News Releases

OAS Secretary-General to discuss Latin American and Caribbean challenges for Distinguished Open Lect

For Release Upon Receipt - September 25, 2014

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago – On October 7, 2014, at 5.30pm, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), His Excellency José Miguel Insulza, will deliver a Distinguished Open Lecture at The UWI St. Augustine titled “Latin America and the Caribbean, Good News with Many Challenges.” The lecture, a joint initiative with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will take place at Lecture Theatre E, Teaching and Learning Complex, Circular Road, St. Augustine.   

According to the OAS, in the previous decade, Latin America and the Caribbean have enjoyed an extended period of economically-related “good news” which has allowed for more favourable conditions to reduce poverty and increase the prospects for a better life of many of the continent’s inhabitants. Additionally, the OAS points to the emergence of a vigorous, industrious middle class as a key factor of the region’s progress over this decade. Despite some of these advances, it is clear that many challenges remain, particularly in the realm of governance and institutional strengthening. The presentation of Secretary-General Insulza will therefore refer to some of these pressing challenges, and how the OAS works and contributes towards addressing these issues. 

As part of his official visit to Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency, José Miguel Insulza, will be participating in the VIII Americas Competitiveness Forum which will be held over the period October 8–10, 2014. 

The UWI St. Augustine’s Distinguished Open Lectures brings public speakers of the highest calibre from the worlds of academia, business, the arts and civil society to our campus to share their thoughts and ideas. 

The purpose of the series is to provoke discussion and debate about a range of topics, and subjects in the past have included energy sustainability and the value of wealth. The agenda is kept deliberately broad and the lectures are intended to be accessible to a general audience. We encourage attendance from across the wider university community and hope you will join us at the lectures.

End 

About the Organization of American States (OAS)

The OAS brings together the 35 independent states of the Americas and is the main political forum of the region, giving space to the countries of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean to discuss common goals, prevent conflicts and contribute to the political stability, social inclusion and prosperity of the region. 

As expressed in its founding Charter, the original concept of the OAS was to collectively form a community of nations in the Western Hemisphere that enjoy "within the framework of democratic institutions, a system of individual liberty and social justice based on respect for the essential rights of man.” 

Today, the basic principle of the hemispheric agenda is the protection and consolidation of democracy, and respect for the principles of non-intervention and territorial integrity. 

To achieve its strategic objectives, the OAS is based on four main pillars: the promotion of democracy, human rights, a multidimensional approach to security, and the promotion of development and prosperity. 

Website: http://www.oas.org/ 

About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology and Social Sciences. UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. Website: www.uwi.edu 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

 

 

Contact