Demas Rampersad Seminar Series

This Seminar Series honours the economist The Honourable William Demas (dec) and Mr. Frank Rampersad (dec)

The Honourable William Demas 1929-1998

First attended the Tranquility Boys Intermediate Government School followed by Queen’s Royal College. Dr. Demas won an island Scholarship in 1947 to study Economics at Cambridge University , England where he obtained B.A., M.A. and M.Phil. Degrees. In 1959 he became the economic adviser in Trinidad & Tobago’s Ministry of Finance and later rose to the post of Head of the Economic Planning Division in the Office of the Prime Minister. In 1964, he also became a Research Fellow at McGill University in Canada. Following his academic positions, Demas held many other prestigious posts such as the Secretary General of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (later the Caribbean Community and Common Market); President of the Caribbean Development Bank; Governor, Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Frank Rampersad 1930 -1999

Born the son of a cane-farmer in Tacarigua, East Trinidad, he attended Tacarigua Presbyterian School, followed by St. Mary’s College. Dr. Rampersad’s first job was as a Clerk in the Government Post Office. His first lucky break professionally came in 1951 when he was selected to become the first ‘Government Statistician’ of Trinidad & Tobago, and he was sent to the London School of Economics to train for this post. During the country’s early post-colonial years, he became the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Years later he was given another prestigious post – the first President of NIHERST, where an award is still distributed in his honour “The Frank Rampersad Scientific and Technological Award.” During his lifetime Frank Rampersad held many other prominent posts which included chairman of Caroni 1975 Ltd; executive of B.W.I.A; Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat; served as an economic adviser to several governments of Trinidad & Tobago.

2016, October 4. Post Budget Forum. Dr. Lester Henry, Dr. Daren Conrad, Dr. Anthony Birchwood. Dr. Roger Hosein

2015, October 15.Post Budget Forum in Collaboration with TTGPA. Dr. Darin Conrad, Dr. roger Hosein, Dr. Anthony Birchwood, Ms. Nicole Joseph, Mr. Mikey

2014, April 24. The Effect of a Recession on Tax Burden Distributions . Dr. Daren Conrad

2013, November 14. Are Addressing Our Diversification Challenge With Sufficient Urgency? Mr Ewart Williams.

2012. April 12. Crime and Unhappiness: Evidenece from the Caribbean. Mr. Michael Henry

2012. April. 26. A Qualitative Assessment of Enviornmental Taxes in seven Caribbean Countries. Dr. Marlene Attz

2012. November 15. Are Workers' Remittances Causing Growth in Developming Countries Dr. Regan Deonanan

2012. December 6. Public Expenditure on Health Care: Does it matter in the Carribean. Dr. Daren Conrad

2011. March 11. New Theory of Stochastic Optimisation with Applications. Dr. Moawia Alghalith

2011. March 11. Hedging with a Generalized Basis Risk: Empirical. Ricardo Lalloo

2011. October 13. Post Budget Forum. Mr. Sean Scott, Ms. Tishana Simon, Mr.s Indera Sagewan- Alli, Dr. Lester Henry, and Mr Kyren Greigg

2011. November 25. Socio- Economic Status and Health. Mr. Jillian Prescod

2010. April 22. Measuring and Explaining Health and Health Care Inequalities in Jamaica 2001- 2007. Ewan Scott

2010. Septermber 09. Post Budget Forum. Mr. Kelvin Sergeant, Ms. Indira Sagewan- Ali, Dr. Roger Hosein

2009. Novermber 19. Domestic Capital and Economic Development: Theory and Evidence. Dr. Vanus James.