The University of the West Indies Press (UWI Press) recently launched Caribbean Trade, Integration and Development – Selected Papers and Speeches of Alister McIntyre (Vols. 1 & 2). The works edited by Andrew S. Downes, Compton Bourne, M. Arnold McIntyre, and Rosalie O’Meally, reflect the vision of the late Sir Alister McIntyre, OCC, OM, CCH, who has been described variously as an economic consultant, economic advisor, scholar, policymaker and former Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI).
The June 30 hybrid event, chaired by Professor Emerita The Most Honourable Eudine Barriteau, former Pro Vice-Chancellor, and Principal, was hosted physically at The UWI Cave Hill Campus Walcott Warner Theatre and streamed live via UWItv. The recorded broadcast of the launch can be accessed here.
Featured speaker at the launch, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Barbados highlighted the current relevance of Sir Alister’s intellect. She quoted an excerpt which read, “…At the present time what is occurring in the Caribbean forms part of the larger global impact of the international economic crisis in the third world. However, it is important that the governments and peoples of the region be thoroughly conversant with the hard facts of our economic situation: for it is from those facts, and from the search for solutions to the problems which they pose, that one begins to appreciate the need for urgent action to strengthen the regional movement.” Prime Minister Mottley expounded, “Those words were delivered on December 8, 1975, by Sir Alister McIntyre. They could have as easily with the exception of the 20% reference in inflation be delivered in the year 2022 on the region which we are members.”
Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, also a presenter on the programme shared, “Sir Alister was the quintessential university man. Our strategic plan, we call it the Triple A Strategic Plan is built upon three pillars of access, alignment, and agility. Sir Alister also represented our Triple A because he was first-class academic, a brilliant administrator and a great advocate for development…These two collections constitute a lifetime of output in the printed word into spoken word as a policy advocate, as a mobiliser of Caribbean consciousness around the imperative of development and his academic publishing.”
Other contributions during the launch came from Sir Alister’s family, Lady Majorie McIntyre and Dr. M. Arnold McIntyre; Professor R. Clive Landis, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus; Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon, President, Caribbean Development Bank; Dr. Shelton Nicholls, Senior Advisor to the President, Caribbean Development Bank.