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The Caribbean Studies Association (CSA) held its 50th anniversary conference at the Gros Islet Harbour Club Hotel on Monday (June 3), calling on scholars to set a new paradigm for sustainable development in the region.
The same call was made by the Minister of Education of St. Lucia, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus respectively, calling for a radical approach to re-examine the present and future of education in the Caribbean to make it sufficiently relevant and sustainable.
The third and third language
The opening ceremony of CSA’s 48th Annual Conference, the third held in St. Lucia, saw delegates welcomed in Kweyol, the local indigenous language, as well as in a variety of languages including English and Spanish.
Hundreds of delegates came from St. Lucia, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the wider Caribbean region, including Cuba, Martinique and Guadeloupe, the Netherlands Antilles (Curaçao and Sint Maarten), Africa and the African Diaspora, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The theme of the conference was “Sustainability in Caribbean Development: Convergence of Technology, People, Planet, Peace, Prosperity and Partnership” and SALCC Board President Cletus Springer welcomed the participants on behalf of the organizers SALCC, the University of the West Indies Global Campus (St. Lucia) and Monsignor Patrick Anthony Civil Research Center (FRC).
Bridging the gap
Education Minister Shawn Edwards welcomed CSA representatives to the “island that produced two Nobel Prize winners” and “the island that nations fight over” and urged them to think and act in a way that “closes the digital divide” and pursues sustainable education and development.
The Minister also called on delegates to “redefine prosperity” and called on university graduates and the region’s education policymakers to “build collaborative alliances and share themes on the journey of transformation and renewal”.
Revolutionary mentality
Guest speaker Dr. June Sommer, who is also Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, expressed similar sentiments, arguing that “only a revolutionary way of thinking” can bring about the level of sustainable development necessary to drive real development in the Caribbean.
The Chair of the University of the West Indies Global Campus Committee recalled Sir Arthur Lewis’ warning that “equilibrium is not equality” and called on scholars to begin “facing up to the region’s unique development challenges”.
Dr Sommer noted that the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can, but also need to be adapted to the region’s specific “spiritual, moral and cultural realities”.
Citing Sir Arthur again, she noted that the imperative today is to “eradicate the 200-year-old colonial education system” that has been implanted over time by those he described as “living on an island of wealth and in an ocean of poverty”.
Tribute to Caribbean pioneers
Dr. Sommer urged the Caribbean to start recognizing the region’s pioneers who laid the foundations for many things that are still relevant today, citing Sir Arthur and another who made important contributions to economic theory as worthy of reference.
She said: “We know all about Adam Smith, but nothing about Sir Arthur Lewis.
“But,” she added, “if Sir Arthur had come from the global North, he would certainly have received global recognition” for his equally important contributions to the theory of economic development in developing countries.
Rethinking Regionalism
Ambassador Sommer said that “our educational progress has been hampered” and advocated that “we must re-examine regionalism, otherwise our independence will be meaningless.”
Dr. Sommer also called for more sharing of the stories of unsung national heroes who fought against slavery and for liberation, noting that while Jamaican national hero “Nanny” is well known locally and internationally, less is known about St. Lucia’s “Petronelle”, who was murdered in public by his compatriots for his steadfast resistance to slavery, and Dominican resistance leader “Sarah”.
Dr. She argues, “We cannot defend our rights if only half of our story is told.”
She also quoted the current President of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Dennis Francis of Trinidad and Tobago, who said: “If our colonial education system does not change, we will continue to be mental slaves of the colonizers.”
A new development paradigm
The panel presenter warned that it was important “not to allow others to recreate our past” and “for the world to respect our rights.”
She proposed to consider, adopt and implement “a new development paradigm” through regional and global cooperation, “because we cannot achieve comprehensive development alone…”
The ambassador, who is also a member of the National Reparations Commission (NRC) of Saint Lucia, counts Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC), as one of her mentors.
She invites everyone to always think that education is not just about the financial cost, but more about the importance of being educated – again quoting Sir Arthur: “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!”
Themes and Topics
Other themes and topics presented and discussed at the Caribbean Conference’s seminars included: “Land, Sky and Sea: Ecological Crisis, Climate Action and the Future of the Caribbean”; “Development Cooperation in the Caribbean: Technology, Integration and Growth”; “People, Partnerships, Peace and Prosperity: The Role of Women in Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Caribbean”; “Rethinking Investment, Economic Development and Sustainable Growth in the Caribbean” and “Culturally Responsive Sustainability for Regional Development – Protecting Our Shared Spaces”.
CSA members also discussed “The State of CSA 50 Years Later,” “Seeking Higher Levels of Support,” “People and Prosperity,” and “Publishing 101.”
Noteworthy highlights
Other highlights of note included a brief but illuminating speech by Wes Hall, owner of the Harbour Club Hotel, where the conference was held, a Jamaican who worked on plantations as a child, moved to Canada and is now president of the University of Toronto.
Also present was a 90-year-old female representative from Guadeloupe, who was the oldest CSA member present.
Dr. Madjerie Jameson-Charles, Principal of the Saint Lucia Language and Cultural Centre, gave a speech of thanks and said that upon assuming office in 2023, he would make it a priority to successfully host the third historic CSA 50th Anniversary Conference in Saint Lucia.
Screening and distribution
Opening night concluded with a screening of the internationally award-winning St. Lucian-made film, Shantaye’s World, written and directed by dynamic local filmmaker Mathurine Emmanuel.
Thursday’s (May 6) conference features a “Celebration of Authors” where St. Lucia professor Tennyson Joseph will launch his latest book, which focuses on CLR James, a prominent political thinker and writer in Trinidad and the Caribbean.
The meeting closed on Friday, June 7, with the new president being Rhoda Arrindell from Sint Maarten, the Netherlands, for the period 2024-2025.
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