Latin American Forum
Over the past 60 years, the Institute of International Relations (IIR) at The University of the West Indies has become a premier regional center for postgraduate education and scholarly research on global affairs, with a strong focus on the Caribbean and Latin America.
As part of its outreach efforts, the IIR has developed close ties with Latin American embassies in Port of Spain. In support of Latin American–Caribbean relations, the Institute hosted the Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean (CENLAC), led by Dr. Lancelot Cowie from 2003 until his appointment as Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to Cuba in 2016. Upon his return, the IIR reaffirmed its dedication to fostering regional dialogue through the launch of the Latin American Forum (LAF) on April 27, 2023. Under Dr. Cowie’s leadership until his passing on June 24, 2024, the LAF promoted engagement across cultural, political, economic, and historical spheres. The Forum is now directed by Dr. Jacqueline Laguardia Martinez, a Senior Lecturer at the IIR.
Lancelot Cowie Ph. D.
The IIR Latin American Forum
On Thursday 27th April, 2023, the Institute of International Relations (IIR) of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus launched a Latin American forum. This initiative is a follow up to earlier activities of the Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean (CENLAC) between 2003-2016. The present lecture series in Spanish will consist of participation from the resident Latin American ambassadors in Trinidad and Tobago. Also involved will be presentations from academic staff, post-graduate students and members from the business community. The presentations will cover relevant historical, political, economic and social issues in the wider Latin American and Caribbean context.
The IIR is poised to be the pivotal centre for all Latin American cultural, social and political and international relations matters emanating from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus.
The Ambassador of Mexico to Trinidad and Tobago, H.E. Víctor Hugo Morales Meléndez presented the inaugural lecture entitled: Francisco Villa, Vida y hazañas de una leyenda, on Thursday 18th May, 2023 at 2:30 pm in the Institute of International Relations, UWI.
The second presentation entitled: Obra Magistral de José María Arguedas, was delivered by H.E. Mr. David Málaga, Ambassador of Peru to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, H.E. Álvaro Enrique Sánchez Cordero will continue the lecture series in September 2023.
For the academic year of 2024-2025, on the 19th September, 2024, the Institute of International Relations hosted “The Legacy of Dr. Lancelot Cowie in Latin American studies in the Caribbean.”/El legado del Dr. Lancelot Cowie en los estudios latinoamericanos en el Caribe
Speakers included: Dr. Anne- Marie Pouchet, Dr. Nina Bruni, Ambassador Víctor Hugo Morales Meléndez (Mexico), Ambassador Hernán Núñez Montenegro (Chile), Dr. Regla Diago Pinillos, Ambassador Gustavo Véliz Olivares (Cuba), Charge d’Affaires Mrs. Joyra Castillo (Panama) Ambassador Wellington Darío Bencosme Castaños (Dominican Republic), Dr. Rómulo Guedez Fernández and Ambassador Álvaro Sánchez Cordero (Venezuela).
In continuation: On Thursday 10th October, 2024, the Institute of International Relations welcomed H.E. Gustavo Daniel Villez Olivares, Ambassador of Cuba as he presented on La cooperación médica de Cuba en el Caribe.
This forum was moderated by Dr. Laguardia-Martinez, bringing forth the acknowledgement of the Cuban medical force within Trinidad and Tobago.
PhD candidate of Mexico, Professor Mireille Linares Valencia presented the lecture entitled: Entendiendo la vulnerabilidad climática y el desarrollo resiliente en las islas del Caribe, on Thursday 29th of November, 2024 at 2:00 pm in the Institute of International Relations, UWI.
Programmes:
19th September 2024 (El legado del Dr. Lancelot Cowie en los estudios latinoamericanos en el Caribe)
10th October 2024 (La cooperación médica de Cuba en el Caribe)
20th February 2025 (La Fiesta de la Candelaria en el Perú)
20th March 2025 (Presencia de Chile en el Pacífico: Aspectos históricos, diplomáticos y comerciales)
15th May 2025 (El Centro para el aprendizaje de Lenguaje [CLL]: Un viaje cultural hacia el lenguaje)
Photo taken on June 15, 2023 Latin American Forum: from left to right: (Embassy of Mexico) Charge d’affaires Victor Valtierra Pérez, (Honorary Professor) Lancelot Cowie, (Embassy of Panama) H.E Silvia E. Miller Palmer, (Embassy of Peru) H.E. David Málaga, (Embassy of Cuba) H.E. Tania Diego Olite, (Embassy of Argentina) H.E. Marcelo Suárez Salvia, (Embassy of Venezuela) H.E. Álvaro Sánchez Cordero
Photo from left to right: (Embassy of Mexico) Charge d’affaires Victor Valtierra Pérez, (Honorary Professor) Lancelot Cowie, (Embassy of Panama) H.E Silvia E. Miller Palmer, (Embassy of Peru) H.E. David Málaga, (Embassy of Cuba) H.E. Tania Diego Olite, (Embassy of Argentina) H.E. Marcelo Suárez Salvia, (Embassy of Venezuela) H.E. Álvaro Sánchez Cordero
Photo from left to right we have the ambassadors from Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico and Prof. Cowie.
Photo the Venezuelan Ambassador giving a present to Prof. Cowie as coordinator of the Latin American program at the IIR. The present is a poster of Simon Bolivar, the Heroe of Independence of Venezuela
Photo taken on February 15th, 2025 Latin American Forum: from left to right: (Ambassador of Cuba) His Excellency Gustavo Véliz Olivares, (Ambassador of Mexico) His Excellency Víctor Hugo Morales Meléndez, (Ambassador of Peru) H.E. Ambassador Claudia Giuliana Betalleluz Otiura, Dr. Jacqueline Laguardia Martinez, (Ambassadors of Chile) His Excellency Diomedes Carles C., Panama, and (Ambassador of Venezuela) H.E. Álvaro Enrique Sánchez Cordero, (Spanish Embassy) Mr. Diego Calatayud Soriano and (UN Regional Security Adviser) Mr. Paulo Rodrigues
Photo From right to left: (Embassy of Chile) Chargé d'Affaires Mr. José Cisterna, (Embassy of Panama) Third Secretary Mr. Gary Tomlinson Martin, (Ambassador of Venezuela) H.E. Álvaro Sánchez Cordero, (Embassy of Venezuela) Mrs. Mónica Rey, Dr. Jacqueline Laguardia Martinez, Dr. Nicole Roberts, Dr. Romulo Guedez and Professor Regla Diago. - Un viaje cultural hacia el lenguaje
YouTube Recording:
May 18, 2023 Latin American Forum
Entendiendo la vulnerabilidad climática y eldesarrollo resiliente en las islas del Caribe
El legado del Dr. Lancelot Cowie en los estudioslatinoamericanos en el Caribe
La cooperación médica de Cuba en el Caribe
Presencia de Chile en el Asia - Pacífico:Aspectos históricos, diplomáticos y comerciales
El Centro para el aprendizaje de idiomas (CLL): Un viaje cultural hacia el lenguaje
