WASHINGTON, DC - Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks has congratulated the University of the West Indies on its new International School for Development Justice, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Sir Hilary Beckles fifth from left and SUNY-UWI) Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development project’s Executive Director Professor Gene Morse, fifth from right. Along with participants at the Special Launch of the State University of New York-University of the West Indies (SUNY-UWI) Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development on Friday september27th 2024 in New York, (Photo by Derrick Scott.)The UWI's International Business School is dedicated exclusively to supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and is endorsed by the United Nations.
In a speech delivered by Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United Nations, His Excellency Brian Wallace, to the Special Launch of the State University of New York-University of the West Indies (SUNY-UWI) Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development on Friday september27th 2024 in New York, it was noted that the venture was a pioneering feat which will forever be attributed to the Caribbean.
“We are certain that this school will accelerate training for the next generation of academics, entrepreneurs and public officials, educating and empowering them as current and future activists and leaders within the framework of the 17 United Nations SDGs,” The Ambassador said.
This special launch attended by the Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Sir Hilary Beckles, and the project’s Executive Director Professor Gene Morse, was held on the margins of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which is being held under the theme "Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations."
The Ambassador observed that the Government of Jamaica was very supportive of the power of partnerships and lauded the collaboration with the Jamaican diaspora represented by Dr. Joyce El-Ali, the President of the National Association of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations (NAJASO). Noting that “it was through NAJASO that this collaboration was born and through its steady support it has continued to blossom.”
He said it was initiatives like these that underscore the immense value of the contributions of the Jamaican Diaspora.
SUNY-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development, has formed a new Task Force through the Embassy of Jamaica that will serve to engage all the key stakeholders to ensure that the necessary policy and funding support are in place to sustain the activities of the Center.
“We have already begun the necessary outreach and aim to have an inaugural meeting in November. The task force will include representatives of the Government of Jamaica, the Government of the United States, the National Association of Jamaican and Supporting Organizations, The University of the West Indies, key business partners and other community members,” the Ambassador said.
The SUNY-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development is geared at accelerating research collaboration across SUNY and UWI campuses relevant to finding solutions to specific problems hindering the achievement of the SDGs. The Center will also be providing mentorship services to the students at the International School of Development Justice.
