The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus is hosting a high-level Canada–Caribbean Research Symposium aimed at redefining security in an increasingly uncertain and volatile global landscape.
Regional leaders, leading academics and key policymakers convened at the campus for the fourth staging of the Canada–Caribbean Research Symposium, uniting expertise and insight to craft forward-thinking solutions through research-driven collaboration.
Principal of the UWI, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, underscored the urgency of the moment, stating: “In this, what I consider to be a pivotal moment, we are bound by a shared obligation to collaboratively forge tools, policies, and systems that will ensure the safety and well-being of our populations in this very unpredictable world. And our academic community is actively shaping regional and sometimes global discussions.”
Professor Belle Antoine says universities are increasingly playing a central role in shaping public policy and guiding regional responses to global challenges.
In keeping with the Government’s mandate, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services, Dr. Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj, emphasised the importance of investing in people as part of a broader national security strategy.
“Security today extends far beyond borders and law enforcement. It encompasses economic stability, social resilience, food and health systems, climate preparedness, and the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens, which is near and dear to me and to our Ministry. As a region, we continue to confront long-standing challenges like poverty, inequality, and social vulnerabilities that can undermine community stability.”
The symposium also highlights the long-standing partnership between Canada and the Caribbean, bringing together researchers and institutions from both regions.
“It’s important because it is a research symposium, really bringing some of the best minds from across the Caribbean region and what I’ll call today the region of Canada, made up of all these provinces, so in many ways we are two regions when we think of it that way. I also bring greetings from a vibrant and very, very warm population of Canadians who have strong ties to the Caribbean.”
Discussions are expected to inform future policy and strengthen collaboration as the region works to prepare for evolving social, economic and technological challenges.