The Department of Geography and Geology mourns the passing of Emeritus Professor of Geography, David Barker. Prof. Barker arrived at the Mona Campus in 1980 from England, to teach agricultural geography. He had a Ph.D. awarded from Bristol University in 1976 and a Diploma in Urban and Regional Studies from the University of Birmingham Prof Barker had a holistic outlook on the subject of geography always keeping a keen eye on the academic specialisation of staff ensuring that all aspects of the discipline were represented in the department - geomorphology, urban planning, development studies, agriculture, biogeography, tourism and cultural geography.

He served as Head of the Department of Geography in 1994-1996 and Head of the Department of Geography and Geology from 2005-2012. He was one of the first faces new students met, either at the registration table or as a first year course lecturer. His signature courses, Geographies of Development and Tropical Agriculture and Development are taught at Level II and III respectively. While most students were taught by David Barker at least once in their tenure in the department it is as postgraduate supervisor that David Barker truly shone. He supervised to completion some 6 MPhils and 10 PhDs. David Barker was promoted to Professor of Geography in 2005 and Emeritus Professor in 2015 on his retirement.

David Barker was all things geography. He was a Council Member of The Jamaican Geographical Society and served as its President from 2005 to 2010. He founded the journal Caribbean Geography in 1983 with Michael Morrissey and they co-edited the journal until 1990. He remained as sole Editor from 1991 until the time of his passing. Caribbean Geography was a labour of love that was his testament to the research and the academic pursuit of Geography in all its forms. Publication of an article in the journal was a rite of passage for all his graduate students.

David Barker along with Duncan McGregor initiated the British Caribbean Geography Seminar (BCGS) Series, which started in 1992 with a meeting at the Mona Campus. Five more conferences followed in the series, three of which were held at Mona in 1998, 2006 and 2014). In total, the BCGS series resulted in five peer-reviewed books published by The UWI Press (Barker & McGregor, 1995; McGregor, Barker & Lloyd Evans, 1998; Barker & McGregor, 2003; McGregor, Dodman & Barker, 2009; Barker, McGregor, Rhiney & Edwards, 2016), and several special issues of Caribbean Geography. Other notable publications include A Reader in Caribbean Geography co-edited with Carol Newby and Michael Morrissey; The Contemporary Caribbean co-authored with R. Bruce Potter, Dennis Conway and Thomas Klak and Issues in Caribbean Sustainable Development co-authored with Elizabeth Thomas-Hope.

His scholarship is highly regarded globally by professional organisations such as the UK Caribbean Studies Association and The American Association of Geographers in particular the Caribbean Geography Speciality Group. His passing represents a loss to the Department, the Mona Campus, Caribbean and wider global academic community however, his scholarship and publications are a permanent legacy that will be cherished with pride by the department he served so faithfully.