The University of the West Indies (UWI) Alumni Association is pleased to confirm its sponsorship of the prestigious 10th Norman W. Manley Lecture in London this autumn.

Norman Manley was one of the first Caribbean Regionalists and is a National Hero of Jamaica. His son Michael Manley, a former Prime Minister, was one of the key figures in the history of post independence Jamaica.

The Norman Washington Manley Lecture has been taking place in London over the past three decades. The 9th N W Manley Lecture was delivered in 2003 by Professor The Honorable Rex Nettleford.

The 10th N W Manley Lecture will take place at the Ondaatje Theatre, Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in London, 6:00pm reception for a 6:45 start. It is open to Alumni, diplomatic corps, business and community leaders and opinion formers from a cross-section of the Jamaican and Caribbean Diaspora in the UK who are particularly interested in current Caribbean affairs.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor E.Nigel Harris, will be visiting us from the Caribbean to deliver this prestigious lecture and the event will end at 9pm.

"The purpose of the Lecture is to provide a forum for Caribbean

integration in the UK amongst Caribbean peoples and their Diaspora whilst also engaging decision makers of the wider British community in which we reside" said Vernon Barrett, President of the UWI UK Alumni Association.

"It is a timely event to capture, profile and share developments in the

Caribbean Region with the realisation of the Caribbean Single Market

and Economy (CSME) and the growing importance of the Caribbean Diaspora to the economic development of the region" Vernon continued. "Sometimes we who reside overseas feel disempowered from what is happening in the

Caribbean and are frustrated that important positive developments are

overshadowed by negative press in the UK. This is a key opportunity for Caribbean UK residents to participate in the modern day transformation of the

Caribbean on the world stage".

"The University of the West Indies is a stellar Caribbean Institution

of which we are all justly proud. The UWI is keen to promote its

leadership role in the region and beyond. The Vice Chancellor Nigel Harris is

coming over to London specially to deliver the Lecture with his unique

insights into developing Caribbean Regionalism and the potential of the

Caribbean Diaspora Human Capital"

The event is free but by invitation only. Contact Vernon Barrett at

vernonbarrett@hotmail.com (or mobile 077 66 66 46 00) to request a personalised invitation soon as the prestigious event is rapidly becoming oversubscribed. Further info will be on www.uwialumniuk.org.uk