The Ministry of Culture has joined forces with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus this month to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the West Indies Federation.

The programme, which will be held under the theme “When 10 may have been an Odd Number: Some Perspectives on the West Indies Federation”, commences with a lecture by Emeritus Professor, Woodville Marshall, on Thursday, November 13. He will speak on the topic “Why Did We Federate”.

The second lecture, entitled “Implementing the Project: Constitutional Issues and Political Arrangements”, will take place the following Thursday, November 20, and will be delivered by Sir Shridath Ramphal.

A panel discussion, “Why Did the Federation Fail?” will be the next activity on Tuesday, November 25. The panelists will include former St. Lucian Prime Minister, Vaughn Lewis; President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Dr. Compton Bourne; and former member of the Federal Parliament, Gilmore Roachford.

All of these events will be held at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination (EBCCI), Cave Hill Campus and begin at 8:00 p.m. each day.

On Friday, November 28, and Saturday, November 29, excerpts from the play “Drums and Colours” by Derek Walcott will be staged at the EBCCI. This will mark the first time the play has been produced since the demise of the West Indies Federation.

More information on the activities may be obtained by contacting Cherri-Ann Beckles, Assistant Archivist of the West Indies Federal Archives Centre, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus at 417-4052 or e-mail cherri-ann.beckles@cavehill.uwi.edu.

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