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CAVE HILL ALUMNI NEWS

OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONSThe University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados

Vol 1 • Issue 3 November 2004

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES: A LIGHT ARISING FROM THE WEST

GENERATION OF THE 70s IS THE GREATEST SAYS PRIME MINISTER ARTHUR

Cave Hill Presents Inaugural Pelican Awards

To 1970s Alumni

On the occasion of the firstreunion of alumni who graduatedfrom the Cave Hill Campusbetween 1970 and 1979, the firstPelican Alumni Peer Awardswere presented to outstandinggraduates of the decade at aReunion Dinner on October 16 atthe Plantation Restaurant. TheOrganising Committee of theReunion, comprising representa-tives of the Cave Hill CampusOffice of Alumni Relations, theUWI Alumni Association BarbadosChapter and several 1970s alumnivolunteers, selected six awardeeswho were determined to havebrought honour and prestige to the University by their achievementof professional excellence and outstanding service to the society orto the University. These were: The Right Hon. Owen Arthur PrimeMinister of Barbados (Class of 1971); Sir Burton Hall, Chief Justiceof the Bahamas (Class of 1974); Mr. Robert Morris, Deputy General

In making special remarks at the reunion dinner and inaugural Pelican Alumni Peer Awards Ceremony, Prime Minister of Barbados,The Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur reflected fondly on his days spent at Cave Hill, proclaiming the generation of the 1970s as the greatest decade ofUWI alumni produced by the Campus. He noted that it was outside the Arts Lecture Theatre in the Quadrangle (or The Forum as it was knownat the time), where he learnt the art of debating, since it was normal for the “intellectual ferment” of the classroom to continue there longafter the class had ended. He also made mention of his great friendship with fellow alumnus Dr. The Hon Keith Mitchell of Grenada (Class of1971), which he said started some 36 years ago on the cricket field at Cave Hill. The Prime Minister challenged the University to “go back tobeing the centre of Caribbean civilisation” and to offer “new ideas for a new time”. “The university has not yet constituted itself as a continuoussource of policy advice for governments, nor is it selling the services of the richest stock of talent in the region for what it should be, a sourceof talent of great relevance to Government and a potential source of revenue for the UWI itself,” he said. Mr. Arthur said that he was pleasedby the physical and intellectual transformation of the campus that was taking place under the leadership of Pro-Vice-Chancellor andPrincipal Professor Hilary Beckles and pledged the continued support of the Government of Barbados to the institution.

The Tower

Secretary and Director ofIndustrial Relations, BarbadosWorker’s Union (Class of1974); Professor RawleHollingsworth, Professor,Michigan State University(Class of 1978); ProfessorAndrew Downes, Director,Sir Arthur Lewis Institute ofSocial and Economic Studies(Class of 1977); Dr. Anne St.John, Consultant Paedia-trician and Dr. CharlesEdwards, Head of the Gastro-enterology Unit at the QueenElizabeth Hospital; andDr. Anthony Phillips, Retired

Senior Lecturer, Department of History (1963-2004) (Class of 1961 –UCWI). A special presentation was also made to Dr. Raymond Massay(Class of 1974) for his outstanding work in establishing the MedicalAlumni Chapter in Barbados and in raising funds for the MedicalLibrary at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The Right Honourable Owen Arthur accepts award for beingthe first Cave Hill alumnus to be elected to the office of Prime Minister

Page - 2 The Tower


CELEBRATING THE DECADE OF THE 70s

In 1999, the UWI Alumni Association’s Barba-dos Chapter started the tradition of celebratingthe month of October as Alumni Month at Cave Hill.According to former President Cheryl Williams, theidea was to highlight the achievements and contri-bution of alumni and get them together to celebratetheir “UWIness”. October is the month in which anew crop of alumni is welcomed into the fold atgraduation and October 12 is also the day on whichthe Campus was founded in 1963. This year, AlumniMonth focused on the 1970s and a special reunionof graduates from this decade was organized. Thisspecial edition of The Tower is dedicated to thereliving the memories and celebrating the achieve-ments of those who were part of this critical periodin the history of Cave Hill.

The decade of the 1970s was a decade firstsfor the Cave Hill Campus. The College of Arts andSciences had moved from the Trade Fair Site at theBridgetown Harbour, to the present site at Cave Hillby 1970. It had graduated four classes of studentsand was about to fully establish itself as a Univer-sity Campus with the opening of the Faculty of Law.Professor Emeritus Woodville Marshall, in Cave Hill’sfortieth anniversary book, UWI Cave Hill – FortyYears: A Celebration, describes the 1970s as beingcrucial in the locating of a university culture at Cave

PRINCIPAL OPENS CAMPUS’ DOORS TO ALUMNI

Professor Beckles in his speech to alumni at the 1970s ReunionDinner and Peer Awards Ceremony urged graduates not to see theirrelationship with the University as coming to an end on graduation. Heinvited them to visit the Campus and use the facilities such as the 3WsOval. Professor Beckles spoke about the need for a debate facility at theCampus where the focus would be on the big issues facing the region.He noted that the proposed Creative Arts Centre building, which is due tostart construction shortly, would include such a centre. He said theUniversity was mindful of its legacy, pointing out that the Campus hadproduced four Prime Ministers among its graduates of the 70s in OwenArthur, Kenny Anthony, Keith Mitchell and Denzil Douglas as well as aPremier in Vance Amory of Nevis. Throwing out challenge to PrimeMinister Arthur in the audience, he said , “No doubt, Prime Minister, youwill be one of the first to face the wrath of the students in that debatecentre.” Section of the audience listens to Professor Beckles

Hill. “Up to then,” says Professor Marshall, “theCollege, because of its limited teaching and libraryresources, had necessarily concentrated on under-graduate teaching. But during and after the 1970s,the evident enthusiasm among colleagues tocooperate in building up the institution ensuredthat scholarship, as well as coherent administrativearrangements, were firmly rooted. The establish-ment of the Faculty of Law was one factor in thattransformation, because it brought some estab-lished scholars, a complete faculty and additionalresources for the teaching of some history andsocial science courses.” With the establishment ofthe Faculty of Social Sciences in 1976 and the startof the fourth year medical programme in 1976,the Campus was fully on its way.

Life outside the classroom was a vibrant buzzof political, social and cultural activity. Intellectualbrilliance and academic excellence in the classroomwere well balanced with a healthy dose of typicalWest Indian recreation – liming, feting, carnival,calypso and political campaigning. Several alumniof the decade reflected on their memories of theCampus with The Tower. “We had a lot of good, cleanfun,” they all surmise, with something of a gleamin their eyes. Campaigns for positions on the GuildCouncil were especially “hot”, with impromptu spot

meetings being set up at various locations aroundthe Campus. One prospective president will everbe remembered for his fervent promise to erect anescalator up Free Hill and to install a portable ice-skating rink. He lost the election. Carnival was, notsurprisingly, another period eagerly anticipated andenjoyed on Campus. Contests to crown the carnivalqueen and calypso monarch were intensely com-petitive. Chamber Pot Alley, the calypso tent of theperiod in the Student Union, crowned kings such asFrancis “Workhouse” Alexis (Class of 1973), ParnellCampbell (Class of 1973) and Erstein Mallet Edwards(Class of 1981). Everyone remembers the Quad-rangle (known to seventies alumni as The Forum).As Sir Keith Hunte, Former Principal of the Cave HillCampus in the book UWI Cave Hill – Forty Years: ACelebration writes: “For several generations ofstudents, it is the quadrangle enclosed by theoriginal buildings that claims some of the fondestmemories. It was in the quadrangle that manystudents who later became successful politicalleaders mounted their first soap-box and honedtheir public speaking skills. That was the culturalcentre, where carnival and other festivals werehosted. For many years the quadrangle was thevenue for the annual graduation ceremony.”

Volume 1, Issue 2 Page - 3


BISHOP ASKS: WHAT IMPACT HAVE WE HAD ON

OUR COMMUNITY SINCE OUR GRADUATION?

1970s Reunion Week 2004 was launched with a Church Service at the St. Barnabas Church, where UWIalumni and friends heard an inspiring sermon from Anglican Bishop of Barbados, The Right Reverend Dr. TheHon John Holder (Class of 1974). Speaking on the text, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,”Bishop Holder stressed the need to acknowledge God as the ultimate source of knowledge and power andto recognise that there is a limitation to human knowledge. Urging that “all knowledge must be temperedby humility”, the Bishop cautioned that exposure to the new knowledge available at University, coupledwith the status that this level of education may confer, can lead university graduates to reconstruct theirworld to exclude God.

Dr. Holder emphasised to UWI alumni that all knowledge that they had acquired had been placed attheir disposal to enable them to etch their special mark in the world, especially in the Caribbean where onlya small group pursues university education. “Those of us who have benefited greatly from the support ofour governments and other agencies and institutions at UWI and other Universities, should ensure that thegoals we set are the type that will ensure we put back into our community, some of what was so generouslyshowered upon us. Those of us who graduated during the 1970s must each ask the questions: What impacthave I made upon my community during these 25 or more years since my graduation? Have I made the kindof contribution to my country that will surely work towards its development?” he said.

Bishop Holder reflected on his days at UWI with fondness, remembering especially his Use of Englishclasses. “They were exciting and challenging years,” he said. “We were exposed to some of the exciting andchallenging perspectives of the 1970s. It was the time of rethinking some of the inherited ideas about theworld, our region, about ourselves and even about God. It was a time of exploration and in some cases atime of experiment. All has surely contributed to our personal and academic development.” He urged alumnito continue to support their university, as it still remains one of the primary institutions in the Caribbeanthat can determine what our region will be like in years to come, adding, “We have gained much fromour education at UWI. Let us therefore pledge to do even more so that others will benefit from theenlightenment it continues to offer.”

“Those of us who have benefited

(from our UWI education) must live ever

aware of the question: What are we putting

back into the society that has afforded us a

university education? The question should

be one of the primary ones guiding our lives.

It keeps us aware of the responsibility

that the education we have received at UWI

places upon our shoulders. It is a responsibility

that keeps reminding us of the link between

what we have received and what we should

give back in return.”

Anglican Bishop of BarbadosRev. Dr. The Hon John Holder

(Class of 1974)

Some of the 1970s alumni and friends attending Church Service

Page - 4 The Tower


WE SALUTE THE FIRST UWI CAVE HILL PELICAN

ALUMNI PEER AWARD RECIPIENTS

Professor Rawle Irving Hollingsworth isDirector of Laboratory of Advanced Applications inGlycho-chemistry, and the Centre of RenewableOrganic Products at Michigan State University aswell as a member of the Board of Governors of theBiosciences Research and Commercialisation Centre.He has produced some 100 journal articles and servedon several national committees in the United Statesand holds over 60 patents.

His research interest includes organic synthesisespecially of optically active targets and targets ofbiological significance; the development of syntheticstrategies and intermediates; and the application ofmodern spectroscopic and physio-chemical methodsto problem solving in the biological sciences.Professor Hollingsworth is founder of SynthonChiragenic Corporation, a company which uses hisresearch to make drugs targeting cancer, diabetes,bacterial infection, high cholesterol and othermaladies. He is also founder, President and ChiefScientific Officer of AFID Therapeutics Inc.

Dr. Margaret Anne St.John completed aresidency in Paediatrics and a Paediatric AmbulatoryFellowship at Kings County/Downstate MedicalCentre, Brooklyn in 1977, followed by a Senior Resi-dency and Fellowship in Paediatric Infectious Diseasesat the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.

From 1980, she held the posts of Senior Regis-trar, Department of Paediatrics (Queen ElizabethHospital), and Consultant Paediatrician from 1981until the present time. She was Head of the Depart-ment of Paediatrics, from 1993 to 2000 and wasappointed Associate Lecturer in Paediatrics in theSchool of Clinical Medicine and Research from 1980,and then Associate Senior Lecturer to the presenttime.

Dr. St. John is an international reviewer and hasperformed extensive research in a variety of paedia-tric topics. She has published 100 abstracts andresearch articles in peer review journals, presentedat international research meetings, written chaptersin books on paediatric infectious diseases subjects,particularly paediatric HIV/AIDS. She is a well-knownauthority both regionally and internationally, for herPaediatric HIV/AIDS research.

Dr. Charles Edwards has been ConsultantPhysician and Gastroenterologist with the QueenElizabeth Hospital since 1980 and has served as Headof the Gastroenterology Unit, QEH since 1983 andHead of the Department of Medicine, QEH, since 1994.Dr. Edwards is Associate Senior Lecturer in Medicinewith the School of Clinical Medicine and Research.Between 1991-1996 he coordinated the UWI PostGraduate Medicine DM Programme. He has beenPresident of the Association of West Indian Gastro-

enterologists since 1995 and Chairman of the Boardof Directors of BayView Hospital since 1997. He is aFellow of the American College of Physicians, theAmerican College of Gastroenterology and the RoyalCollege of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Dr. Edwards is recognised as an internationalexpert on clinical leptospirosis, having publishedseveral original articles on leptospirosis. He is ascientific reviewer on leptospirosis topics for severalinternational journals and has authored and co-authored chapters on leptospirosis in infectiousdisease. Dr. Edwards is married to Dr. St. John.

In 1966, the UWI Alumni Association (UWIAA)(then the Guild of Graduates) Jamaica Chapterlaunched the Pelican Award at the Mona Campusto honour each year one graduate of the Universitywho has contributed significantly to the develop-ment of the University or has made an outstandingcontribution to Jamaica. This is the most prestigiousaward given by the UWIAA Jamaica Chapter. Thefirst recipient of this honour was Professor KenMagnus for his work in Chemistry in 1966. Sincethen, twenty-nine such awards have been presentedto graduates in several fields.

On the occasion of the first reunion of alumniwho graduated from the Cave Hill Campus between1970 and 1979, it was proposed that the Campuslaunch its own version of the award.

Here is a look at the achievements of the out-standing recipients of Cave Hill’s inaugural awards.

SCHOOL OF

CLINICAL MEDICINE & RESEARCH

FACULTY OF

PURE & APPLIED SCIENCES

Sir Burton Hall, ChiefJustice of the Bahamasbegan his professionalcareer as ProbationOfficer and subsequentlyAssistant Clerk to theHouse of Assembly in theBahamas. His admissionto practice as counsel and

attorney of the Supreme Court of the Bahamas wasa start of an illustrious career which includedappointments as Counsel in the Office of theAttorney General (1976-1983); Solicitor General(1983-1990); Justice of the Supreme Court (1990-1997); and Justice of Appeal (1997- 2001), culminat-ing with his appointment as Chief Justice in 2001.

Sir Burton has served as Chairman of theNational Crime Commission; and member of theAdministrative Tribunal of the Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank. He is presently Course Directorin Constitutional Law and Legal Systems at theEugene Dupuch Law School – Council of LegalEducation and was made a fellow of the Common-wealth Judicial Education Institute at DalhousieUniversity School of Law in 2002.

He was made Knight Bachelor by Her Majesty,Queen Elizabeth II in 2000 on becoming ChiefJustice and in 2003 Knight of the Equestrian Orderof Sylvester by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. SirBurton was unable to attend the awards ceremony.

FACULTY OF LAW



Mr. Robert Livingstone Morris began hiscareer as a teacher at the secondary level, beforemoving on to the tertiary level. He was Assistant ChiefExaminer in Caribbean History for the CXC beforeswitching to a career in industrial relations where heheld positions as member of the Executive of theBarbados Union Teachers (1968-1970; member of theWest Indian Group of University Teachers (1974-1976)and member of the Barbados Workers’ Union (1979to present). Mr. Morris joined the staff of the Barba-dos Workers’ Union in 1981 holding positions such asDirector of Research, Acting Principal of the LabourCollege and Deputy General Secretary. He is currentlyDirector of Industrial Relations.

Mr. Morris is an external collaborator with theInternational Labour Organisation and has producedmanuals on collective bargaining, trade union admin-istration and globalisation for that organisation.

Dr. Raymond Massay received his special awardfrom the Principal for his outstanding contribution

to the UWI Medical Alumni Association

Professor Andrew Downes is a Professor ofEconomics and University Director of the Sir ArthurLewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies. Hehas served the University as Deputy Dean and Deanof the Faculty of Social Sciences at Cave Hill; Headof the Department of Economics and President ofthe West Indies Group of University Teachers; andChairman of the Cave Hill Campus Research Fund. Heis currently a member of the Campus AppointmentsCommittee, the Board of the UWI Press and the Boardof Graduate Studies and Research.

Professor Downes’ research interests includeApplied Econometrics; Human Resources LabourEconomics and Organisational Economics. He is therecipient of several academic awards including;Commonwealth Scholarship to Canada (1978) andUK (1982); Senior Fulbright Fellowships to the USA(1990, 1996); Barbados Economics Society Awards(1989, 2003); CDB’s Presidents Fellowship (1993);Vice-Chancellor’s Awards of Excellence (2000) and theTHB Symons Fellowship (2001).

He has also held several positions in thepublic arena and is currently a Commissioner for theBarbados Fair Trading Commission.

The Right Hon. Owen Seymour Arthur, atage 44, became Barbados fifth Prime Minister in1994. He is one of the youngest Barbadians and thefirst UWI Cave Hill Campus alumnus to be elected tothis office.

Prime Minister Arthur began his professionalcareer as a Research Assistant at the Mona Campusin the Department of Management Studies. On hisreturn to Barbados in 1981, Prime Minister Arthurtook up the post of Chief Project Analyst in theMinistry of Finance and Planning before moving tothe Institute of Social and Economic Research at theCampus as a Research Fellow.

The Prime Minister’s political career beganwhen he was appointed a member of the BarbadosSenate in 1983. He became a Member of Parliamentin 1984 and was appointed Leader of the Opposi-tion in 1993. He led the Barbados Labour Party tovictory in the General Elections in 1994, 1999 and2003.

Since becoming Prime Minister, Mr. Arthurhas assumed leadership responsibility within the

Caribbean Community for the Caribbean SingleMarket and Economy. He has also been Chairman ofthe Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Small States,Chairman of the Global Conference on Small States, andCo-chairman of the Global Forum to deal with the OECDHarmful Tax Competition Initiative.

Prime Minister Arthur is the holder of the Orderof Jose Marti of Cuba.

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

SPECIAL AWARD

SPECIAL AWARDFACULTY OF

HUMANITIES & EDUCATION

SPECIAL AWARD

Dr. Anthony Devere Phillips retired from theCave Hill Campus in September 2004 after 41 yearsof service as a Faculty member. The quiet, unassum-ing, almost indefatigable figure has become a legendat the Campus, having earned the reputation amongstudents for his approachability, friendliness andwillingness to give help and advice.

Dr. Phillips taught a range of History courses; wasModerator of the Development of Civilisation course,supervisor; and second examiner for hundreds ofCaribbean Studies and taught in the Masters of Artsprogramme. He also supervised a number ofmasters and doctoral theses and dissertations andhas served the Faculty in the capacity as Head,Department of History and Deputy Dean.

He is also a writer and has co-authored withKamau Brathwaite the book The People Who CameBook III, which is widely used in schools across theregion. Dr Phillips’ latest book A History of theParliament of Barbados will be published shortly.Mrs. Sylvia Phillips accepted the award on behalf ofher husband Dr. Phillips.

Page - 6 The Tower


CAVE HILL’S FIRST ALUMNI CAREER FAIR

Students at the Campus recently got anopportunity to get information about careerprospects at the first Alumni Careers Fair. The Fair,organized by the Office of Alumni Relations incollaboration with the UWI Alumni Association(Barbados Chapter), was held as part of the 70sReunion Week of Activities which gave alumni thechance to reach out and interact with students.The Fair was sponsored by Insurance Corporation ofBarbados. Mr. Wismar Greaves (Class of 1975) isManaging Director of the Corporation.

Students were exposed to careers in the hotelsector, tourism industry, insurance, offshore, graphicdesign, guidance counseling and teaching, amongothers. Exhibitors include The Association ofGuidance Counsellors, Barbados Coalition ofServices Industries, Barbados Economic Society,Barbados National Standards Institute, BarbadosStock Exchange, Barbados Union of Teachers,Barbados Tourism Authority, GEMS of Barbados,Insurance Corporation of Barbados, NationalCultural Foundation, Q-Design and Marketingand Technion Barbados Limited, who were onhand to offer timely career guidance and otherexpertise.

Many graduates took time out of theirschedule to attend and play an active role. One ofthese was Medita Malone-Wheatley (Class of 1970),from the British Virgin Islands who brought studentsup to date about the prospects of careers in theinternational organisations such as UNESCO, ofwhich she is currently Secretary General in hercountry.

Joining us on that day as well was OpheliaMarie (Class of 1976) renowned proponent ofcreole music and Deputy Director of Tourism inDominica, who was delighted to have been present.“I congratulate UWI on this initiative and I am proudto be thought of as an outstanding alumna,” saidOphelia.

All reports from both the exhibitors and thestudents indicate that the Fair was very successful,and many have suggested that it become anannual event. “This is a prime opportunity foremployers,” said Denis Bradshaw of the InsuranceCorporation of Barbados. “It offers us an excellentopportunity to recruit students and capture thecream of the UWI crop.”

Barbados National Standards Institution’sBooth

National Cultural Foundation’s Booth

Barbados Tourism Authority’s BoothInsurance Corporation of Barbados’ Booth

Booths of Association of GuidanceCounsellors, Babados Tourism Authority and

Barbados National Standards Institution

Stock Exchange Booth

Ophelia Marie at Careers Fair



A boisterous group of 1970s and otheralumni, UWI staffers and friends gathered in theQuadrangle on October 15 for a night of food,fun, frolic and friends at the 1970s Class OutBack-In-Time Lime and Show. The Quadranglebecame The Forum again as alumni debatedevery issue including who had the least amountof grey hair and how this feat had beenachieved. The audience was treated to perfor-mances by Wayne “Poonka” Willock (Class of1979) and the Reunion Ensemble, made upof John Matthews (Class of 1979) on guitar,Richard Evans on bass, Leslie Lett on keyboardand Ronald Brathwaite on drums. AddingtonForde (Class of 1979) sang his 1970s campuscalypso “Snobbery On The Campus”, while Peter

GIVING IT THEIR BEST SHOT

“PJ” Lovell and Poonka gave the audience ataste of hits they made since graduation. MCsfor the night were Margaret Gill (Class of 1978),Trevor Marshall (Mona – Class of 1971), thein-famous Francis Tobias (Class of 1976) whocame in from St. Lucia and Anne Edwards(Class of 1975), who was in from Anguilla forthe Reunion. “Tina Turner” and her back-upsingers gave a hilarious performance of herhit “Rollin’ On The River” and a brave groupmodeled fashions from the 1970s and goteveryone on the dance floor to give their bestshot at doing dances from the era. 1970salumni bumped, rocked the boat and did thestrongman as they had not done in 30 or moreyears, begging the DJ to continue playing foran extra 45 minutes beyond the scheduledclose. After this, they made their own musicby stomping their feet on the dance floor andsinging lustily, ending with farewell songs suchas “The Same Place But Another Year” and“Leaving On A Jet Plane”. Tobias won the prizefor the best dressed male and Mary-AnneRedman (Mona – Class of 1980) the best

Peter Lovell singing Bajan Love SongMC Margaret GillAddington Forde in action

Melza Archibald in partying mood

Trevor and Poonka reminiscingLine dancing

dressed female. The class of 1977 was thelargest (or at least the loudest) group on handand Trevor Marshall was unofficially adjudgedthe best dancer of the night for his youthfullyenergetic demonstrations of the ska, whichaffirmed that his years spent at the Monacampus were truly not in vain.

Modelling 70s wear

Bajan Tina Turner (Louisa Nurse) and herbackup singers

Page - 8 The Tower


thanks to all who

made 1970s reunion

week a success

The Office of Alumni Relations would like to expressthanks to all those persons and organisations thatcontributed in whatever way towards the successof the 1970s Reunion. These include:-

Frank AlleyneRonald Brathwaite

Sentka BrewsterJacqueline Clarke

Kevin ClarkeHarold Codrington

Martin CoxErnesta DrakesAnne EdwardsRichards Evans

Addington FordeMargaret Gill

Gail HallJudith Hinds

Jennifer Hinkson

Remember the uncertainty, apprehension andanxiety you felt, probably in your final year as aUniversity student, when the cold reality hit you thatit would soon be time to stop “beating books” andhead out into the world to look for a job? UWI CaveHill’s Office of Student Services, under the directionof recently retired Director of Student Services JaiJebodsingh launched a Mentorship programmesome ten years ago to help make this period oftransition to the world of work easier for students.Since then about 100 students each year havebenefited from the programme.

1970s graduate Harold Codrington (Class of1977), advisor to the Governor of the Central Bankof Barbados is described by Student Services as “oneof our best mentors”. Harold believes that theprogramme is something that previous studentswould have liked. “It allows many students to touch

WHAT MY UWI EDUCATION MEANS TO ME

by Harold Codrington

“Education has traditionally been the defining factor for generations of persons from working class origins in the Caribbean. I was no different. UWI educationhas meant a number of things. The availability of tertiary education at home of course meant that there was no need to further impoverish oneself by going abroad.There is also what I call the income effect. I still recall the quantum leap in my monthly salary when I changed jobs on graduation from the University. Then there isthe sheer accumulation of knowledge on a variety of issues and in particular in my own specialty area. Who can deny the usefulness of the old “Use of English”course to an appreciation of proper writing? Course in Political Science, Sociology and Public Administration, all exposed me to a veritable avalanche of importantinformation and forced me to sift fat from fiction and, importantly, to reason. In this regard, let me say that the Undergraduate programmes at the UWI are amongthe best anywhere. For example, I can attest to the fact that the thorough grounding in Economics at Cave Hill (thanks to Wendell McClean, Frank Alleyne, and TerrySomersall, among others) helped to make postgraduate studies in Canada appear much less daunting. A highpoint of my studies at UWI was being in a course(Transformation) taught by the great Sir Arthur Lewis, just before he became a Nobel Laureate in Economics. Then the University offered the opportunity to meetpeople from different islands and backgrounds. Some of these friendships have persisted ever since and it is always gratifying to follow the careers of fellow alumni.In sum, therefore the University helped to shape my views, my relationships and my career.”

1970s ALUMNUS GIVING BACK TO UWI

THROUGH MENTORSHIP

base with trained persons other than theUniversity’s teaching staff and enables them tomore fully appreciate the link between learning,work and life. Moreover, students get useful guid-ance in choosing appropriate courses and makingcareer choices and are often exposed to workexperiences,” he adds. Mentoring TrainingWorkshops and orientation sessions are held eachyear before the start of the six-month programmein October to ensure that mentors and mentees fullyunderstand and agree on expectations and goals.The mentor should be available to commit qualitytime to the mentee on a reasonably regular basis,usually once or twice a month and may identify aco-mentor as an alternative where time constraintsbegin to impact on the relationship.

“Mentoring a student does not take up a lotof time at all,” says Harold, who mentored threestudents last year. “Usually, I attend the initialsession at the University to meet the students. ThenI bring them in for a day at work and then I takethem all to lunch. After that, we keep in touch byemail or the telephone. They usually contact meoften to ask questions about any and everything,”he adds. Harold recommends the programme as agood way for UWI alumni to continue a relation-ship with their alma mater, while contributing in atangible way to the lives of current students. “I haveasked my own daughter who is now in her 2nd yearto get involved in the programme,” says Harold, “andhave recommended it to other professionals whowant to contribute to the University.” If you wouldlike to mentor a student, contact Miss Louisa Nursein the Office of Student Services at telephone417-4166.

Carlos HolderSonia Johnson

John JordanLeslie Lett

Peter LovellMaxine McClean Trevor Marshall John Matthews

Louisa NurseMary-Anne Redman

Grantley SmithCynthia Spooner

Francis TobiasCicely Walcott

Wayne Willock

Air JamaicaB&B Distributors

BICOBarbados National Terminal Oil Co

Cable and WirelessInsurance Corporation of Barbados

Pine Hill DairyTravel House

UWI Maintenance Department Value Vacations

Harold Codrington (Class of 1977)Advisor to the Governor of the

Central Bank of Barbados



Those of you who remember the athleticPeter Gibbs (Class of 1971) will not be surprised tolearn that this same Peter Gibbs, Senior Lecturer andDeputy Dean (Outreach and Graduate Affairs) in theFaculty of Pure and Applied Sciences and 1971alumnus is the Barbadian who recently completeda 50 km swim across Lake Ontario, Canada, in a timeof 18 hours and 40 minutes. Peter is a member ofthat famous sporting family, and sibling to anotherrecord breaker, Chris Gibbs, who recently became thefirst Barbadian to swim the English Channel. Was

this a case of sibling rivalry? “I did some trainingwith my brother when he was preparing for theChannel then decided to attempt Lake Ontario as Iwas planning Study and Travel leave in Ontario dur-ing 2004,” said Peter.

Peter’s feat demonstrates that it is never toolate to realize a long held dream and though wemay marvel at his courage and daring, Peter, whohas always been involved in sports, seems prettyblasé about it all. He told The Tower, “I think if youtrain and prepare and you are confident beforestarting ... you are not surprised when yousucceed...so then there is no need to ‘jump up anddown’.”

And what about that history-makingexperience? Peter takes us back: “It was a coldsummer by Ontario standards. Training for onlythree weeks to get accustomed to the not verybuoyant and cold lake water was the only worry. Itrained alone during this time and some days werevery cold.... even my teeth would hurt when I firstdived in to swim...but I kept telling myself that I

CONQUERING LAKE ONTARIO

did not train so long and hard to give up now...sojust do it!”

He describes the toughest part of his swim asthe last three or four hours, when his stroke ratestared to lessen with the water growing colder bythe minute. But this did not affect his resolve. “Thethought of disappointing all those who assistedand helped along the way was far greater than anyother ... so I just kept going and ignored anynegative thoughts.” His swim to success has beenan odyssey characterised by hard work, disciplineand dedication. As treasured as his memories are,would he do it again? “I don’t have any plans at themoment, but if I HAD to, I would!” he said.

Peter Gibbs(in white cap)

in the cold watersof Lake Ontario

I earned my first degree from the UWI (CaveHill Campus) in 1971 - a B.A. in English and History.But my involvement with the UWI started muchearlier - in March 1966, when I joined the staff ofthe UWI College of Arts and Science at the HarbourSite as a Stenographer/Clerk. It was an excitingtime, indeed, a pioneering time, for both staff(academic and administrative), and students, andby October 1966, I, too, had joined the ranks andhad become a Part-Time Student. Around the sametime, I was also given the additional responsibilityof being the Assistant to the Office Manager,Mrs. Joan Johnson (now Parris), and we workedclosely with the then Campus Secretary, Mr. Francis“Woodie” Blackman, and the then Principal, the lateSir Sydney Martin, establishing and maintainingthe records of the University.

In July 1967, we moved to our spanking newlocation at Cave Hill, and in 1969 I had to resignto pursue full-time study, as at that time staffmembers were not permitted to work and studyfor the second and third years of their Courses.Nevertheless, it was exciting being a full-time

A 1970s ALUMNA LOOKS BACK ON 38 YEARS WITH UWI

student, for although not “in residence”, the feelingof being “at university” seemed much more realisticthan when I was a Part-Time Student. All too soon, Ihad sat my finals, and had become a UWI Graduate.Graduation was held in the Quadrangle in February1972. The late C.L.R. James, renowned Caribbeanauthor of The Black Jacobins (1963) gave the Gradua-tion Address, and my proud parents, the late Hiltonand Beryl Brathwaite were among the guests at theGraduation Ceremony. It should also be noted thatthe 1972 Graduation Ceremony was an historicoccasion for the West Indies, and indeed for WestIndian Independence, for it was the first time thatthe newly installed Chancellor, the late Rt. Hon. SirHugh Wooding, Chief Justice of Trinidad & Tobagochaired the Ceremony. Sir Hugh had been Chairmanof the Committee on Legal Education, and played apivotal role in the introduction of a West Indiansystem of law, and in the establishment of the Facultyof Law at the University of the West Indies in 1970.The former Chancellor, H.R.H. Princess Alice, Duchessof Athlone, had served the University as Chancellorfrom its inception in 1948 – 1971.

Interestingly enough I did not return to workat the UWI until September 1979 when I wasappointed as a Librarian in the Faculty of LawLibrary. In 1973, I read for the one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Library Studies (DipLS) at theUWI Mona Campus, Jamaica. At last I was able toexperience real university life as I took up residenceon Campus at the Mary Seacole Hall. Just as I hadstarted to study when I first joined the staff of UWIin 1966, it was deja vu again in 1979, and by 1986,I had earned my LL.B. degree, followed by anM.Lib (1988) and M.Phil (2004), both from theUniversity of Wales Aberystwyth. As 2004 closesand 2005 dawns, my involvement over 38 yearswith this wonderful institution of learning iscoming to an end. I should like to validate the workof the founding fathers for their vision, and expressgratitude for the inestimable opportunities forfree university education afforded to Barbadianstudents since 1963. Long live the UWI, “the Lightof the West”!

by Joan A. Brathwaite, Senior Librarian, and Head of the Public Services Division UWI Faculty of Law Library, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.

Page - 10 The Tower


BACK FOR THE REUNION

PhoTOBIAS – A legend at Cave Hill

Medita – Cave Hill’s First Carnival Queen

Anne From Anguilla

Chief Justice Saunders

Mention the name Tobias to 1970s graduates and you willsee a broad smile appear on their faces. Francis Tobias is sopopular among his peers that we could not have had a 1970sreunion without him. He is jokingly referred to as the studentwho spent the longest time on Campus before graduating andas the unofficial Campus photographer. Virtually every picturetaken at graduation, carnival or any other Campus event in the1970s was taken by Tobias. Trinidadian by birth, Tobias now

We hoped that many more of you would have been able to join us for the Reunion, but we were pleased to see those who did make it back including thosefeatured here, who all said how glad they were to reconnect with UWI and with old friends.

lives in St. Lucia, where he still works as a freelance photogra-pher with several media houses. His easy charm, ready wit andwicked sense of humour are still alive and well and make iteasy to see why he is so well loved by his peers. He has not losthis gift for snapping a photo at just the right time and the rightangle. Armed with the latest in digital technology, Tobias cap-tured more than 100 photos of the reunion weekend events,including most of those in this newsletter.

Cave Hill’s first carnival queen, Medita Malone (nowWheatley) (Class of 1970), joined us from the British VirginIsland for the entire Reunion Week, taking in all the events.She told The Tower, “ Returning to Cave Hill gave me a sense ofrenewal, retrieving memories which I did not even realize thatI had lost. It was an experience which I am glad I did not missand looking back from where I am now, makes me even more

aware of the value of the years I spent here. I look forward toreturning when we gather again and hope that it will besoon.”

Medita is currently employed as Secretary General of theNational Commission for UNESCO in the BVI, with her majorfocus being human rights. Prior to holding this position, shetaught Spanish and English and was also an Education Officer.

It was a task for Anne Edwards (Class of 1975) to join usfor the 1970s Reunion Weekend but she came despite all thehassle. She had to travel by boat to St. Maarten, where shetook a Caribbean Star flight to St. Lucia before arriving inBarbados. Anne is currently on pre-retirement leave, retiringas Principal of Campus B.

She now spends most of her time managing Syd-An’s – a

fourteen-room guest house. Her love for her country andtourism led her to this dream. Along with another colleagueshe has formed the Inns of Anguilla for small hoteliers in herhomeland. Anne has served as Director of Anguilla HotelAssociation as well a Director of the Caribbean HotelAssociation. Her plans for the future include contesting aseat in the upcoming elections in 2005.

Also joining us during Reunion Weekend was Justice AdrianSaunders (Class of 1975) from St. Lucia. Justice Saunders said,“It was a nostalgic experience meeting a few persons whom Ihad not seen in many years and re-living old times. Icommend the effort that was put into both the concert onFriday and the dinner the following evening”. He also said thathe believed reunions of this nature are extremely useful.

Justice Saunders who was called to the bar of St. Vincentand the Grenadines in 1977, practiced privately until 1996 whenhe was appointed to act as a Judge of the Eastern CaribbeanSupreme Court, with stints in Montserrat, Anguilla and St. Lucia.

He has acted on the Court of Appeal of the EasternCaribbean Supreme Court from time to time from 2000 and inMay 2003 was appointed a permanent member of that Court.In 2004, he was appointed to act as Chief Justice.

Justice Saunders social and professional activities includePresident of the National Youth Council of St. Vincent and theGrenadines, member of the Executive Body of the St. Vincentand the Grenadines Table Tennis Association, Chairman of theSt. Vincent Save the Children, President of the St. Vincent Guildof Graduates, Secretary of the Vincentian Bar Association anda member of the OECS Bar Council.



Photo GalleryPhoto GalleryPhoto GalleryPhoto GalleryPhoto Gallery

Maxine McClean readscitation of Awardees

Photo GalleryPhoto GalleryPhoto GalleryPhoto GalleryPhoto Gallery

Grantley Smith, Martin Cox,Clairvoir Squires and CarolynSlusher at back in time lime

Rosetta Babb (left) and Dawn Myers at the dinner

Lindsay Holder (left) shares a light moment withcolleagues Maxine McClean and Carlos Holder

Shelly Scantlebury and husband Lincoln enjoying theback in time lime

Celeste Porte (left) (1971) relaxes withDarwin Rouse (1970)

Justin Saunders (left) with colleaguesat the lime

Melza Archibald and Carol Taylorpose for the camera

Julian Chapman (1975) andwife from St. Croix

Anne Edwards (left) inconversation with Senator

John Williams and ProfessorFrank Alleyne

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Page - 12 The Tower


Phone: 246 417-4544 or 4541/4543Fax: 246 417-4542 Email: [email protected]

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Except otherwise indicated, all stories were researched and written bySonia Johnson, Business Development Officer (Class of 1983) and Rose-Anne Maxwell, Administrative Assistant, Office of Alumni Relations (Class of 1999).

EditorSonia Johnson, Business Development Officer (Class of 1983)

Incorrect Address? Change of Address?If there are errors or changes you would like to make to your address details, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations.

Save A Tree! If you prefer to receive your next issue of The Tower via e-mail, contact [email protected]

1970S ALUMNI ASSUME THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP

IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN

If Address Unknown, Return To:Office of Alumni Relations,

University of the West Indies

Cave Hill Campus

P O Box 64, Bridgetown, Barbados

Of the seven sitting Prime Ministers who are UWI alumni, five have a connection with Cave Hill and the seventies. Prime Minister Arthur of Barbadoscompleted his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Economics and History at UWI Cave Hill in 1971. He also obtained a Master of Science degree in Economics from theMona Campus in 1974 and began his professional career as a Research Fellow with the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES). PrimeMinister of Grenada, the Hon Dr. Keith Mitchell gained his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Chemistry from UWI Cave Hill in 1971. The Hon Dr DenzilDouglas, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from UWI Cave Hill in 1977 and went on to obtain his medical degree,also at UWI, in 1984. The Hon Dr Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of St. Lucia began his studies for the Bachelor of Science in Government and History at UWI CaveHill and completed at the Mona Campus in 1976. He then read Law at UWI Cave Hill and, in 1983, obtained an LLB, followed in 1986 by an LLM. The HonouableRalph Gonsalves graduated from the Mona Campus, but taught here at Cave Hill from 1976 to 1979 and Premier of St. Kitts & Nevis, The Honourable Vance Amorygraduated from the campus in 1973.

62942 uwi newsletter · 2014-03-25 · volume 1, issue 2 page - 3 the university of the west...

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