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Economic resilience, poverty and development in T&T and the Region highlighted by UWI Fellows

For Release Upon Receipt - August 10, 2022

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. Wednesday, August 10, 2022 – Members of the public and all interested parties are invited to view the virtual recordings of the Virtual SALISES Spotlight Series conducted between April and July 2022 by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine Campus. 

The SALISES department embarked on this project to showcase the achievements and expertise of its Fellows. There were four virtual sessions highlighting a particular topic in each presenter’s field of expertise. 

The first session held on April 26th, 2022, featured Dr. Preeya Mohan, Senior Fellow at the SALISES. Dr. Mohan’s presentation was entitled “Natural Disasters and Climate Shocks: Building Economic Resilience in Caribbean SIDS”. The recorded presentation can be viewed at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvvwc1gwRg4&t=280s

 Her area of expertise focuses on economic development policy with her research emphasizing on Caribbean growth and natural disasters, diversification, public finance, innovation and entrepreneurship, food policy, regional development, tourism economics, ecological economics, the world economic and energy policy. 

The second session hosted on May 27th, 2022, showcased the work of Dr. Indira Rampersad, Senior Fellow at the SALISES. Dr. Rampersad’s seminar highlighted “The Caribbean Court of Justice and Regional Integration”. The recorded presentation can be viewed at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd5P9e7FzAI&t=66s 

Her field of knowledge is in international relations, political science, law, public policy and extends of regionally focusing on Latin American and Political Politics, American Foreign Policy, crime and violence in the Caribbean, the Caribbean Court of Justice, International Law, and Caribbean Constitutional Law. 

The third webinar on June 24th, 2022, featured Dr. Bephyer Parey, Senior Fellow at the SALISES. Dr. Parey’s presentation was entitled, “Disability and Poverty in Trinidad”. The recorded presentation can be viewed at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RifI8UlNuag&t=1s

Her research primarily focuses on persons with disabilities with the overall aim of providing policy recommendations for a life-course oriented inclusion of persons with disabilities. It also spans to topics such as education, employment, social care, wellbeing, teaching and learning dynamics during the pandemic as well as experiences of persons with disabilities in education, employment, goods, and services. 

The fourth session of the SALISES Spotlight Series held on July 22nd, 2022, demonstrated the expertise of Dr. Godfrey St. Bernard. Dr. St. Bernard’s session was entitled “Science, Human Population Dynamics, and Development Policy Agendas in Caribbean SIDS”. The recorded presentation can be viewed at  : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyaSstm8nPk

His research interests center on population dynamics and sustainable development, evidence-based decision making in social policy research and practice, the wellbeing of children and youth, violence prevent and safety promotional, vulnerability and resilience in small states and return migration.

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About The UWI 

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region. 

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world. 

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%. 

The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action. 

For more, visit 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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