Dr. Denzil Douglas – St. Kitts – Nevis PM
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
February 11, 2010 (CUOPM)
St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas will deliver the keynote address at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Second Caribbean Students’ Conference on Saturday 13th February.
The conference is being held under the theme: “Engineering a brighter future” and is being held to encourage an active thinking process among emergent Caribbean leaders and empower them to think and act with a sense of stewardship and personal responsibility for the fate of the region.
Other aims are to recognize the effectiveness of using technology, creativity, and networking in development and generate new, creative, instrumental ideas for approaching old socio-economic issues.
According to the MIT website, the conference workshops are geared towards a think-tank format, creatively using facts, parallel thinking and critical thought to generate, like a “breath of fresh air,” new ideas in approaching old issues.
“Important in creating this effect is making the conference open not only to Caribbean students, but “people from all walks” interested in the issues being approached,” said Gedeon.
The primary post-conference activity will include a compilation of participants’ contributions and discussions in a written report on the conference which will be sent to the Heads of Government of all countries represented and to international organizations with vested interests in the issues covered, in order to build support for activity shooting out from the conference discussions, as well as support for future Caribbean conferences at MIT.
During the conference, Prime Minister Douglas will be presented the Key to the City of Boston, and Citation from the State of Massachusetts attend the Conference luncheon, meets with the First Lady of Massachusetts, Mrs. Diane Bemus-Patrick.
MIT Caribbean Club is an active, long-standing organization of the institute. The club was created primarily so that MIT students could maintain their Caribbean identity, culture, and heritage away from their homeland. Over the years, the MIT Caribbean Club has given many West Indian students at MIT, and in the greater Boston area, a slice of home away from home. The Club has worked arduously to educate as many people in the MIT and Boston community about Caribbean culture and develop an appreciation for our heritage. The club continues to work towards these objectives as we seek to further encourage support for the club and further participation and involvement in the club.
In addition to throwing island-themed study breaks where members can learn about the various countries in the Caribbean through experience, we typically plan a few large events per year. In the past these have consisted of a Caribbean Weekend, which consists of a cultural show and party open to the entire college community, Caribbean exhibition at past I-Fairs, in addition to collaborated events thrown jointly by Caribbean organizations of the other schools in Boston. Each year we improve old events and look for new ones that will actively spread Caribbean culture and increase awareness of Caribbean affairs.