Preface

• Author: Denis Benn/Kenneth O. Hall
• Profession: Michael Manley Professor of Public Affairs and Public Policy, University of the West Indies, Mona/Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies, Mona campus
• Pages: 9-9

ix

There is growing recognition that good governance is an important

prerequisite for promoting economic development, human rights and a

viable social and political order. However, a number of countries in the Caribbean

face difficult challenges in promoting genuine democratic participation in the

political process and in maintaining social and political stability as a result of

deficiencies in their governance structures. In addition, the deepening of the

regional integration process points to the need for fundamental changes to be

effected in governance structures at the regional level. Moreover, the process of

globalisation together with the significant changes that have occurred in the

geo-political configuration of the international system has generated renewed

interest in the establishment of an appropriate system of global governance.

There is a clear need therefore to carry out an assessment of the critical issues

involved in the establishment of effective systems of governance at the national,

regional and global level.

It was for this reason that the University of the West Indies, in cooperation

with the Caribbean Development Bank, decided to focus on ‘The Governance

Challenge: National, Regional and Global Dimensions’ as the topic to be addressed

at the 2002 Mona Academic Conference which was held on the Mona Campus

of the University from August 30 to September 1, 2002. The Conference brought

together scholars from within and without the region as well as policy makers

in government and regional institutions in the Caribbean to reflect on the

various dimensions of governance and to identify practical proposals relevant

to the needs of policy makers in the region.

All but three of the papers contained in the volume were actually presented

at the Conference or prepared for presentation at the Conference. Although the

contributions focus mainly on the Caribbean they also address governance

issues beyond the region. I am confident that the volume which covers a broad

range of issues in governance will serve as an important reference for those

interested in the subject.

I take great pleasure in introducing the volume and commend it to policy

makers in the region, the academic community as well as to members of the

general public.

Professor Kenneth O. Hall

Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal

University of the West Indies

Mona Campus

PREFACE