Flambeau, Jamette, Lagli, La- regional orthographic standardisation courses have been regularly offered hey, Maco, Macomere, Mamapoule, of the language, 100 years after John as Linguistics courses in the Faculty Mauvais Langue, Maljo (also Span- Jacob Thomas’s pioneering Trinidadian of Humanities and Education (FHE). In ish), Petit Careme, Poto Léglise, Salop, French Creole grammar of 1869, The the Department of Modern Languages Shabine, Tantie, Toutoulbey, Tout Theory and Practice of Creole Grammar. and Linguistics (DMLL), the courses bagay, Tout moun, Vay-ki-vay, Zafey Carrington was one of the pioneers of are approached as courses in both and Gran Zafey, Zwill, and more; the study of St Lucian French Creole. language learning and linguistic Tout Bagay and Tout Moun have Trinidadian English Creole preserves analysis for students reading for the become almost symbolic of Patois huge variation in the ways of spelling Bachelor of Arts degree. Recent Centre among non-Patois speakers). Trinidadian English and English Creole for Language Learning (CLL) non-credit words of Patois and French origin, as courses, offered after the earthquake in The spellings here are varied. Some above. However, the new, approved Haiti, have focused on communicative words, originally from Spanish and orthography for all national and competence. Women Working for Social other languages, took on a French and territorial varieties of Lesser Antillean Progress (Workingwomen) also offers a Patois pronunciation and/or French French Creole is modern, accessible course in Patois. The Workingwomen’s spelling, such as cascadura > cascadoux, and useful. Unlike past orthographies, course was developed and is taught by español > panyol, gallera > gayelle, la would-be students do not have to learn Hodge, one of the graduates of the UWI ñapa > lagniappe, pastel > pastelle and Latin or French to access Patois as its FHE course. Hodge has co-produced a sancocho > sancoche and lappe and phonology is now well-represented bilingual songbook and a CD of Patois lambie (not French or Patois, but gained by its orthography. (French spells the songs with Florence Blizzard, and is part French spellings). Some words from sound /o/ some 22 different ways, of the St Augustine team documenting African languages, such as Igbo, Ewe, but Patois consistently uses just .) Trinidadian and Venezuelan Patois Yoruba and Fon, came into our English The Department may be consulted heritage – language, songs and culture. and our English Creole via Patois. for assistance and advice in accurately Examples are Accra, Baton lélé, Bèlè, Big rendering Patois in its modern writing

70 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [LANGUAGE MATTERS]

In DMLL, the St Lucian variety is the The use of ‘does’ corresponds directly main one taught and the original with ka (for example, ‘Ah does go Facebook, YouTube and course was based on a manual market every day’ = Mwen ka alé blogging are playing a role for St Lucia, originally developed laplas touléjou), and the use of ‘go’ in raising awareness of the by Trinidadian linguist, Lawrence corresponds to ké (for example, ‘Ah go language through the Fa- Carrington with his American marrid a nice woman’ = Mwen ké mayé cebook group and page An- colleague, Albert Valdman. The course yon bèl fanm), “outside woman” (fanm nou Palé Patwa, with Nnamdi was first taught by Martiniquans, déwò), and more. Hodge and colleagues, and including an outreach course to Nnamdi Hodge’s YouTube Paramin, and is now taught by Dr While the language, in Trinidad and Patois Channel, with the au- Sandra Evans of St Lucia. Students Tobago, is endangered and has thor, and teaching blogs by have also joined the UWI Asosyasyon fewer and fewer native speakers who colleagues. Current plans in- Kwéyòl, taken part in field trips, and are children, many want to see the clude smartphone apps, new helped to organise the UWI celebration language come alive again in Trinidad compilations and editions of of the annual International Jounen and to be able to travel easily within older works, and more. This Kwéyòl (started in St. Lucia in 1981, and French Creole-speaking countries. UWI national heritage language celebrated internationally on October scholars and others have undertaken can be saved for new genera- 28th since 1983). Students have also various projects to document and tions to come, and can open produced a newspaper, a magazine and preserve the language in Trinidad and doors to regional integration. a DVD in Patois. throughout the region, and several Revitalising and reviving the businesses have Patois names (Acajou, language is possible through Here, students discover the origins Bèl Chevé, Veni Mangé, Veni Apwann, concerted community efforts, of the language, examine language and the Trinidad and Tobago Building and through the dedication structure at the level of sound, and Loan Association’s slogan is “Quittez of trained and experienced vocabulary and grammar, and are Loyer ou Payer pour Cai ou” (Kité Loyé- teachers and language docu- trained to read, write, speak and ou péyé pou Kay-ou”) or “Let your rent mentalists. understand the language. Many pay for your home”). There are books Trinidadian students who speak Dialect documenting proverbs, stories and (Trinidadian English Creole) have found songs in French and French Creole, as it relatively easy to learn Patois, since well as dictionaries including Patois (as there are almost exact grammatical used in English and English Creole). correspondences between the two Books include those by John Jacob languages. Examples include direct Thomas (the very first linguist and translations/calques from French and philologist to document the grammar French Creole: of any French Creole variety in the ‘It have’ (i ni), world in 1869), Anthony de Verteuil, ‘She have 10 years’ (li tini 10 an), Elsie Clewes-Parsons, Blizzard and ‘to make baby’ (fè ich/piti popo), Hodge, and others. The Alex de Verteuil- ‘to make hot/cold’ (from i ka fè cho/ produced documentary, C’est Quitte, has fwèt), a segment on modern-day Patois, and and student film projects have looked at the ‘which part’ (ki koté). language. www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 71 [SPORTS] Historic wins at UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon

Trinidad and Tobago’s Tonya Nero clocked an historic win when she became the first local runner to take the top spot in the women’s division of the UWI SPEC International Half- Marathon. Kenyan-born George Towett once again claimed first place in the men’s division, with Ricky Singh taking the lead in the wheelchair category and 12th place at the popular October 28th race.

Towett, Nero and Singh were three of the 94 athletes honoured on Wednesday 28th November at the Sport & Physical Education Centre (SPEC) during the prize-giving ceremony. More than $135,000 from various sponsors were awarded in a total of 32 categories, including UWI students, staff and alumni, as well as The presenting sponsor for the Since its inception in 2004, the UWI the physically challenged and team event was First Citizens, with other SPEC International Half-Marathon categories. contributions coming from the Ministry has grown tremendously from 300 to of Sport and Youth Affairs, Blue Waters more than 1,000 local, regional and Products Limited, The UWI, National international athletes. It is the only Lotteries Control Board, Building traffic-free race of its kind in the region Maintenance Services Limited, Rhand and, last year, the National Amateur Credit Union, Lease Operators Limited, Athletic Association (NAAA) officially Narine Sound Systems, Grill ‘N’ More, recognised the UWI SPEC International COLFIRE, Unit Trust Corporation, UWI Half-Marathon as its official half- Credit Union and UWI STA Alumni marathon. Association.

72 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

[TRIBUTE]

Tribute to Angela Cropper Pride in our Patriotic Pelican Sir George A. O. Alleyne Chancellor – The University of the West Indies

First, I wish to proffer condolences to Angela’s family on behalf of The University of the West Indies. But on my own behalf and behalf of the Vice Chancellor and our Principal, I also wish to extend our personal condolences. We all grieve–grief is therapeutic, but I hope that in the long days and longer nights ahead when the absence of her presence is most acute and palpable and her physical being is but a memory, you will draw some small solace from the fact that there is also an enormous amount of individual and collective grief in this company of persons who love Angela. The limitations of our grammar make it difficult to frame these moments with Angela. Once asked if she had children, she replied “I have a son, but he is dead”. We have a friend and colleague, but she is now dead.

Most, if not all of you, have read the many beautiful tributes to and recollections of Angela that have come from all parts of the world, and I must she has occupied internationally and meant and did for this region and paint congratulate the Cropper Foundation the prestigious awards with which she this celebration of her life and being as for the tasteful manner in which these was recognized. We are proud of those a picture of a genuine patriot. I wish to have been set out. This certainly would accolades which have signalized how relate to what her work represented for have pleased Angela’s sense of order her work was appreciated and valued, her University, because she was ever and decorum. These tributes have and the extent to which she personally firm in her thesis that this is where her dealt with many aspects of her life, was lauded and applauded. intellectual roots were watered. I had her contributions in the many spheres the pleasure of conferring on her the in which she worked, many of them However, as Chancellor of The degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa outside the Caribbean. They have University of the West Indies, I wish to 3 years ago and in her address to the chronicled the important positions reflect more specifically on what she company, she would say:

74 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [TRIBUTE]

“I appear before you as a graduate on Caribbean governance and many jingoistic fanaticism for any place of this University within which I had of the concepts she adumbrated have defined by physical boundaries. my grounding at the Campuses of even greater salience today. And this is Angela’s feet were firmly planted in St. Augustine and Cave Hill and from but a fraction of what she did. the Caribbean, but from the security of which I have taken my bearings. I see that base she would look out and say this honor by The University as another She was fiercely proud of the Caribbean as the Cynic Diogenes said 2,300 years investment in me against which I still and jealous of its ability to do more ago “I am a citizen of the world”. This is need to deliver”. She went on to pay without depending on external help. In not to say that she was not proud of tribute to Lloyd Best “for expanding my one of her speeches in which she railed being from Trinidad and Tobago and horizon from that of a rural village girl against the often undue influence of proud of national service as a senator. to a sense of identity as a Caribbean international institutions, she referred But she would avow that her place of citizen and a perception of a Caribbean to an expressed view that “we should birth was, in a sense, an accident and replete with possibility”. march to our own drum”. Her riposte was: her life choices could take her beyond “But that must be our drum and we must that. Her patriotism allowed her to She had our degrees in economics and be the drum-beaters, so that our progress retain her deep and abiding love for law and like every alumnus, she would might be more in keeping with our own the Caribbean and things Caribbean ever bear the mark of the Pelican. I innate and indigenous rhythms. For this and, at the same time, move and would characterize this Pelican of is where we and our progeny are, and live influence a community that occupied ours as a global patriot who made her and have our being”. itself with quintessentially human ideals bones right here. She was Director of and aspirations – a community that Functional Cooperation in CARICOM Ancient lore has it that the symbol of would seek to wrestle with the greatest and, in that capacity, was one of the our University – our mythical Pelican challenge of our generation – if not architects, along with Halmond Dyer, feeds its young from its own breast the greatest challenge of all time. This Roderick Rainford, Dorothy Blake and and this represents the essence of the is a challenge which required, in her myself, of the Caribbean Cooperation mentoring that was so much a part own words, “The greatest work of our in Health. She helped to frame its of Angela’s persona. I doubt that any time” – appreciating the impact of our logo and conceptualize its initial of us knows the extent to which she species on our planet and fashioning focus. The Caribbean is reaping, shared her material resources with a way to live in a sustainable fashion even today, the fruits of that labour the less fortunate. She would also set on an earth that is not ours. I refer to and the developments of many of the example to her mentees, of the her as a genuine patriot because she the cooperative activities in health in unceasing quest for new knowledge took seriously her affirmation of world our region can claim their parentage and take pride in abjuring disciplinary citizenship, sought to recognize the from that effort. The Caribbean purity in her search for effective action. essential oneness of humanity, the Environmental Health Institute is one She would advise that it was possible universality of justice and what, in her of those fruits. She instituted the to do this without being a dilettante view, was simply right. It was not right Sustainable Development portfolio and I know that these are some of to kill! in CARICOM, perhaps before the the attributes she displayed to those currency, of that concept was in wide young ones whom she influenced and Our University had its formal ties circulation here. She established the continues to influence. I recall the first with Angela Cropper through the CARICOM Task Force on the Future time that I met her when she had just Cropper Foundation and we signed of Education in the 21st Century and assumed the position in CARICOM- a Memorandum of Understanding in many will recall her contribution to about 26 years ago. I naively enquired which we agreed to pool resources the conceptualization of functional what her discipline was. Quick as a flash and undertake joint initiatives in the cooperation, not as a separate pillar of she replied. “I am disciplined, but I do not areas of research, training and public the community but as the nub and the profess any single discipline”. education for the benefit of Trinidad pith of what could make the Caribbean and Tobago and the international a community for all. She would lend I refer to her very sincerely as a patriot community at large. Our relationship her voice and experience to the debate in the true sense. She never displayed has been gratifyingly productive. www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 75 [TRIBUTE]

There has been an assessment of the justice and equity captivated many. Her physically, but perhaps this celebration remarkably complex ecosystem of facility for lucid dissection of complex of who and what she was and what she the Northern Range which she loved fundamental issues made her respected means to so many is indeed her last and dearly, as well as the Caribbean Sea by many. The manner in which she most lasting gift. Ecosystem Assessment, both of these bore her many accolades lightly and in close collaboration with Professor gracefully made her admired by many. The last time I saw Angela at The John Agard. Another product is the She is a remarkable and unusual University she was organizing the Caribbean Creative Writers Residential woman who sought no personal memorial for Lloyd Best. During the Workshop, now in its seventh iteration. recognition and for whom reward must ceremony I repeated to myself bits of The University’s input into this last has have been in knowing that she often a poem by James Henry Leigh Hunt been through the Centre for Creative gave of herself until she could give which I learned as a schoolboy, and and Festival Arts. no more. Now she can give no more which I will now repeat for Angela.

The patriotism which I attribute to Angela makes our University proud. Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) We join in this celebration of her life Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, and work because we esteem her and And saw, within the moonlight in his room, what she has done, and the extent to Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, which she has been an outstanding An angel writing in a book of gold:— ambassador for us. At her installation as our first Chancellor, Princess Alice Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, of Athlone reflected on some of the And to the Presence in the room he said attributes to which we should aspire. “What writest thou?”—The vision raised its head, She said; And with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered “The names of those who love the Lord.” “Now no one will dispute the fact that in “And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,” the pursuit of truth and the guardianship Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, of the wisdom of mankind – I put these first among the responsibilities But cheerily still and said “I pray thee, then, of a University-integrity, perseverance, Write me as one that loves his fellow men.” patience, courage and unselfishness are qualities that are absolutely essential”. The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night It came again with a great wakening light, I am proud that I can affirm without And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, any reservation that, in our Pelican, And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest. in our patriot, in our Angela Cropper, our Chancellor would have been well pleased, as she displayed those qualities If there is indeed such a book Angela and many others of equal merit. Cropper’s name is there.

These would include an ability to So, let me give my last public salute to articulate and sustain a principled you Angela and say as the Jamaicans argument that endeared her to many. do. “Walk good Angela, and may good Her modesty of demeanor, hiding duppy walk with you”. a superb intellect and capacity for pertinent, incisive comment made her I thank you. loved by many. Her passion for the less privileged and commitment to social

76 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE www.sta.uwi.edu/stan October 2012 - March 2013 STAN 77 [ POEMS ]

Laurie and the flea talk anansi

“boss the other day the most vital thing says laurie is that i heard an whether or not he is the same man ant conversing called by different names he still with a flea small talk i said represents a single idea i suppose disgustedly one shared emotion or some sort and went away of collective yearning of the masses from there” for control over their own destiny —archy and mehitabel but laurie i say he isn t even a man by Don Marquis anyhow he is a spider or something no he is a concept declares laurie and these concepts are always men even and especially if they are spiders anthropomorphic rabbits etcetera i must take offence to that i say why can t a concept be a woman semantics says laurie dismissively waving an appendage towards me well i daresay that gesture does tend to raise my hackles somewhat misogyny i cry leaping on the table crumbs and cutlery tossed askew they won t let us in that cafe again

AMY BAKSH UWI Faculty of Humanities and Education

78 STAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE [ QUOTABLE QUOTES ]

On faith “Despite her deep personal tragedies, Angela never seemed to lose faith in the essential goodness of people and in the possibilities of the future.”

Sunity Maharaj, head of the Lloyd Best Institute of the West Indies, in her tribute to Angela Cropper (1945-2012), UWI Honorary Graduand, founder of The Cropper Foundation, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Special Advisor for the Rio +20 Summit. Held at the

Daaga Auditorium on Tuesday 4th December, 2012. PHOTO : www.tedxportofspain.com

On equity “From my mother I learned that philanthropy is not about how much one has, but about what one does with what little one has. It is also from my mother that I came to think about the absent person. In those days, even as a treat, we children did not get a whole apple – we got a slice. If one of us was not around at the time, she saved a slice for the one who wasn’t there. Much later in my professional life, I could see in this the essence of inter-generational equity: thinking of those who are not present and securing their fair share.”

Angela Cropper (1945-2012): an excerpt from the Founder’s Note in the Cropper Foundation’s 10th Anniversary report entitled “Simply Worth Doing”.

On the powers of observation and reflection “I recognised my own instincts as a traveler, and was content to be myself, to be what I had always been, a looker. And I learned to look in my own way.”

Nobel Laureate Sir V.S. Naipaul, from the Author’s Foreword in “Finding the Centre: Two Narratives.”

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