Mr Clive Jones, CBE

Chairman

Board of Governors

London Metropolitan University

CC. Professor Malcolm Gillies

Vice Chancellor, London Metropolitan University

Dr John Gabriel

Acting Dean, HALE

London Metropolitan University

Distinguished Gentlemen

Re: Impending Closure Caribbean Studies Programme, London Metropolitan University

It is with shock and great dismay that I have learnt of the decision to eliminate Caribbean Studies from the programme at London Metropolitan University. When I was conferred with the degree of Doctor of the University Honoris Causa in 2002, I said that I accepted the honour not for myself but as a symbol of the University’s recognition of the enormous contribution that Caribbeans and persons of Caribbean descent have made to British life and to world affairs in fields as varied as literature, the arts, politics, humanities and the social sciences, sports, music, health and education. Names spring to mind like C.L.R. James, George Padmore, Dr. Eric Williams, Lord Constantine, Marcus Garvey, Nobel Laureates Sir Arthur Lewis—first Black Professor of Economics at a British university—Derek Walcott and Sir Vidia Naipaul; Sir Frank Worrell and Sir Garfield Sobers; Lord Pitt, Stuart Hall, Baroness Scotland and Baroness Amos; Steel Pulse and Mutabaruka; and John La Rose; to name only a few. To drop Caribbean Studies amounts to a form of cultural expunging from London Metropolitan’s intellectual landscape of this integral component of British life and history that will deprive students, both of Caribbean origin and those of other backgrounds, of access to this rich heritage.

I very much fear that if this decision stands, it will render inappropriate my continuing to be holder of your Honorary Degree, as much as I cherish it.

Just last week, in delivering the C.L.R. James Memorial Lecture of the Oilfields Workers Trade Union here in Trinidad, I noted that

CLR James was arguably, one of the outstanding personalities of the 20th century. In a life that spanned nine of the century’s decades he embraced most of its great social movements with passion, eloquence, and brilliant insights. His impact extended far beyond his native Trinidad and Tobago to the entire Caribbean, Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States and Africa. To some, CLR is best known for his tireless struggles against, colonialism, imperialism, racism and Stalinism; inspired by an overarching and infectious vision of the possibilities of establishing a just, human and participatory society. Others will remember him for the scope of his knowledge and appreciation of literature and philosophy, and for his ability to illuminate their relationship to politics and the worker day world. For many, he is quite simply the best writer and cricket and society that the game has ever known. No one exposed to him or his work is ever quite the same again.”

On May 11 the world marked the 30th Anniversary of the passing of Bob Marley. Of this a colleague, Professor Horace Campbell of Syracuse University, has written:

Bob Marley was one of the most articulate spokespersons for peace, love and justice. His music of inspiration continues to act as a rallying cry for those who are struggling for change. In the past thirty years, the literature and writings on the philosophy of Bob Marley served to shed more light on the role of music and song as a mobilizing force in society. His songs of love and inspiration are now enjoyed in all parts of the world, breaking language and racial barriers. It is now acknowledged on all continents that Bob Marley was one of the most influential musicians of all time. His performance at the Zimbabwe Independence Celebrations in April 1980 sent the message to the apartheid rulers that oppression would not stand. Within South Africa, Lucky Dube deepened a brand of progressive reggae so that today in all parts of the world there are reggae groups placing their own stamp on this culture of resistance. In 1999, Time magazine dubbed Bob Marley and the Wailers' Exodus the greatest album of the 20th Century, while the BBC named One Love the song of the millennium.

How could London Metropolitan University, with all that it stands for concerning access to knowledge of those who can least afford it, take a decision that will have the effect of erasing the study of the likes of C.L.R. James and Bob Marley from its academic portfolio?

While I understand the pressures under which you and other universities are labouring; may I respectfully suggest that the decision is misguided, misinformed and short-sighted and I very much hope that you will find just cause in reconsidering and reversing it.

Sincerely,

Norman Girvan, PhD Econ., (Lond.); B.Sc. Econ. (Lond-UCWI); D.Univ. Hon.(Lond. Met.); D.Econ. Hon. (U. H.); C.D.

Professor Emeritus

University of the West Indies

Formerly Professor of Development Studies and Director of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Development Studies, University of the West Indies

Former Secretary General, Association of Caribbean States