News Releases

Forum on the Future of the Caribbean | Shaking Up the Caribbean

For Release Upon Receipt - May 1, 2015

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, TRINIDAD. 01 May 2015 –– From May 5-7, a group of committed organisations come together to present proposals to the Caribbean for a new approach to developmental challenges. The University of the West Indies, the United Nations, the Commonwealth, CARICOM, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the OECS and a host of others have teamed up to host a Forum on the Future of the Caribbean. The Forum was launched with a Press Conference this morning, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Waterfront Complex, Port of Spain.

The objective is simple – ‘amplify the voices of dynamic young leaders willing to challenge the status quo and champion new solutions’. According to the architects of the event, the framework provided will allow disruptive thought and research to identify actions needed to build and transform a sustainable future for the Caribbean.

The speaker list is impressive and points to the critical importance of this forum: three sitting Prime Ministers, the Secretary-General of CARICOM, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Secretary General of UNCTAD and the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies. The audience, who are meant to be active participants, is made up of policymakers, the public and private sectors and civil society.

The Forum on the Future of the Caribbean, which has close to 400 registrants for the three days, takes off on May 5 at The University of the West Indies. Days two and three will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain.  Each day begins at 8.00 a.m. and a live stream will be provided which will allow participants to follow the proceedings and post their questions.  Visit www.caribbeanfutureforum.com for more information and follow the twitter feed at @Forum_Caribbean

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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 over 50,000 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.

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

 

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