At a time when issues surrounding migration and its role in development have taken on primary importance to the survival of developing nations, the Ramphal Commission on Migration & Development, an arm of the Ramphal Centre, and the University of the West Indies (UWI) have come together to host a convention at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge and Conference Centre at UWI, Mona from February 21 - 25.

The convention will include two public events, a public lecture on Monday February 21 at 6 pm and a symposium on Tuesday February 22 starting at 9:30 am.  In addition there will be a four-day conference of the Ramphal Commission from February 22-25.

The Public lecture will be addressed by distinguished UWI Professor Elizabeth Thomas Hope and Professor John Oucho, founder and chair of the African Migration and Development Policy Centre, University of Nairobi. Professor Oucho is also a member of the Ramphal Commission. 

The symposium will feature presentations and discussions on a range of issues related to Migration and Development led by authorities in the area from the academic, public and private sectors. Presenters from the UWI community will include:—Professor Verene Shepherd, Professor of Social History & University Director, Institute for Gender Studies, Regional Unit; Dr. Matthew Smith, Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and Archaeology; Dr. Leith Dunn, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies, Mona Unit, Professor Neville Ying, Executive Director, Jamaica Diaspora Institute, Professor Bernard Headley, Professor of Criminology, Professor Claremont Kirton, Professor of Economics, Professor Anthony Clayton, Alcan Professor of Caribbean Sustainable Development, Ms. Suzanne Charles, Research Fellow, IGDS Regional Coordinating Unit and Dr. Keith Nurse, Director, Shirdath Ramphal Centre, UWI, Cave Hill Campus.  Other presenters include: Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Mr. Easton Williams, Acting Director, Social Policy and Research Division, PIOJ, Ms. Keisha Livermore, Head of Office, International Organisation on Migration, Mr. Richard Troupe, Executive Director of Hope for Children Development Company Limited and Mr. Earl Jarrett, General Manager of Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), and Chairman of the Jamaican Diaspora Institute.

The meeting of the Ramphal Commission will open jointly with the symposium and both will run concurrently for the remainder of the first day of meetings at UWI.

The Commission on Migration & Development was established in 2009 under the leadership of the Honourable P J Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, to study and make recommendations on issues concerning migration and development in Commonwealth countries. The Commission also seeks to advise Commonwealth governments on how they might adopt mutually beneficial and practical policies to maximize the benefits of international migration.  It is the first Commission of its parent body, the Ramphal Centre, named in honour of Sir Shridath Ramphal, a distinguished Caribbean public servant who was Commonwealth Secretary-General from 1975-1990, and Chancellor of the University of the West Indies from 1989-2002.