SUNDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2019 – UWI TODAY
5
CAMPUS NEWS
He was the first West Indian to win the Nobel
Prize,
the first Vice-Chancellor ofThe University of
theWest Indies, and a giant in the field of economics
whose groundbreaking work is still recognised
today.
Sir WilliamArthur Lewis was born on January
23 1915 in St Lucia. This past January, UWI St
Augustine celebrated the man and his ideas over
three days with Sir Arthur Lewis Memorial Events.
From January 23 to 25, the Sir Arthur Lewis
Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES)
held events in commemoration of one of the
University’s, and the region’s, greatest minds. 2019
marks the second year the St Augustine campus has
hosted memorial activities on his birthday.
“(Sir Arthur) is significant from a UWI perspective and a West Indian
perspective,” said Dr Hamid Ghany, Director of SALISES. “He is someone very much
identified with the University and its history”.
On the 23
rd
, SALISES hosted the Sir Arthur Lewis Memorial Symposium which
consisted of several scholars presenting formal academic papers. The Life and Work
of Sir Arthur Lewis Forum, an open discussion on his legacy, was held on the 24
th
.
On the final day, the Sir Arthur Lewis Distinguished Lecture was conducted on
the topic “State Capacity and Economic Development”. The lecture was given by Sir
Timothy Besley, Professor of Economics and Political Science and W. Arthur Lewis,
Professor of Development Economics at the London School of Economics.
Over the three days participants looked at Sir Arthur’s pioneering work in areas
such as Caribbean innovation, the energy sector and even his attempt to rescue the
West Indies Federation. The presentations from the 2019 memorial will be published
in book form in May of this year, and there are plans to release a volume containing
the presentations from the 2018 Sir Arthur Lewis commemoration.
FESTIVAL OF SEMINARS
In February, SALISES is turning its focus to the latest in research. FromFebruary
4
th
to 6
th
they will be holding their 2
nd
annual “Research Days”. Dubbed a “festival of
seminars”, the three-day event highlights the research being carried out at the institute
from graduate students, staff and other stakeholders.
“Anyone who is interested in the kind of research taking place at SALISES can
attend,” says Dr Ghany.
With a branch at all three main UWI campuses (St Augustine, Cave Hill and
Mona), SALISES is focused on training and research that can contribute to the
economic and social development of small and emerging states and regions such as
the Caribbean.
Celebrating Sir Arthur
UWI Chancellor Appoints
Commission on Governance
On Friday January 11, 2019
Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI)
Robert Bermudez announced nine distinguished persons from across the region to serve
on a Commission on Governance for the regional University. The Commission, which
is chaired by former President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Sir Charles Michael
Dennis Byron, includes a multidisciplinary teamwith expertise in law, people, finance and
corporate governance. In presenting instruments of appointment to the commissioners,
Chancellor Bermudez grounded the significance of their task in this era of global higher
education competitiveness and the commitment of The UWI to continuous improvement
in its delivery of service to the Caribbean. He said, “The University has had an illustrious
past. This Commission’s work is to ensure that its success and relevance continues into the
future.” Chairman of the Commission, Sir Dennis, has articulated an aggressive work-plan
for the Commission, which is expected to deliver its final report by the end of September
2019. The complete list of persons selected by Chancellor Bermudez to serve onThe UWI’s
Commission on Governance are as follows:
Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron
(Chairman)
Former President of the
Caribbean Court of Justice
Ms Judith Bowen
Attorney-at-Law
Mr Richard Byles
Chairman, Sagicor Group Jamaica
Ms Angela Hamel-Smith
Human Resources Practitioner
Professor Emeritus E. Nigel Harris
Former Vice-Chancellor of The UWI
His Excellency Dr Didacus Jules
Director General
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
Sir Elliott Mottley
Attorney-at-Law
Mr Darrion Narine
Representative of The UWI Intercampus
Guild Council and President, Guild of Students
The UWI St. Augustine
Mrs Jacqueline Sharp
Director, Coffee Traders Ltd. and President
The UWI Alumni Association, Jamaica Chapter
