News Releases

UWI Diplomatic Academy Training Ties Protocol to Multilateral Cooperation Goals

For Release Upon Receipt - April 28, 2026

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago – April 28, 2026 – The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus, Institute of International Relations’ (IIR) Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean (DAOC) recently hosted a five-day training module, driving an emphasis on real‑world skills and best practices in protocol to strengthen institutional capacity to contribute to multilateral cooperation goals. Held virtually, the 20th edition of the DAOC’s training module on Protocol and Diplomacy: A Guide for the Modern Professional got underway on April 20th.

 A total of twenty-one learners — who variously hail from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago — took part in this training. Institutionally, they are staff members of foreign ministries, a Prime Minister’s Office, along with other line ministries and Caribbean regional organizations.     

 “As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grapples with complex global challenges, it is imperative that small states of the region are primed to leverage the nexus between protocol and the multilateral system. That creates opportunities for amplifying their voices and securing their interests in the international system,” said the DAOC’s Manager Dr. Nand C. Bardouille.    

 He added: “Significantly, the final day of this edition of the Diplomatic Academy’s flagship training module fell on April 24th, which — on an annual basis — marks the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. The DAOC is proud to have done its part to contribute to multilateral cooperation, a cornerstone of the postwar international order that — like the United Nations (UN) — is currently under unprecedented pressure. Importantly, the normative and legal standards of the UN Charter are the traditional bedrock of the conduct of CARICOM member states’ international relations as small states.”

 The module hinged on the following four core themes: (i) Diplomacy; (ii) Protocol; (iii) Events Management; and (iv) Corporate & Business Etiquette. It was informed by seminar-oriented lectures, which incorporated case studies, small group exercises and a roundtable panel — led by experts in protocol and multilateral cooperation.   

 The module’s Lead Facilitator Ms. Gail P. Guy, a retired Diplomat and Protocol Consultant, said: “The 20th cohort of the programme was a group predominantly comprised of staff from foreign affairs and related government agencies. This group was very keen and actively participated in seminar activities. In fact, there were enquiries from participants about an advanced programme.”

 The teaching team also comprised the module’s co-facilitators: Ms. Marise Warner, an Attorney-at-law and International Law Specialist and Ms. Keisha Rochford-Hawkins, Certified International Etiquette and Protocol Consultant. This team’s delivery of the module curriculum was complemented by a roundtable panel — held virtually — under the theme: ‘The Role of Protocol when the International System is in a State of Flux’.

 This panel was held on April 23rd, featuring the following line-up of experts in the field:

 - Ambassador (retd) Ricardo Allicock, who held several senior positions in Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade — including diplomatic postings.

- Ambassador (retd) Dennis Francis, who has had a career spanning approximately 40 years in the Diplomatic Service of Trinidad and Tobago. (On June 1, 2023 he was elected as the President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.)

- Ambassador (retd) Dr. Patrick I. Gomes, who has had a long and distinguished career as an academic and a practitioner — having also served as the Secretary-General of the then-African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States.

 The IIR Director, Dr. Abdul Knowles, who delivered remarks during the module’s opening and closing ceremonies, noted: “The importance of diplomacy is evident, given the recent events that are currently happening between states. Also, I was recently reminded during a work meeting of the importance of ‘protocol’ for flag arrangement, which I am grateful for. Therefore, I hope that the knowledge and skills learned from our three excellent facilitators will be applied in your respective fields. Thank you for choosing the IIR for this important training, and I look forward to seeing you in future modules offered by the DAOC.”

 In feature remarks delivered at the closing ceremony of the module, His Excellency Franz Hall, Ambassador of Jamaica to Cuba, underscored: “[Notwithstanding a range of developments,] I put to you that the basic elements of Protocol have not changed. Hierarchy, respect, procedures, have largely remained unchanged over time. What has evolved is the wider society in which it operates, as well as how protocol is conducted. Protocol must be flexible and adaptable to new circumstances.”

 At the end of the module’s closing ceremony, the DAOC recognized the learning-related achievement of the cohort with the conferral of Certificates of Training to participants.       

 Ms. Viera K. Galloway, Director, Prime Minister’s Office, Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis delivered remarks and a vote of thanks on behalf of the cohort’s module graduates, conveying that the training was “impactful, having imparted real‑world skills.” The module’s facilitators came in for high praise from participants for the experience, insight and expertise that they brought to bear in their teaching.

 Dr. Bardouille congratulated module graduates for having completed their course of studies successfully, acknowledging Ms. Guy’s yeoman service to the DAOC. Having been at the helm of this training module for several years, she will now retire from her teaching duties at the Diplomatic Academy.     

 The DAOC thanks Ms. Guy for her significant contribution to the DAOC over the years, and wishes her every success in her future endeavours.     

 END

  About The University of the West Indies

 The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has played a crucial role in Caribbean development for over 75 years, consistently contributing to the improvement of the well-being of people across the region.

Established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica, with just 33 medical students, UWI has grown into an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, it boasts five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and its Global Campus, along with international centres in partnership with universities across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 1000 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 leading university in the Caribbean, it is home to the largest pool of intellect and expertise in the region, dedicated to addressing the critical issues facing both the Caribbean and the wider world.

 Validated by its inclusion in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual rankings since 2018, The UWI has affirmed its position as one of the top universities globally. It stands out as the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured in four of THE's prestigious ranking lists. The World University Rankings evaluate over 2,000 research-focused universities worldwide, while the Golden Age University Rankings highlight institutions established between 50 and 80 years ago. The Latin America Rankings focus specifically on universities within Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 This recognition has also springboarded the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global online graduate business school aimed at preparing future leaders for sustainable development.

 The UWI is an SDG-engaged university consistently recognised among the best in the world. Discover more at www.uwi.edu.

 

Contact