Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
CHEVANNES
HIGH PRAISES for Professor Barry Chevannes, former dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) at the University of the West Indies (UWI), flowed freely last Thursday night during the opening ceremony of a conference in his honour.
Professor Kenneth Hall, principal of the UWI said it was important to honour those who have made a positive contribution to the university. He said Professor Chevannes has a distinguished record and the university is indebted to him for that.
Professor Maureen Warner-Lewis said his founding of Fathers' Incorporated, a parenting group established to support and help men become better parents, is an outgrowth of his commitment to family life.
"Barry for me represents some of the best aspects of Jamaican and Caribbean manhood," Mrs. Warner-Lewis said.
Dr. Mark Figueroa, dean of the FSS, and Dr. Ian Boxill, head of the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work, also paid tribute to Professor Chevannes.
The conference was organised by the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work in collaboration with the FSS.
INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION
The coordinators of the conference said it was necessary to honour Professor Chevannes because of the invaluable contribution he has made to the university through his continuous research and teaching in the areas of Afro-Caribbean religions, Caribbean culture and identity, male gender issues and crime and violence.
The conference was orchestrated to reflect the various aspects of Chevannes' life.
The evening was also filled with cultural performances.
'Dr. Barry Chevannes Mek Wi Advance', performed by The Family, evoked Professor Chevannes' work on revivalism and Rastafarianism.
The three-day conference which ended on Saturday entailed the intellectual discourse of more than 60 scholars and professionals, a library exhibition, art exhibitions, cultural presentations and the launching of Professor Chevannes' book: Betwixt and Between: Explorations in an African Caribbean Mindscape.
