The UWI Regional
Headquarters Jamaica.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020—The
historic Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research, a joint
initiative of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and the
University of Glasgow, has begun its work. It is the first
institution within British University history, dedicated to the
slavery reparations policy framework.

The
Centre’s Board of Directors met at The UWI Cave Hill Campus in
Barbados on December 18, 2019. Co-chaired by Professor Simon
Anderson, distinguished Jamaican scientist who is Director of the
George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre at The UWI Cave Hill
Campus and the accomplished Professor William Cushley from Glasgow
University, the Board also consists of six senior persons from each
university including the co-chairs. The UWI directors are Pro
Vice-Chancellors Stefan Gift and Clive Landis as well as Dr Sonjah
Stanley Niaah, Professor Verene Shepherd, and Vice-Chancellor,
Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.

The
purpose of the inaugural meeting was to rollout the research and
project development agenda for the Centre which is aimed at
confronting and eradicating the debilitating legacies of slavery and
colonisation in the Caribbean. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles joined
Professor Simon Anderson in welcoming board members to Cave Hill,
where the Centre will be hosted.

It
was agreed that the Centre’s activities in its first ten-year phase
will focus on three pillars:

1. 
   The
   public health crisis in the Caribbean, particularly the chronic
   disease pandemic, with special focus on identifying research-based
   solutions to reduce the burden of Type 2 Diabetes and its sequelae
   complications, such as diabetic foot amputation. The region has the
   world’s highest per capita amputation rates. There will also be a
   focus on other chronic diseases including mental illnesses, heart
   disease, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease and cancers affecting
   in particular women and children. It will support work that
   carefully considers health disparities within the broader social
   context including their social and genetic determinants.
   
2. 
   The
   search for post-plantation economy development policies that are
   innovative and progressive in the struggle for economic growth in
   the global economy. It was noted that economic practices and policy
   in the region are conservative and technologically transformative;
   effectively sustaining persistent poverty and growing inequality and
   designed to meet the specific needs of IMF conditionalities rather
   than focusing on economic diversification, racial inclusion, gender
   empowerment. Devising a new set of economic tools and thought
   specifically for the post-colonial Caribbean is, therefore, a top
   priority.
   
3. 
   Recognising
   that slavery and colonialism drove deep wedges between Africa and
   its Caribbean family, strategies for project implementation to
   tackle the day-to-day cultural divide between Africa and the
   Caribbean are to be funded. Innovative projects to practically
   integrate and socially domesticate this bond are to be prioritised.
   

In addition to
project development and applied research, there is also funding
available for relevant reparations oriented teaching programmes. The
seed budget of £20 million to be used over two decades to develop
the work was discussed alongside other fundraising strategies.
Research proposals were also established, and joint subcommittees
will begin planning for projects.

Professor Anderson
expressed his delight as co-Chair to begin this historic journey
bringing together the two university worlds within a reparatory
justice framework. Professor Cushley underscored the enormous
significance that this initiative has for the world today,
particularly universities that consider themselves ethical in the
pursuit of excellence. Vice-Chancellor Beckles commended the team for
their positive and progressive thinking and actions.

The next meeting is
expected to take place in the first quarter of 2020.