NOTED SOCIOLOGIST, writer and speaker, Dr. H. Orlando Patterson, is the scheduled participant in the U.W.I.'s Distinguished Lecture Series to be held on Thursday, August 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Undercroft on the Mona campus. Dr. Patterson will speak on "Emancipation, Independence and the Way Forward."
For this occasion, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development has joined with the University of the West Indies (UWI) to present the lecture, as the Ministry seeks to establish a framework for a year of national dialogue in keeping with the commemoration of Jamaica's 40th year of Independence with the theme, "Reflection, Com-mitment Renewal."
Dr. Patterson, a distinguished Professor of Sociology at Harvard University, is renowned for his written and spoken presentations, particularly on the subjects of freedom and democracy. Though residing overseas, and internationally eminent, Dr. Patterson's Jamaican roots are well known and he has consistently maintained an interest in and contributed to the development of the country of his birth.
Although for a wide cross section of Jamaicans, his novel, "Children of Sisyphus" is perhaps the best known of his writings, Dr. Patterson's contribution to thought and intellectual stimulation makes his presentations eagerly anticipated. His published works of fiction ad non-fiction provide invaluable resource reading for those interested in the direction to be taken for national advancement. His participation in the Distinguished Lecture Series should generate a great deal of interest and material for subsequent discourse.
The UWI first introduced the Distinguished Lecture Series in the early 1990s. The first speaker was Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Wole Soyinka. The series was the brainchild of former Vice Chancellor, the late Sir Phillip Sherlock, who perceived it as critical for relevant issues affecting the world and then approaching 21st century to be addressed by Caribbean people.
It was his view that there should be an articulation of an approach from a Caribbean perspective and dialogue to enable direction for moving forward.
Initially the series was called "Facing 2000 A.D.". With the arrival of the new millennium, the series is now known as "2000 A.D. and Beyond". Participants in the series have addressed varied subject matters such as education, environment and gender.
As Jamaica marks its 40th year of nationhood, the sharing of Dr. Patterson's vision of the country's path of societal transition and development will be one of the highpoints of the year's commemorative activities.
