Courageous and committed to the Caribbean

 I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend and close colleague of many decades, Professor Barry Chevannes. As an academic, Barry joined the UWI staff in 1973 and we admired him as he became an outstanding teacher, researcher and author. His pioneering study on Rastafari brought him justifiable international recognition, and his many works on male-gender issues brought new perspectives on masculine gender identity in the Caribbean.

Barry was not an ivory-towered academic, but constantly sought to put his scholarship in the service of civic activism. Within recent years, he served as chairman of the National Commission on Ganja and the Jamaican Justice System Reform Task Force.

Consistent commitment

His consistent commitment to the transformation of Jamaican society stretched from the 1970s and led him into many organisations such as to found Father's Inc and to become vice-chairman of the Peace Management Initiative.

As a family man, Barry was deeply devoted to his wife, Paulette, and his two daughters, Amber and Abenna; but not to the exclusion of the wider Jamaican family - his home on Windsor Avenue was open house to Jamaicans from all walks of life.

Very loving

As a person, Barry was a very loving man, extraordinarily courageous, deeply committed to Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, exceptionally humble - there was not an ounce of ostentation in him.

My wife Ingrid and I have lost a very dear friend - Barry was my best man and Paulette, Ingrid's bridesmaid at our wedding twenty-five years ago. Barry's immediate family has lost a loving husband and deeply devoted father; the academic community, an outstanding public scholar; and Jamaica, an unwavering advocate of social transformation.

I extend heartfelt sympathy to Paulette, Amber, Abenna and Barry's extended family and numerous friends.

Trevor Munroe

Visiting Fellow

SALISES, UWI;

Director, National Integrity

Action Forum