News Releases

UWI Team for Harvard National Model United Nations

For Release Upon Receipt - February 7, 2017

St. Augustine


The University of the West Indies will be represented by a delegation of 16 students at the Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) from February 16 to 19 in Boston, Massachusetts. The team comprises of students from the St. Augustine, Cave Hill and Mona Campuses. The St. Augustine Campus will be represented by four students, all of whom are enrolled in Post Graduate programmes.

Kurba-Marie Questelles, Kia Jaikaran, Andrew Lavia and Andel Andrew have been assigned to Poland and will be participating on two committees, namely, the Disarmament and International Security Committee (GA-DISEC) and the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (GA-SPECPOL). Students are expected to analyse and frame a resolution for two main topic areas. GA-DISEC’s topics are Offshore Bases & The Weaponization of Social Media which will be represented by Kurba-Marie Questelles and Kia Jaikaran respectively. GA-SPECPOL will focus on Reforming UN Peacekeeping Operations and Improving Governance in Somalia which will be formulated by Andrew Lavia and Andel Andrew respectively.

In commenting on this opportunity, Professor Jessica Byron, Director of the Institute of International Relations (IIR) noted her confidence in the students’ abilities also that the HNMUN is an internationally recognised collegiate activity that promises diverse benefits for its participants.

About HNMUN

HNMUN is a replication of the United Nations General Assembly. It brings together over 3,000 students and faculty together from colleges and universities from around the world. This forum is a unique occasion for participants to experience and tackle the challenges often associated with international negotiation and diplomacy. Throughout the conference, delegates will gain insights into the works of the United Nations by actively participating in the resolution of important global issues. Participants will not only work with hundreds of other motivated students with the common goals of strengthening international awareness, but will also work within a lively social setting.

About the delegation

Andel Andrew

Andel Andrew is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Global Studies at the IIR. He completed his BSc in 2016, majoring in Political Science with minors in International Relations and Communication Studies at the University of West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.  Andel is an avid lover of Politics (both locally and internationally) and International Relations. He has participated in many pivotal conferences including the 12th National Youth Parliament, the 11th Regional Youth Parliament of the Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association which was held in the British Virgin Islands and Model United Nations Trinidad Chapter from 2013-2015. Andel is interested in learning about how states interact in the international system and is passionate in conducting research in the areas of Voting Behavior, International Trade, Diplomacy, Espionage and Global Governance. Andel hopes to one day work in the field of Political Communications.

Kia Jaikaran

Kia Jaikaran is a 27 year old multilingual student currently pursuing a Master of Science in Global Studies at the IIR. A budding writer, spoken word poet and communications professional currently employed at the Association of Caribbean States, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, French and International Relations, in addition to having professional training in culinary arts from France. Her love for International Relations and diplomacy is evidenced by her participation in the Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington in 2009 where she went on to be nominated as a delegate for the International Scholar Laureate Program in Beijing, China in 2010. She is also a member of Amnesty International France, advocating for human rights issues around the world. Kia is above all a Trini to the bone, an avid reader, a lover of people, culture, traveling, gastronomy and languages, who prides herself on the values of honesty, tolerance and dedication to service. In her free time she enjoys doing research for general knowledge, baking or blogging. She aspires to be a political strategist or human rights lawyer. 

Andrew Lavia

Andrew Lavia is a postgraduate student, pursuing a Master of Science in Global Studies. After graduating with a BSc International Relations; minoring in HR Management in 2013, Andrew has since gathered experience in Trinidad's energy sector supporting Organizational Development Initiatives at BG Trinidad & Tobago. This combination of corporate and academic experiences has underscored his appreciation of Geo-Politics and Government Relations which has inspired his interest in the HNMUN 2017. Born and raised in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Andrew is an example of the potential of the CSME and is passionate about the sustainable development of Small Island States - through regional economic integration; and a coordinated strategic foreign policy.     

Ms. Kurba-Marie Questelles

Kurba-Marie Questelles is currently a second year student, pursuing her MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice. While in her undergraduate years at The UWI, she served in the capacity of Deputy Games Committee Chairperson and Guild Secretary. As Guild Secretary, she advocated for many student causes and even represented The UWI STA Guild at the Inter-Campus Guild Committee Meetings at the Mona Campus in 2012.  In 2015, Kurba-Marie was selected as part of a six member team to represent the Institute of International Relations (IIR) at the 33rd Model Organization of American States (MOAS) General Assembly for University Students. She was selected as the delegation’s Head Delegate, and at the Model later elected as a returning official for the 34th MOAS for University Students. Kurba-Marie’s main areas of interest include Police Education, the role of Intelligence Organizations and International Security. She aspires to one day work with the United Nations in the capacity of International Security and eventually become elected as first female Secretary General of the United Nations.

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About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (The 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: http://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.)

 

 

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