News Releases

Crime, Productivity and Economic Growth

For Release Upon Receipt - June 16, 2023

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. June 16, 2023–A perception, more real than imagined, of ‘untrammelled crime’ is debilitating to the individual and national psyche of Trinidad and Tobago. More important, is knowing how to counteract the current situation: curtail the pervasion of crime and mitigate against its devastating effects on productivity and economic growth. The Trade and Development Unit at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus, in collaboration with the Confederation of Regional Business Chambers, in March made a step towards getting all the stakeholders on board to agree on best steps to achieve these goals. 

Titled A National Conversation on Crime, Productivity and Economic Growth, the event sought to focus on the conversation surrounding policy matters and governance. Knowing the ‘why and what’ is consider key to determine the ‘how’. In other words, research and analysis are needed to be proactive rather than reactive so as to ensure continued productivity and safeguard economic growth. 

Among the featured speakers were the Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds, Minister of National Security, Mrs. Erla Harewood-Christopher, Commissioner, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, Mr. Vivek Charran, Chairman of the Confederation of Regional Business Chambers, and The UWI subject-matter experts, Dr Roger Hosein, Professor of Economics, Dr. Malisa Neptune-Figaro, Criminologist,  and Dr. Randy Seepersad.Dr Roger Hosein explained that to combat crime we must find a way to improve the purchasing capability of the dollar and to reduce the dependency in the economy by increasing the labour force participate rate. “By understanding, we can intervene and change,” He emphasized.

To view the recording of the event, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TpQvzLE4nI’ 

END 

About The University of the West Indies 

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.

 

Contact