The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) has received the first installment of a $500,000 grant approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) to expand its efforts to advance constitutional development and self-determination in the Territory. The OIA Technical Assistance Program (TAP) grant will provide the funds needed to build upon an earlier related project spearheaded by UVI Political Science and History Professor Dr. Malik Sekou and a public education project led by Dr. Sekou and UVI Professor Emeritus Dr. Paul Leary. The second installment of $250,000 is expected in 2022.
“We are very grateful for this award which will allow the University to continue its institutional task of hosting educational campaigns on the subject of self-determination, political status and constitutional development,” said Dr. Sekou. “Historically, UVI has always played this role and it is uniquely positioned to be the mecca of this discussion.”
The grant will allow the University to establish an Office of Constitutional Development and Self Determination that will expand the previous public education efforts and create a University curriculum that supports decolonization, self-determination and Virgin Islands cultural development through a new Caribbean Studies initiative. Additionally, the office will provide educational support for the constitutional convention and further development of human resources.
More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI Website-www.uvi.edu/ - and from this direct link.