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News > Message to the UWI Community on the Death of Rex Nettleford
A Message from The College of The Bahamas to the Community of the University of the West Indies on the Death of Professor the Honourable Rex Nettleford, Vice-Chancellor EmeritusThe College of The Bahamas extends to the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and entire community of the University of the West Indies heartfelt condolences on the passing of Vice-Chancellor Emeritus, Professor the Honourable Rex Nettleford, OM, FIJ, OCC, incomparable Caribbean scholar and creative genius. Like Caribbean peoples everywhere, we share in the sense of loss engendered by the death of this unique man whose impact upon our thought and imagination has been so profound. Professor Nettleford's extraordinary intellectual and artistic gifts and his standing as a scholar of international renown are, of course, legendary. That these were cultivated, crafted and practised primarily within the home context of his own beloved country, Jamaica, and from the base of his alma mater, the University of the West Indies, made him a true inspiration to other academics and artists of our region who choose to build capacity in their native environments rather than seek more lucrative promise elsewhere. That his efforts were so deliberately dedicated to uplifting the sense of identity and self worth of Caribbean peoples challenges all of us to examine critically our own intentions in the work that we undertake. For all these things and for the example of uncompromising excellence of thought, sensibility and energetic action that Rex Nettleford represented, we at The College of The Bahamas, like the rest of the regional academy, must be particularly grateful. Professor Nettleford clearly understood the imperatives of individual, national and societal development that lie at the heart of the mission of institutions such as ours and in his eloquent addresses, his writings and his creative presentations, he has helped us not only to gain greater insight into our societies but also to appreciate more fully the value that our individual and collective efforts should bring to them. Over the years, Professor Nettleford's support and encouragement were important to the evolution of The College of The Bahamas in a variety of ways: through his roles in the Department of Extra-Mural Studies (later the School of Continuing Studies), through his advice on higher education development and culture to successive Governments of The Bahamas, through his inspiration and assistance to academics and cultural practitioners in our institution and in the wider community. Most recently, during his period as Vice-Chancellor, he played a crucial part in making it possible for the UWI Law degree programme to be offered at The College of The Bahamas, a landmark development that has assisted many young (and not so young) Bahamians to fulfil their professional aspirations here at home. At this sad time, our hearts go out to all colleagues at the University of The West Indies and, more widely, to the Government and people of Jamaica. Truly a giant among us has passed. He was a valued friend of our institution and of The Bahamas as a whole. He will be greatly missed.
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