SRC welcomes new Research Assistant – Vanessa Mason!
SRC welcomes new Research Assistant – Vanessa Mason! Author: In October 2025, the SRC welcomed Ms. Vanessa Mason as its new Research Assistant. Vanessa is a graduate of the MITP programme’s Cohort 21, graduating with a Distinction and as Valedictorian of her class. She brings to the SRC expertise in International Relations, having attained a Bachelor of Science in International Relations (Special) with First Class Honours from The University of the West Indies (The UWI) in 2020. Vanessa’s responsibilities at the SRC include research and administrative support, social media and website coordination. Vanessa keenly looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to the SRC’s mission and work programme. You src in the news October 20, 2025 In October 2025, the SRC welcomed Ms. Vanessa Mason as its new Research Assistant. Vanessa is a graduate of the MITP programme’s Cohort 21, graduating with a Distinction and as Valedictorian of her class. She brings to the SRC expertise in International Relations, having attained a Bachelor of Science in International Relations (Special) with First Class Honours from The University of the West Indies (The UWI) in 2020. Vanessa’s responsibilities at the SRC include research and administrative support, social media and website coordination. Vanessa keenly looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to the SRC’s mission and work programme. You can learn more about Vanessa on her SRC Team page here.
SRC celebrates Africa-CARICOM Day!
SRC celebrates Africa-CARICOM Day! Author: The SRC joins with our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African continent to commemorate Africa-CARICOM Day 2023! Africa-CARICOM Day is celebrated every September 7 since 2022 following a decision coming out of the inaugural Africa-CARICOM summit held on that date in 2021. We also acknowledge the strengthening of Africa-Caribbean institutional arrangements for the promotion of greater trade, tourism and investment between our two regions, including the recent establishment of a CARICOM branch of the AfriExim Bank. In commemoration of this important day, we draw attention to the SRC’s work on this burgeoning area src in the news September 8, 2023 The SRC joins with our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African continent to commemorate Africa-CARICOM Day 2023! Africa-CARICOM Day is celebrated every September 7 since 2022 following a decision coming out of the inaugural Africa-CARICOM summit held on that date in 2021. We also acknowledge the strengthening of Africa-Caribbean institutional arrangements for the promotion of greater trade, tourism and investment between our two regions, including the recent establishment of a CARICOM branch of the AfriExim Bank. In commemoration of this important day, we draw attention to the SRC’s work on this burgeoning area of trade on our dedicated CARICOM-Africa trade relations webpage here.
SRC hosts Trade and Climate Change Workshop
SRC hosts Trade and Climate Change Workshop Author: On May 2-5, 2023, the SRC hosted a workshop entitled Trade and Climate Action: Shifting the Paradigm for a Just Transition and Sustainable Development in Bridgetown, Barbados on 2-5 May 2023. The event brought together policymakers, academics, regional and international officials, civil society leaders, business and finance executives from the fields of finance, trade, sustainable development, and climate change. Together, this group of thought leaders, including strong representation from the Global South, debated and proposed solutions on how the trade agenda can advance sustainable climate action in a manner that meets the needs and priorities of developing countries. One immediate src in the news May 19, 2023 On May 2-5, 2023, the SRC hosted a workshop entitled Trade and Climate Action: Shifting the Paradigm for a Just Transition and Sustainable Development in Bridgetown, Barbados on 2-5 May 2023. The event brought together policymakers, academics, regional and international officials, civil society leaders, business and finance executives from the fields of finance, trade, sustainable development, and climate change. Together, this group of thought leaders, including strong representation from the Global South, debated and proposed solutions on how the trade agenda can advance sustainable climate action in a manner that meets the needs and priorities of developing countries. One immediate output of the meeting will be a synthesis document highlighting key areas that the trade agenda must prioritize for reform and/or action to promote and advance the sustainability agenda, including climate action, for developing countries. The key note address was delivered by Prime Minister of Barbados, the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley. The welcome event, including Prime Minister Mottley’s key note event, may be viewed below. The SRC thanks all participants, attendees and everyone who made this workshop the success that it was. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr1tNhDng6I
Online Short Course – Trade Negotiations, Cooperation and Leadership
Online Short Course – Trade Negotiations, Cooperation and Leadership Author: The SRC, together with the OECS Commission and CPDLL, is pleased to offer a short course on Trade Negotiations, Cooperation and Leadership (with a focus on the WTO CARIFORUM negotiations. Click here for more information. src in the news March 14, 2022 The SRC, together with the OECS Commission and CPDLL, is pleased to offer a short course on Trade Negotiations, Cooperation and Leadership (with a focus on the WTO CARIFORUM negotiations. Click here for more information.
Video Recording – Advancing Women in Trade through UNCTAD Gender Declaration
Video Recording – Advancing Women in Trade through UNCTAD Gender Declaration Author: For all those who missed the SRC special Lunch Time Chat held on 8th March 2022 in celebration of International Women’s Day featuring tribute to Dame Billie Miller. Watch the video by clicking here. src in the news March 10, 2022 For all those who missed the SRC special Lunch Time Chat held on 8th March 2022 in celebration of International Women’s Day featuring tribute to Dame Billie Miller. https://youtu.be/kw7QRqxS05o
U.S. Embassy Bridgetown funds University of the West Indies Regional Trade Research
From bottom left to top left to right – U.S. Ambassador Linda Taglialatela, Professor Clive Landis, Dr. Jan Yves Remy, Dr. Dion Greenidge, Professor Troy Lorde, and Ms. Lisa Alleyne. On November 23, the United States Embassy to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean hosted a signing ceremony to mark the provision of grant funding to the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus, which are geared towards supporting regional trade and investment. UWI’s Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy, and Services was awarded US$50,000 to support programs focused on U.S.-Caribbean trade and investment, and the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business was awarded approximately US$15,000 to develop micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the Caribbean. The funding is part of an education initiative entitled Revitalizing the U.S – Caribbean Trade and Investment Agenda, which will bring the institutional collaboration between the United States Embassy and the University of the West Indies to a new level. Speaking at the signing ceremony, United States Ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS, Linda Taglialatela, said “I can promise you that the U.S. Embassy will support you in holding the torch of knowledge high. It is with that light, and the freedom with which it illuminates, that we will be able to see new possibilities and seize upon them.” Representing the university was principal of UWI Cave Hill Campus, Professor Clive Landis, who thanked Ambassador Taglialatela and the Embassy for supporting the campus’ trade research initiatives. Professor Landis said: “We our deeply appreciative of this demonstration of solidarity and I wish to give every assurance that we value highly the strengthening of these bonds between the U.S. government and the UWI Cave Hill campus.”
The UWI Cave Hill Shridath Ramphal Centre hosts Women and Trade in the Americas Training Programme
The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. Tuesday, November 23, 2021— The Shridath Ramphal Centre (SRC) at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus is collaborating with the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM) and the University of Chile to offer the Women and Trade in the Americas Training Programme which focuses on building capacity in the formulation and implementation of an inclusive trade policy that empowers women. The online course is organized through the WTO Chairs Programme, which was developed to support and promote trade-related academic activities by universities and research institutions in developing and least-developed countries. The 9-day programme which began on Monday 22nd November 2021, concludes on Thursday 2nd December 2021. It is designed as an introduction to the gender equality dimensions of trade in the Americas and provides an overview of the relationship between trade and women from a policy and legal perspective. At the virtual opening session of the module, Director of the Shridath Ramphal Centre, Dr. Jan Yves Remy, noted that the training programme supports the Centre’s mandate as a world-class centre for training, research and outreach on trade and development issues in the Caribbean. “This course, coming as it does on the brink of the 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva, could not be better timed. It unites students from around the region on a very important new issue on the WTO agenda – ensuring that women are supported and represented in trade negotiating outcomes. We are grateful to the sponsors and to the WTO Chairs Programme for allowing us to bring the issue of trade and gender to this region, through a training module.” Dr. Remy, shared. Dr. Remy was joined by fellow Chairs, Felipe Munoz from University of Chile, Dr. Amrita Bahri, Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, Werner Zdouc, of the WTO Secretariat Representative and WTO Sponsors of the programme from The Netherlands and France. The course spans a myriad of trade and gender related topics in the Americas including trade agreement negotiations, E-commerce and digital opportunities, health issues including COVID-19 and allows participants to engage with eminent experts regarding historic and novel challenges faced by women in global trade. Participants of the training programme include students, researchers, policymakers, businesspersons, and personnel in national, regional, and international organizations with mandates in trade and/or gender. By the end of the course, these persons should be made aware of the need to incorporate gender into trade policy development as an essential prerequisite for inclusive and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Video Recording – Road to MC12 Webinar 1
Watch the recording of the first in the SRC and OECS’ two-part ‘Road to MC12’ Webinar Series below:
The Science of the COVID-19 Vaccine – Recording
VIDEO RECORDING – Private Sector Investment for SDG Achievement Webinar
Thank you for all those who attended the Webinar on Facilitating Private Sector Investment for SDG Achievement in Caribbean SIDS held Thursday, August 5, 2021. Please see the video recording below: