Anguilla Conference

University of the West Indies

OPEN CAMPUS

COUNTRY CONFERENCE SERIES

BEYOND WALLS: MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES

Anguilla Conference

A multi-disciplinary conference focusing on issues relevant to Anguilla

National Bank of Anguilla Training Room

Anguilla

April 28 - 29, 2011

Abstracts

	Presenters	Paper
1.	Oluwakemi M Linda Banks	Creating Peace And Excellence Through The Learning Village The Teacher Gloria Omololu Institute, was founded by Dr Banks in 1994 to provide an alternative system of education based on Maslow’s theory that individuals must be internally motivated to succeed. The statement by Carl Jung “The curriculum is so much necessary new material, but the warmth is the vital element for the growing child and the soul of the child” embodies the Institute’s approach to education. The term “institute” embraces the concept of education for life and the school’s plans to provide high quality educational opportunities to all students regardless of race, creed, developmental level, special needs, or socio-economic status. “OMOLOLU”, literally translated from the Yoruba language, is a reminder that “Children are the summit of achievement” and thus TGOI aims at all times to locate children, their needs and interests at the core of its educational endeavours and help them to “Reach for the Summit”. The school campus, comprised of colourful, traditional Anguillian cottages, symbolizes a global village community where children learn to live together harmoniously. The village building blocks are: Caring, Qualified Teachers, Positive Self Esteem, Values Education, Healthy Bodies, Parental Involvement, Multilingual Competence, Multicultural Education, Commitment to Excellence, Safe, Nurturing Environment, Environmental Awareness, Positive Gender Relations, Creative Expression, Holistic Education, Technology. OMOLOLU Time, a unique feature of the programme brings the villagers together to educate, celebrate and motivate each other as they nurture each other’s development. In 2001, UNESCO and the International Bureau of Education declared that Omololu was a model for UNESCO’s vision of education for the 21st century.
2.	Gracelyn Cassell, Carla Harris	The Value and the Vexation: The Experience of Festival Tourism in the British Overseas Territories of Montserrat and Anguilla Festivals are becoming increasingly popular as a means to enhance, enliven and inject greater resilience into a relatively mature Caribbean tourism product. Festival tourism capitalizes on the cultural wealth and heritage of the archipelago as well as creates space for infusion of new entertainment genres within the tourism offering of the islands. The British Overseas Territories of Montserrat and Anguilla are heavily dependent on tourism as a contributor to GDP and within the last decade both territories have chosen to focus on festival tourism as a means of marketing their island as a destination of choice for the discerning traveler. In 2003, the Tranquility Jazz Festival heralded Anguilla’s decision to invest in festival tourism as a means to invigorate and diversify the island’s high end, precariously seasonal tourism product. Similarly, in 2009, Montserrat launched the Alliouagana Festival of the Word, a literary festival, following on from the establishment of the Tourism Challenge Fund the previous year; an initiative intended to support and encourage inter alia heritage and cultural activities and thus breathe new life into the island’s traditional concentration on residential tourism. The experience of the Tranquility Jazz Festival and the Alliouagana Festival of the Word will be examined in an attempt to assess the economic and social value and challenges of festival tourism in both islands.
3.	Lowell Fiet	másTaller: A Mask and Creative Expression Workshop for Youth and Adults The mask and creative expression workshop proposed by másTaller of San Juan, Puerto Rico, engages fifteen to twenty artistically and culturally motivated young people (ages ten and above), teachers, and community members in a “theatre in education” experience. The masks to be created reflect, without copying or directly imitating, the cultural and aesthetic values apparent in Afro-Caribbean Puerto Rican and Dominican Vejigante (trickster/diablito) masks, West Indian Carnival masks, Native American masks from Chile and the northwest coast of Canada, African masks, and Far Eastern masks, as well as more contemporary expressions. However, the final performance takes places within the context of Caribbean traditions, ecological awareness, and universal themes. The workshop requires three interrelated sessions of three hours each. The first session is devoted to the process of designing, cutting, fitting, and --most complex-- painting a functional performance mask. The second session begins to use the masks with costumes, props, music, movement, and a spoken text --also created in the workshop-- to create a masked cultural performance. The themes developed focus on cultural survival and resistance and issues of equality, human rights, and universal justice. The third session serves as rehearsal for a performance for a larger audience. All tools and materials are provided.
4.	Arlene Bailey Franklin, Carrolle Perry Devonish, Perin Bradley	Jollification as a Model for Philanthropy in the 21st Century The Anguilla Community Foundation, was the first English foundation organized in the Caribbean in 1999. Its founders faced numerous challenges of creating a new community foundation on a small island. There was limited organized philanthropy and the founders were faced with the need to introduce and educate the residents on its value to the community. In the process of introducing the notion it was realized that the concept was indeed not new but it was synonymous with community giving. More importantly, it resonated with the community in its old cultural traditions on the island of giving and sharing in the practice of Jollification. An example of jollification was in the past when life in Anguilla meant villages helped villages, neighbors helped neighbors, money was in short supply, people helped people in order to support each other. For example, if your neighbor needed to pour the foundation for a house or help to install a roof, the community came together to work. The women came and brought their big pots for cooking, the children ran in and out, playing and running errands. The men did the heavy lifting and building. This example of giving and sharing, Jollification remains a revered part of Anguilla’s history. This presentation will attempt to outline some key values of philanthropy and those practices of jollification. A case will be presented of how these principles are a unique philanthropic model of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
5.	Claire de Riggs Jones	Sustainable Development: A Boost in Entrepreneurship and a Way Forward A country’s growth is highly dependent on sustainable development. In the Caribbean, land and its people are the greatest resource. The utilization of these resources can yield revenues which can assist in any development plan. In striving to acquire favorable enterprise some type of government policies and /or intervention could harness the human resource capital and structure. In this way, the natural resources can be fully exploited and the territories (including the sea) can be targeted in an effort to maximize the potential commerce structure. Mechanisms should be established so that various levels of leverage could be undertaken to effectively measure the strength of enterprises being formulated. In this way, viability and sustainability will take precedence over all resources whether combined or under a singular approach. Survivability in any type of commercial activity depends on a combination of investors from a financial perspective and the development of training programs. Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean has the capacity to integrate not only macro but the micro business sector within the Caribbean region. Hence, in a country such as Anguilla where there is much to experience and explore, the commercial landscape is virtually limitless. Tourist has reckoned Anguilla as a haven for natural pleasures and pure Caribbean delight, this is an advantage. In an attempt to promote sustainable development and growth in Anguilla, the authorities could seriously explore the option of additional entrepreneurship on the island. This field of business will have guaranteed economic benefits to the population of Anguilla.
6.	Linda Lake	Forging an Anguillian Identity The melding of cultural traditions in Anguilla's socio-historical context reflects their dynamism and links to the development of a national identity. This paper explores some factors which have contributed to shaping the attributes of a national psyche. In so doing, it examines the cultural influences of the interplay between the adoption and adaptation of traditions by sectors of the social pyramid. Religion, education and unionism created mechanisms for the institutionalisation of cultural traditions by the ruling class. Whether the roots of traditions can be traced to deliberate intent, socialisation or reconstruction is debatable. An exploration of the cultural custom of "jollification" – an event of cooperative labour for mutual benefit demonstrates both its harnessing of folk traditions for economic survival, cultural empowerment and also its potential for reshaping identity in nation building. Symbolic of community cohesion the jollification was primarily used in agricultural and construction endeavours. Its resurgence in the twenty-first century may be advantageous for mitigating the penetration of foreign cultures. The role of resistance and contestation in the formation of Caribbean identity is also discussed and linked to that defining landmark in local history - the Anguilla Revolution of 1967. Attributes of a collective national identity, honed under adverse socio-political conditions, underpinned the struggle for separation from St Kitts. Societal influences constantly transform cultural traditions; while the nature of these cyclic connections may remain organic they can also be constructively exploited at times to contribute to the orchestration of national identity.
7.	Professor Delroy M Louden, Sharon Richardson, Susan Hodge	Parental Education and Aspirations in Anguilla-Findings from Two Surveys. A secondary data analysis of two surveys conducted in Anguilla pertaining to Academic aspirations of students and findings relating to the adult population tertiary education needs.
8.	Professor Delroy M Louden, Dana Ruan, Charmaine Rey-Richardson,	Students Awareness Knowledge And Practices (KAP) Regarding The Effects Of Obesity On Lifestyles, Morbidity And Mortality This paper addresses the public health issue of Adolescent Obesity in Anguilla and outlines the findings with respect to attitudes knowledge and practices among selected school population.
9.	Professor Delroy M Louden, Susan Hodge	Anguilla Community College (ACC) Approach to Research This paper provides a description of research approaches that will be used by Anguilla Community College as it balances the needs of students by teaching and yet contributes to Nation building by conducting investigation on issues pertaining to policy needs of the wider population. Although the primary function of ACC is that of a teaching institution from the inception it has recognized that understanding the social, political, cultural and economic factors affecting students and families is an inescapable reality. Our approach to research therefore is shaped by an examination of epidemiological, demographic and social conditions that are seen disproportionately in Anguilla, such as obesity and fragile families. This paper describes the ACC approach to research one that focuses on Community Based PARTICIPATORY Research whose main principles include: Recognizing community as a unit of identity Building on strengths and resources within the community Facilitating collaborative partnerships in all phases of research Integrating knowledge and action for the mutual benefit of all partners Promoting co-learning and an empowering process Addressing health from both positive and ecological perspective Disseminating findings and knowledge gained to all partners
10.	Jonice Louden, Jocelyn Johnson, Michelle Queeley, Rev. Clifton Niles	Fragile Families: Their Characteristics and Impact This paper addresses issues pertaining to the vulnerability of families and its subsequent impact on Anguillan society and children.
11.	Emily Lund	Foucaultian Farms and Agrarian Agency: A Philosophical Approach to Agriculture The industrialization of agriculture transformed how humans relate to the environment. Intensive agriculture is rooted in the belief that nature exists as isolated, simple systems which can be easily manipulated for the benefit of mankind. While the effort to push the boundaries of production may have been founded upon lofty ideals, agriculturalists and the greater public did not comprehend the material consequences of those boundary-pushing technologies. The narrative of American agriculture during the twentieth century illustrates how humanist ideologies, coupled with rapid technological innovation, can severely effect the health of all biotic agents, human and nonhuman. Modern feminist philosophers are vocal contributors in the discourse on human-nonhuman relationships: agriculture serves as an excellent stage for testing and analyzing various conceptions of the nature of those relationships. Through the work of feminist theorists, one can see how deeply philosophical issues materialize on the agricultural landscape. Michel Foucault and Karen Barad provide the conceptual framework to understand how power politics and nonhuman agency are expressed in the agribusiness industry and on the farm. By drawing on philosophical discourse, historical documents, agricultural reports, scientific evidence and intriguing case studies, the fruitfulness of interdisciplinary work is illuminated. This approach serves to promote critical and creative dialogue between philosophers, farmers, ecologists, producers, consumers and everyone involved in the food system. A post-humanist, post-modern account of agriculture can help us move toward a more sustainable and equitable food system, which respects human-nonhuman agency and treats all agents as citizens of the global biotic community.
12.	Don Mitchell	New Perspectives in Oppression: The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Proposals for Constitutional Reform in the Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands The year 2010 was not a good year for constitutional advance in the British Overseas Territories in the West Indies. Recent FCO-inspired developments in Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands do not bode well for Anguilla in particular. Constitutional change in Montserrat during the year was oppressive and reactionary in its form and content. The new Montserrat Constitution was developed in secrecy, and introduced with little or no public consultation. Recommendations for constitutional reform presently being considered for the TCI are equally repressive. Is Anguilla next in line for this type of negative constitutional advance? The confrontational style of Anguilla's present local administration is aggravated by its refusal to follow constitutional norms. This unhelpful attitude is accompanied by the equally unconstitutional actions and equally confrontational style of the Governor, no doubt acting on instructions from London. This combustible mixture of ingredients contributes to make Anguilla appear to be on a constitutional collision course with the FCO in London. The House of Lords has not helped with its 2008 judgment in the Chagos Islands case. This decision has overturned decades of constitutional progress towards self-government and democratic responsibility by the Overseas Territories, and re-installed the supremacy of the Order in Council and the Royal Prerogative, instruments that had been slowly receding into a distant memory. The result is that there appears to be no prospect of an improvement in the governance of the Overseas Territories in the West Indies unless a new paradigm of government is embraced by the British Government.
13.	Camille Morris	Research and Development for Economic Survival: The Search for Niche Markets The importance of education to the development of any nation is undeniable, but sustainable development needs more than the transfer of knowledge and information. Sustainable development requires research, the development of relevant products to respond to needs and effective succession planning. The element of research is far reaching; in fact, we are beneficiaries of hundreds of years of research and development of products in response to our needs. The process begins with the transfer of information/ knowledge then the manipulation of information to produce goods and services that are usable and marketable, and the ability of the government to plan and organise the resources to equip human capital to continue the process and improve on it. Unfortunately, Anguilla , like other small territories has been relying on agriculture, tourism and remittances to provide the financial resources to support the economy, but with viable markets disappearing fast and preferential benefits waning, countries are expected to find alternative ways of building their economies. This alternative must come from education, research and proper planning. The paper therefore proposes to explore the importance of education and research to Anguilla's development and provide ways in which research can push Anguilla ahead, not in the short term but for the long term to achieve sustained growth that will lead to development.
14.	Christopher Richardson	Culture and its significance on the sustainability of Anguilla’s Tourism Industry One of the main elements of land tourism that is often underestimated is the exportation of a country’s culture. As the average stay of visitors on the island is five nights, land tourism affords the guest the opportunity to interact with nationals and experience that country’s belief system. Like many other islands, Anguilla boasts of the best beaches in the world. The components of the beach amenity are constantly challenged by the forces of nature. The ferocity of the latter over the past decade, due to climate change, does not provide us the luxury of offering the beach as the ultimate reason for a “get away.” Its consistency in sand texture, width, surface temperature is far too fickle. Whilst culture may be viewed as static, it is a live entity that cannot be easily copied and not readily eroded. Hence it is a viable element that can be positioned as a competitive edge. Our local dishes continue to be a secondary offering in our local restaurants; our Caribbean music of calypso and reggae as an entertainment form and “storey telling” in our resorts are being on the diminishing end of the spectrum. In order to maintain that competitive edge, we must project more of our culture. Our guests will be more appreciative of our product if we are to export more of the latter.
15.	Don E. Walicek	Oral Testimonies and Colonial-Era Archives from Anguilla: Documenting History, Intertextuality, and Social Experience in a Summer Youth Program This paper documents and discusses the significance of using oral testimonies in the Anguilla Library Service’s summer program, addressing its theoretical and practical insights.

Biographical data

Anguillian born Oluwakemi M. Linda Banks, is a Clinical Psychologist , Associate Professor of Psychology, Human Resource Development Consultant, Educator, Communications Specialist, Motivational Speaker, Afrocentric Entrepreneur, Certified Court Mediator, Employee Assistance Counsellor, and an Anglican Lay Reader.
Dr Banks’ multifaceted areas of expertise are all embraced in her Personal vision statement: “I am the possibility of universal transformation through spiritual leadership in a world manifesting the beauty and the glory of the Creator!”

Mr Perin Bradley has a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Howard University and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Durham University. He has worked with the Government of Anguilla as Deputy Registrar of Companies and currently serves as the Trade and Investment Officer at the Ministry of Economic Development. Mr Bradley also serves as a board member of the Anguilla Community Foundation.

Gracelyn Casselll, B.A. Library Studies (UWI), M.A. Archives (Lond), and MSc Computer Assisted Management Information Systems (UWI), worked as Librarian III at the University of the West Indies Library, Mona, Jamaica, from 1997 to 2005. Prior to that, she worked as Librarian in the Montserrat Public Library from 1982 to 1997. In 2005, she returned to her homeland, Montserrat, to take up the post of Head of the University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Continuing Studies now the UWI Open Campus Site in Montserrat. She has been Chair of the Steering Committee of the Alliouagana Festival of the Word in Montserrat since its inception in 2009.

Carrolle Perry Devonish: holds the MSW from Howard University. She served as Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia Foundation and Executive for United Negro College Fund. A founder and former Executive Director of the Anguilla Community Foundation and Association of Caribbean Community Foundations, she continues to serve on the boards of the Anguilla Community Foundation and the Douty Foundation.

Lowell Fiet holds MA and PhD degrees and has over thirty years of experience as a professor of theater history and performance in the US and especially in Puerto Rico. His numerous articles and books focus on Caribbean and Puerto Rican dramatic expression, and he directed the Taller de Imágenes theater collective (1988-1995). His work frequently focuses on masked rituals, celebrations, and cultural performances. Also active as a critic, he has written theater reviews for the weekly Puerto Rican newspaper Claridad since 1992. He teaches at the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras and currently directs the Interdisciplinary Studies Program of the College of Humanities.

Arlene Bailey Franklin, a Howard University graduate with a BS, Psychology and MSW, Community Development served as a Research Fellow/Lecturer, at Howard and the University of Benin, Nigeria. The former Director for Health and Human Services, City of Elizabeth, New Jersey and Executive Director for various New York agencies is currently Executive Director of the Anguilla Community Foundation.

Carla Harris, BSc Tropical Agriculture (UWI), MSc Policy and Planning (University of Wales, Swansea), and MA Sociology and Gender Studies (Brandeis) works as the Registrar with the Anguilla Community College. Prior to that, she worked as the Head of Centre with the UWI Open Campus Anguilla, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer with the Dominica Rural Enterprise Project, and Agricultural Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture in Dominica.

Susan Hodge – Special Assistant to the President Anguilla Community College. Holds a Certificate in Public Administration from the UWI and a Diploma of Higher Education in HRM& IT from the University of Gloucestershire. An avid community volunteer, she is currently pursuing an MBA with the University of Wales.

Jocelyn Johnson holds an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Psychology from Portsmouth University, (UK) a BA (Hons) in Criminology and Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is the Chief Probation Officer of the Department of Probation which includes Zenaida Haven the Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre.

Claire de Riggs Jones is Trinidadian and possesses a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership with a research concentration in Entrepreneurship Success and Failure. Mrs. de Riggs Jones is employed with the National Entrepreneurship Development Company as Business Development Officer and also lectures at the University of the West Indies. Her major interest is in education.

Linda Lake – A former teacher, Ms Linda T. Lake holds a B.Ed. (Hons) from Moray House College of Education in Scotland. Because of her knowledge of and interest in the preservation of Anguilla’s culture she has been involved in researching and documenting Anguilla’s traditions and has represented the Government of Anguilla at several conferences including the Caribbean Archives Association (CARBICA) and Regional Cultural Committee (RCC). She is currently pursuing studies leading to a post graduate diploma in Arts and Cultural Enterprise Management at St. Augustine Campus, UWI (Trinidad). Miss Lake is the Deputy Director in the Department of Youth and Culture, Anguilla.

Professor Delroy Louden, PhD. FRSPH President of Anguilla Community College. Served as Professor/ Principal Investigator in the Office of Research at Lincoln University Pennsylvania. Held Academic appointments in England, Nigeria, Jamaica, and Canada. Received his PhD from the University of Bristol, England and his Post-doctoral training in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University

Jonice Louden holds a Post-Grad Diploma in Regulatory Law Administration (Seneca Canada) a MSc. Sociology and BSc. (Hons) Sociology from University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. She was Manager, Caribbean Youth and Family Services, Canada, an immigrant settlement services agency for migrants from the Caribbean settling in Canada.

Emily Lund is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota, specializing in the history and philosophy of ecological agriculture. Her passion for truly interdisciplinary studies has won her scholarships, as well as recognition within the philosophical, environmental and agricultural communities. Lund spent the summer of 2010 in southern Sweden researching food production models and sustainable community building. She enjoys talking with strangers and playing the banjo.

Don Mitchell, CBE, QC, is a native of St Kitts with additional rights of citizenship in Anguilla, St Vincent and Grenada. He joined the Inner Temple in London and studied at the Inns of Court School of Law where he attained the degree of the utter bar in 1971 and was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales in 1971. He commenced the practice of law in St Kitts that year and served out the balance of his professional career first as a Magistrate and then as a barrister and solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the island of Anguilla. After retiring from private practice in 1999, he became a High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and served in all of the 9 countries of the OECS before retiring from the bench in 2004. He is presently a member of the Anguilla Bar Association , the Treasurer of the OECS Bar Association , the Secretary of the local Rotary Club , and the secretary of the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society . He also runs the Anguilla Legal Aid Clinic which offers free legal advice to residents and citizens out of the offices of the Department of Social Development in The Valley, Anguilla, three mornings a week. He teaches A-Level or CAPE Law in Anguilla and developed and maintains the following three web sites:

(1) West Indian English-language non-fiction: www.books.ai ,

(2) Anguillian history: http://aahsanguilla.com/ readings.html , and

(3) General papers: http://donmitchellcbeqc.blogspot.com/ .

Michelle Queeley holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Educational Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Literatures in English from the UWI. She also holds a Commonwealth Diploma in Youth in Development Studies and a Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education from UWI. She is currently a graduate teacher at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.

Camille Morris, Acting Programme Officer/Officer in Charge Jamaica and North Caribbean , Office of ERIIC, Mona. A graduate of the University of the West Indies, she holds a BA in Philosophy and a M.Sc. in Government (International Relations and International Law). Miss Morris has been with the Office of ERIIC (Formerly TLIU) for the past five (5) years and has actively been involved in research on higher education and has co-authored papers/chapters on the topic.

Rev. Clifton Niles holds a doctor of ministry degree from Emory University, Georgia US and an MBA from the graduate theological foundation in Indiana as well as a Masters Degree in theology from Union Theological Seminary, Virginia. He has served as a Methodist Minister and in senior leadership positions throughout the Caribbean.

Charmaine Rey-Richardson, Graduate teacher at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and part-time coordinator Continuing and Adult Education at the Anguilla Community College. She holds a MSc in Educational Administration and Leadership from Kaplan University and a BSc in Food and Nutrition from the College of St. Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Christopher Richardson is a product of Anguilla’s secondary school system; he successfully completely his tertiary level education at Chicago State University in 1989, having earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. In 2007 he earned his Masters of Business Administration degree at Durham University, England (accredited by AMBA and AQUIS). Mr. Richardson has served on several boards nationally and regionally, and has been employed in the hospitality industry at the executive level for the past twenty one years.

Sharon Richardson - Director of Hospitality Studies Anguilla Community College. She holds a BSc in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Florida International University, Diploma in Secondary Education from the UWI. A Certified Hospitality Educator with the AH&LA Educational Institute, currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with the University of Leicester.

Dana Ruan, RN Senior School Health Nurse,Government of Anguilla and trained as a Registered Nurse in Barbados. She worked at the Cottage Hospital, Anguilla, the Bougainvillea Clinic in Tortola BVI, St. Thomas Hospital, Community and School Health Services, St. Thomas, USVI. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Education/Health Promotion with UWI.

Don E. Walicek is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. His dissertation, which focuses on social life in Anguilla during the period 1650-1800, examines language contact and Creole language origins. He has worked with the Anguilla Library Service’s Children’s Library Annual Summer Program for several years.

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