UWI deputy principal to receive CARICOM women’s award

University of the West Indies deputy principal and gender professor Dr Violet Eudine Barriteau will receive the Caricom Triennial Award for Women for her remarkable contribution to the field of gender and development and her role as “a powerful exemplar of self-respect, self- discipline, vision and leadership”.
The Triennial Award for Women was introduced in 1983 to recognise and honour Caribbean women who have made significant contributions to socio- economic development at the national and regional levels. Acting Caricom Secretary General Lolita Applewhaite, who made the announcement at last Friday’s Media Clinic ahead of the 32nd regular conference of Caricom heads of government, said the award will be presented to Dr Barriteau at the opening ceremony of the conference in St Kitts and Nevis, on June 30.
The Grenadian-born Barbadian citizen has served both the regional and national education sectors with distinction for nearly 40 years, first as a teacher of history and English, then as a researcher and professor of gender studies, and now as an academic and deputy principal of the Cave Hill campus of the UWI.
Dr Barriteau’s illustrious career is underpinned by an equally impressive academic sojourn, which took her to a doctorate of philosophy in political science, earned at Howard University.
A strong advocate of gender equality and development, she has made phenomenal contribution to the advancement of women’s empowerment and gender equality, through her advocacy, teaching, research and publications.
A prolific researcher, writer and presenter, Dr Barriteau has authored one book on gender – The Political Economy of Gender in the Twentieth Century Caribbean, contributed articles and chapters to a plethora of publications, and edited several others, while finding time to make presentations at national, regional and international seminars primarily on gender-related issues.
Dr Barriteau joins a band of nine select women who have made significant contributions at the national and regional levels in various fields of endeavours that have impacted the social and economic development of the community.
The first Triennial Award was conferred in 1984 to Nesta Patrick, a national of Trinidad and Tobago. Thereafter, seven outstanding Caribbean women have received this award for their dedication and determination in broadening the parameters of existence for women and improving their economic, social, political, cultural and legal status.