{"id":6,"date":"2021-07-23T09:35:34","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T08:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kinsta.cavehill.uwi.edu\/news-events\/news-releases\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T10:57:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T14:57:55","slug":"news-releases","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kinsta.cavehill.uwi.edu\/news-events\/news-releases\/","title":{"rendered":"News Releases"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n UWI Cave Hill Students Reclaim a Regional Democratic Dream<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n

\n March 4, 2026 <\/p>\n

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More than two decades after the Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians quietly faded from the regional landscape, a new generation of Caribbean leaders has revived its democratic spirit, this time from within the Cave Hill campus of The University of the West Indies. Launched in January 2026, the Caribbean Parliamentary Assembly (CPA) marks the first time in the history of The UWI that students are debating regional issues through a formally constituted parliamentary body.\u00a0\u00a0Unlike debating clubs or mock parliaments, the assembly operates within a structured framework, complete with a speaker and deputy speaker, departments that mirror the machinery of government across the region, like Department of Health and Wellness and the Department of Labour.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n

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\n What We Eat May Be Affecting How We Feel<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n

\n February 20, 2026 <\/p>\n

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The link between diet and mental health is becoming harder to ignore, according to new research emerging from the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre<\/span> at The University of the West Indies<\/span>, Cave Hill Campus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Public Health PhD candidate Catherine Brown says what people eat may be influencing more than physical health outcomes such as obesity and chronic disease. Her work suggests that diet also has a measurable impact on emotional wellbeing across the Caribbean.<\/span><\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n

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\n Diabetic Foot Research Reveals Surprising Predictors of Healing and Amputation<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n

\n February 18, 2026 <\/p>\n

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The road to recovery from diabetic foot, a condition involving infection, ulceration or destruction of foot tissue in a person living with diabetes, may be less about income and education than previously believed.<\/p>\n

A recent study found no measurable socio-economic influence on healing outcomes, while identifying hypertension as a significant predictor of readmission and recurrence.<\/p>\n

The research, conducted under the Barbados Diabetic Foot Study (BDFS), was co-authored by Dr. Laura Lovell, Dr. Peter Chami, Professor Nachiappan Chockalingam, Nina Davies and Dr. Natalie Greaves. The wider BDFS initiative has already informed the development of a diabetic foot ulceration guide for primary care, along with a learning module. Both were piloted within the public primary healthcare system in 2025 to address gaps in clinical management and practitioner knowledge.<\/p>\n

At the 13th Annual Faculty of Medical Sciences Graduate Symposium in January, Dr. Lovell, who is pursuing a PhD in Public Health, presented findings from a component of the research titled The Use of Machine Learning to Evaluate Risk Factors of a Cohort of Diabetic Foot Ulceration<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n

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\n The UWI\u2019s Historic Hosting of Nigerian Vice-Chancellors<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n

\n February 16, 2026 <\/p>\n

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Last week, the Caribbean and Africa struck another high note in their ongoing bridge\u2011building agenda. A team of 20 recently appointed Vice-Chancellors arrived at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Headquarters in Jamaica from Nigeria, hosted by Vice\u2011Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.<\/p>\n

The initiative originated in a request from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) as part of its plan to expose emerging university leaders to The UWI\u2019s success and legacy in dealing with the relations between national and global issues. All universities, especially in the Global South, are forging survival and sustainable strategies in the international higher education sector.<\/p>\n

Nigeria has some 140 public universities and a similar number of private institutions. The UWI is recognised as a highly successful and respected brand, ranked by the Times Higher Education (THE) among the top 3.6% of the world’s 33,000 universities.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n

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\n Nita Barrow Unit PhD Student Wins Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Excellence Award<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n

\n February 6, 2026 <\/p>\n

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PhD student Shamelle Rice has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence in the category of Public and Civic Contributions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shamelle is a fierce and vibrant leader who exemplifies feminist transformational leadership. She founded and directs Jabez House, Barbados\u2019 flagship organisation which serves women sex workers and their families, one of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in Barbados who disproportionately experience gendered and sexual violence, poverty and social and economic marginality.<\/p>\n

From economic empowerment to psychosocial support, community building to skills training, Jabez House prioritises the needs of sex-working women from across the Caribbean, affirming their right to be, their right to a good life and to decent work.\u00a0 This is life-giving and sustaining work to which Shamelle has been committed since 2012, and which has reached over 800 women from several Caribbean countries.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n

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\n Report finds High Rates of Late Cancer Diagnoses in Barbados<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n

\n February 4, 2026 <\/p>\n

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As Barbados joins the rest of the world in marking World Cancer Day, new national data reveal that nearly 1,000 Barbadians are diagnosed with cancer each year, with too many cases still being identified at a late stage\u2014when treatment is more difficult and survival rates are lower.<\/p>\n

According to the latest findings from the Barbados National Registry (BNR)<\/strong>, covering the years 2013 to 2022<\/strong>, cancer incidence in Barbados remains higher than the global average. In 2022 alone<\/strong>, 983 new cancer cases were recorded, affecting approximately one in every 300 people<\/strong> on the island.<\/p>\n

The report shows that breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers<\/strong> continue to be the most common and the deadliest. Prostate cancer accounts for nearly half of all cancers diagnosed among men, while breast cancer remains the leading cancer among women. Colorectal cancer affects both sexes and continues to be a major cause of illness and death.\u00a0 Although slightly more women are diagnosed with cancer overall, men experience higher cancer rates, largely driven by prostate cancer.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n

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\n The UWI joins the world in observing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n

\n December 3, 2025 <\/p>\n

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The Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) joins our regional and global communities in marking the\u00a016 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (November 25 \u2013 December 10, 2025)<\/strong>. This year, our priority actions focus on:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n