News Releases

IDEA's-IIR Conference: Reimagining Caribbean Economic Thought

For Release Upon Receipt - October 23, 2025

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, October 23rd, 2025 - The Institute of International Relations at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and the International Development Economics Associates (IDEAs) are hosting a conference to examine and debate alternatives to the neoliberal economic paradigm and foster a dialogue on pathways towards a more equitable and sustainable development in the Caribbean.

Taking place on 23–24 October at The UWI Conference Centre, St. Augustine, the event gathers economists, experts, and lecturers, including those from the Caribbean, to evaluate the Caribbean’s legacy of unorthodox economic thought. The conference will explore the significance of key concepts such as the plantation economy, financial dependence, and regional integration.

It will also examine strategies for reducing economic vulnerability, diversifying small economies, and strengthening economic alliances within an increasingly complex hemispheric and global context.

The opening ceremony will include remarks from Dave Seerattan, Acting Director of the Institute of International Relations at The UWI, and C.P. Chandrasekhar, Global Head of Research and Policy at IDEAs. The keynote speech by Brian Meeks, Professor at Brown University, USA, will set the tone for two days of discussion and reflection.

In addition, the panel discussions will feature speakers from various Caribbean countries as Barbados, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guyana, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Discussions will explore Caribbean realities, extractivism, underdevelopment, economies, relationships with emerging economies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as regionalism and development challenges. Participants will reflect on how Caribbean economic thought can inspire a more just, resilient, and sustainable development model in response to today’s complex crises.

For more information or requests for interviews, please contact outreach@networkideas.org  or Jacqueline Laguardia Martinez jacqueline.laguardiamartinez@uwi.edu

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About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier higher education institution and one of only two regional universities in the world. With five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, The UWI continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, research innovation, and societal impact. Consistently ranked among the world’s best by Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is a global leader in addressing critical challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and development.

As The UWI St. Augustine Campus celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2025 under the theme Beyond 65: From the Caribbean, For the World, it pays tribute to its Caribbean roots while highlighting its contributions to solving global challenges. This milestone underscores the campus's significant role in producing ground-breaking research and fostering talent that transcends regional boundaries to shape a better world. The UWI St. Augustine’s researchers, academics, and graduates continue to make an international impact, exemplifying the university’s mission to serve the region while influencing the world.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

 

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