UWI pays tribute to Sir Alister McIntyre

by Robert Bermudez
Chancellor of The University of the West Indies
 
It is with deep sadness that The University of the West Indies (The UWI) community learnt of the passing of Sir Alister McIntyre, Vice-Chancellor Emeritus, on Saturday, April 20, 2019.

The quintessential Caribbean man, his life was spent in service of the region he called home. An economist by profession, he lectured at the St. Augustine and Mona campuses of The UWI and also served as Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research, then Director at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) before becoming Vice-Chancellor of The UWI in 1988.

After his retirement from The UWI a decade later, he continued to serve the region as Chief Technical Advisor to the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, playing a central role in the region’s trade negotiations in several arenas. His was a sterling contribution to regional development from the days of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) in the 1960s, from the creation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in 1973 to the crafting of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) in 1989. He was also instrumental in ensuring that the Heads of Government of CARICOM recognised the pivotal role played by The UWI in the human resource development of the region and enshrined The UWI in the 1989 Grand Anse Declaration, setting the CSME in motion, as a regional institution in perpetuity.

In addition to the many structural and operational changes to ensure more efficient functioning of the institution that he piloted, Sir Alister initiated the strategic planning process which is now an integral part of The UWI’s operations.

The region has lost a transformational leader; a giant among men whose contributions to our development shall continue to benefit this generation and generations into the future.

My sincere condolences and those of The UWI community, are extended to his wife Marjorie, their children and grandchildren.