The death of Professor Ralston Milton ‘Rex’ Nettleford, Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the UWI on February 2, 2010 has resulted in an irreparable void for the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the people of the extended Caribbean region.
His outstanding work in academics, education, teaching, the creative arts, his extensive publications and his sterling service on corporate, labour and cultural bodies have a significant impact at national, regional and international levels and endeared him to many people. However, to the staff and students of the UWI Open Campus, he was family and our champion.
Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Open Campus, Professor Hazel Simmons-McDonald, expressed her deep sadness at the news of his death which occurred hours short of his 77th birthday. Speaking of some of his contributions to the University she said “He was one of the founding fathers of the Extra-Mural Department, a Director of the School of Continuing Studies, a Co-Director of the UWI Distance Teaching Enterprise with Professor Gerald C. Lalor and he played an influential role in the development of the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Unit and other outreach units which were recently integrated into the UWI Open Campus. He continued to guide the works of the Philip Sherlock Creative Arts Centre, the Radio Education Unit and the journal, Caribbean Quarterly, until the time of his death. He was generous with his advice, gave me much guidance and I benefited immensely from his wisdom.”
Professor Nettleford’s mantra ‘the tyranny of distance that is the geography of the Caribbean region’ was inspired by his experience of developing extra-mural education for the UWI throughout the region. This was an effort to which he was deeply committed and to which he gave support throughout his tenure at the UWI. He referred to his colleagues who were engaged in extra-mural work as ‘intellectual guerillas’ who sought to conquer this tyranny through innovative teaching and technologies.
His story is one of humble beginnings in deep rural Trelawny in Jamaica to the highest academic position as Professor, Vice Chancellor and CEO of the University of the West Indies. This was a journey on which he gathered accolades and awards including: Doctor of Laws, Illinois Wesleyan University; Doctor of Letters, University of Connecticut; Honorary Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford; Doctor of Laws, Queen’s University; Doctor of Humanities, Emory University; Doctor of Laws, Grand Valley State University; Doctor of Letters, University of Sheffield; Doctor of Letters, University of Toronto; and Doctor of Civil Law, Oxford University. Oxford University described him as “a man of the greatest versatility, effective in action, outstanding in erudition and most supple in dance”. In recognition of his work in Cultural Studies Oxford established the Rex Nettleford Prize for Cultural Studies.
The contribution of Professor Nettleford to an understanding of and the development of Caribbean culture, and specifically, the discipline of Cultural Studies within the University led to the signal homage of the dedication of a Conference on Caribbean Culture in his honour. He has often been referred to as a ‘Renaissance Man’ because of the range of his interests and the depth and breadth of his intellectual work which abounds with original ideas and continues to be relevant and innovative.
Upon his retirement as the Vice Chancellor, the former School of Continuing Studies worked with other Departments of the UWI to organise a regional travelling exhibition as a tribute to him and in honour of his considerable contribution to the region. The School also produced a two volume commemorative edition of an annotated bibliography of his works from 1950-2005. The bibliography lists his published works which consist of 625 items, his unpublished writing, made up largely of 128 lectures, and choreography comprising 71 items. In addition, as the School began its transition into the Open Campus, it began the preparation of the history of the UWI’s outreach/extra-mural sector to commemorate the written history of the vision of its founding fathers, including Sir Philip Sherlock and Professor Rex Nettleford.
In great demand as a guest speaker for national events at all Open Campus Centres and sites across the region, from Belize to Trinidad & Tobago, Professor Nettleford was considered by all to be an intellectual giant who had wide ranging interests. Dr. Adrian Fraser, Head of Open Campus, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, recalls that his recurring themes at public lectures and other events focused on the creative power of the peoples of the region and the centrality of culture as a mark of their identity.
In his tribute, Dr. Fraser observes that, “Though Rex has served the international community with great distinction he has always been sure that ‘home’ was the priority. For him ‘home’ was the Caribbean, and, more specifically, the University of the West Indies…we salute him as a graduate who has contributed with great distinction to the upliftment of this archipelago we call home… a great Caribbean son indeed.” Professor Howard Fergus, the former Head of the School of Continuing Studies in Montserrat, states that “within the UWI Extra-Mural Department, Rex Nettleford allowed me uncommon extra-mural latitude. He had the vision to recognise that serving my country in prominent public positions redounded to the good of the University as well as to my personal development. For him there was no necessary polarity between institutional development and the advancement of his staff. When, therefore, at his urging we pursued our disciplines rigorously, we also built up the intellectual capital of the University and the region. When we served various publics we spread the University’s message and brightened its image.”
He continues, “Nettleford’s mantra on the centrality of the creative imagination and intellect to genuine development became for us a guiding principle. It was partly because of his influence and our inspired work that the Extra-Mural Department (School of Continuing Studies) changed its Cinderella status to being a respectable UWI unit. His personal support and leadership have had a similar transforming effect on my own career. I am sure I speak for others. His impact was multiplied in us.” The UWI Open Campus will always heed these words from Professor Nettleford as we try to bear his loss and move forward: “…the growth and development of an open campus (a long-time dream of Resident Tutors from an earlier era) now promises a continuing renewal for The UWI’s outward reach into an all-inclusive landscape for the educational preparation of a new generation who must cope creatively with the third millennium.” (Afterword, Breaking Down the Walls, 2007, p.252) The UWI Open Campus will deeply miss this cherished family member and brilliant mentor and friend. We will ensure that his legacy of Caribbean excellence and empowerment is kept alive for generations to come.
As a mark of deep respect for our colleague booths are being mounted in all the Open Campus Centres across the region and books of condolence are available to the public for signing at the Centres. We invite you to visit and to pay your respects to this remarkable son of the Caribbean. May his soul rest in peace.
UWI PRESS RELEASE
it is long but totally worth it
i respect Rex nettle ford i like him i hope he rest in peace and i like how he educate his self