Event

The Institute of International Relations will be hosting a Distinguished Lecture featuring the Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, M.P., Former Prime Minister of Barbados. He will be presenting on the topic “Caribbean Regionalism in the Context of Economic Challenges” at 6.30pm.

It will also be streamed live via http://www.ustream.tv/channel/uwi---st-augustine 

This event is open to all.  

Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur - Biography

A life dedicated to public service would be a most appropriate way to describe Owen Seymour Arthur, Barbados' fifth Prime Minister from September 1994 to January 2008.

He was educated in Barbados at All Saints Boys' School, Coleridge and Parry, Harrison College and the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), after which he studied at UWI's Mona Campus for his Master's degree in economics, the field in which he has gained national, regional and international renown and respect.

His career as a professional economist began in Jamaica in 1973 where he served in the Department of Management of UWI as a Research Assistant.

He joined the National Planning Agency of Jamaica as an Assistant Planner in 1974 and reached the level of Chief Planner by 1979.

He subsequently served as Director of Economics at the Jamaica Bauxite Institute between 1979 and 1981.

He also served on the Board of Directors of the Jamaica Scientific Council and the Jamaica Industrial Development Corporation .

Returning to Barbados in 1981, he held the post of Chief Project Analyst in the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

In 1982 he became a Research Fellow at UWI's Institute of Social and Economics Research as a Research Fellow.

He was appointed to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Barbados Central Bank, the Barbados Industrial Development Corporation, and as Chairman of the Barbados Agricultural Development Corporation.

Famously described by the late Prime Minister Tom Adams as "one of finest brains of the 20th. Century", his contribution to public life through politics started with being a Senator in 1983 and in his 1984 election to the House of Assembly where he is its longest serving member. 

He became Leader of the Opposition in 1993, thereafter leading the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to a record three straight election victories in 1994, 1999 and 2003.

While in Government he was Barbados’ Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs for fourteen years.

At the regional level, as the Prime Minister of Barbados, he assumed lead responsibility for the CSME.

At the international level, he was chairman of the Commonwealth/World Bank Taskforce that was constituted to formulate a global development agenda for Small States.

He is the holder of the Order of Jose Marti awarded by the Government of Cuba.