Godfrey St. Bernard, Ph.D.

Senior Lecturer, SALISES, St. Augustine

Focus:

Demography, Applied Social Statistics, Social Policy

Email:

godfrey.stbernard@sta.uwi.edu

Tel:

1 868 662 2002 ext. 82148

Vertical Tabs

Bio

Dr. Godfrey St. Bernard is a Senior Fellow in the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES), The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Between 1980 and 1987, he worked as a statistician in the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in Trinidad and Tobago and was responsible for the production of social and vital statistics published by the CSO.

He obtained a B.A Mathematics and Economics (1980) from The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine and M.A Sociology (1989) and Ph.D. Social Demography (1993) from the University of Western Ontario (now Western University), London, Ontario, Canada. He was the recipient of two prestigious fellowships that permitted him to complete his post-graduate studies at the University of Western Ontario – a CIDA/CELADE Fellowship (1987-1991) and a Population Council Fellowship during1991-1992.

His current academic interests include problems akin to population and development, applied statistical analysis, research methodology, evaluation research and social policy. His current research interests focus upon children and youth, population policy and dynamics in the Circum-Caribbean, violence prevention and safety promotion, vulnerability and resilience in small states, return migration and the measurement of social phenomena. Having been primarily responsible for the establishment of the Master of Science in Development Statistics offered in the SALISES, Dr. St. Bernard continues to serve as the Co-ordinator of that programme. During the period 2017-2021, Dr. St. Bernard will continue to be engaged as the UWI lead researcher of a hemispheric project entitled the Rights of Children and Youth Partnership (RCYP) in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dr. St. Bernard is the co-author of one book entitled Behind the Bridge – Power, Politics and Patronage in Laventille, Trinidad (1997) and a monograph entitled Adult Literacy in Trinidad and Tobago - A Study of the Findings of the National Literacy Survey 1995. In 1996, he authored yet another monograph 1990-1991 Population and Housing Census of the Commonwealth Caribbean - National Census Report: St. Lucia. Since 1994, Dr, St. Bernard has authored numerous scholarly studies that have appeared in peer-reviewed journals, chapters in edited books and in a variety of formats in other academic and scholarly media. He has also been the author of a number of technical papers for several international organizations across the globe.

Dr. St. Bernard has been an active member of the Caribbean Studies Association since 1993. He served on the Executive Council of the Caribbean Studies Association during 200-2014 and was the President of the Caribbean Studies Association during 2012-2013. He often claims that he is leading his own Silent Revolution that is designed to redress inequalities, inequities and injustice that have negatively impacted the lives of large masses of Caribbean peoples even after having lived in nations that have exceeded fifty years of nationhood.

Academic Profile

Academic Profile:
• Conference Co-ordinator, SALISES Regional – 13th Annual Caribbean Child Research Conference, November 13-14, 2018
• Symposium Co-ordinator and Intellectual Lead, SALISES Conference entitled Cluster for Population and Sustainable Development Symposium entitled Road Traffic Congestion – Challenges and Ameliorative Interventions, May 24th 2018
• Conference Co-ordinator and Intellectual Lead, SALISES Conference entitled Population Planning for Development in Jamaica: Theory, Practice and Policy for the Post 2015 Development Agenda, January 25-27, 2017
• Conference Co-ordinator and Intellectual Lead, SALISES Conference entitled Population Issues and Dynamics in Trinidad and Tobago: Theory, Practice and Policy for Post 2015 SDGs , January 7-9, 2016
• President, Executive Council, Caribbean Studies Association during 2012_2013. I was responsible for logistics and overall organization and success (especially the scholarly content) of the 38th Annual Conference of the Caribbean Studies Association in Grand Anse, Grenada in June 2013
• Vice President, Executive Council, Caribbean Studies Association during 2011_2012. I was responsible for logistics and overall organization and success of the 37th Annual Conference of the Caribbean Studies Association in Le Gosier, Guadeloupe, French West Indies in May/June 2012
• Chairperson, Local Organizing Committee, Caribbean Studies Association during 2005_2006. I was responsible for logistics and overall organization and success of the 31st Annual Conference of the Caribbean Studies Association in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in May/June 2006

• Membership in the following professional associations:
o Population Association of America
o International Union for the Scientific Study of Population
o International Sociological Association
o Caribbean Studies Association
o Jamaica Statistical Society
o Caribbean Association of Professional Statisticians
o SALISES Youth Development Cluster
o SALISES Social Policy Cluster
o Lead Researcher – SALISES Cluster on Population and Sustainable Development
• Editor-in-Chief, Journal of the Caribbean Association of Professional Statisticians (JCAPS)

Education

Education:
BA Mathematica and Economics, UWI, St. Augustine (1980)
MA Sociology, UWO (now Western University), London, Ontario, CANADA (1989)
PhD Social Demography, UWO (now Western University), London, Ontario, CANADA (1993)

Publications

Publications:
(a) Books
Ryan, Selwyn, Roy Mc Cree and Godfrey St. Bernard (1997) Behind the Bridge Power, Politics and Patronage in Laventille, Trinidad, Institute of Social and Economic Research, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, 392 pages

(b) Monographs
St. Bernard, Godfrey (1996) 1990-1991 Population and Housing Census of the Commonwealth Caribbean - National Census Report: St. Lucia, CARICOM Secretariat, 170 pages.
St. Bernard, Godfrey and Carol Salim (1995) Adult Literacy in Trinidad and Tobago - A Study of the Findings of the National Literacy Survey 1995, Institute of Social and Economic Research, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, 90 pages.
(c) Articles in Refereed Journals
Conway, Dennis, Rob Potter, Godfrey St. Bernard and Joseph Rodman (2015) “Caribbean Diasporic Spaces and Mobilities, Transnational Incorporation Overseas and Transnational Capacity-Building on Return” Canadian Journal of Latin America and Caribbean States (CALACS), Vol. 40, Issue #1, pp. 1-26
Melissa Berkley and Godfrey St. Bernard (2013) “Improving Life Chances of an ‘At Risk’ Group in Trinidad and Tobago: An Exploratory Analysis of Missing Girls’ Data” Journal of Eastern Caribbean Studies, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 107-139
Mlambo, Victor and Godfrey St. Bernard (2013) “Proximate Determinants of Poverty among St. Lucians – A Cross-Sectional Household Level Analysis” Journal of Eastern Caribbean Studies, Vol. 38, Nos. 1 and 2, pp. 94-125
Conway, Dennis; Robert Potter and Godfrey St. Bernard (2012) “Diaspora Return of Transnational Migrants to Trinidad and Tobago: The Additional Contributions of Social Remittances” International Development Planning Review, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 189-209
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2011) “An Exploratory Analysis of Mother’s Breastfeeding Practices in Trinidad and Tobago: Implications for Children’s Future Well Being” International Journal of Food, Nutrition and Public Health, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 109-129
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2010) “Demographics, Youth Victims and Measures for Prevention: The Case of Homicide in Trinidad and Tobago “Caribbean Journal of Criminology and Public Safety, Vol. 15, Nos. 1 and 2, pp. 1-34
Potter, Robert B; Dennis Conway and Godfrey St. Bernard (2010) “Racism in a Melting Pot….? Trinidadian Mid-life Transnational Migrants Views on Race, Colour-Class on Return to their Homes of Descent” Geoforum, Vol. 41, Issue 5, pp. 805-813
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2009) “Firearms and Reported Homicide in Trinidad and Tobago: A Socio-Demographic Perspective “Caribbean Journal of Criminology and Public Safety, Vol. 14, Nos. 1 and 2, pp. 81-109
Agozino,Biko; Benjamin Bowling; Elizabeth Ward and Godfrey St. Bernard (2009) “Guns, Crime and Social Order in the West Indies“ Criminology and Criminal Justice, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 287-305
Potter, Robert B; Dennis Conway and Godfrey St. Bernard (2009) “Repetitive Visiting as a Pre-Return Transitional Strategy among Youthful Trinidadian Returnees“ Mobilities, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 249-273
Potter, Robert B; Dennis Conway and Godfrey St. Bernard (2009) “Transnationalism Personified: Young Returning Trinidadians ‘in Their Own Words’ “Tidschrift Voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Vol. 100, No. 1, pp. 101-113
Conway, Dennis; Robert Potter and Godfrey St. Bernard (2008) “Dual Citizenship or Dual Identity?: Does ‘Transnationalism’ Supplant ‘Nationalism’ among Returning Trinidadians?” Global Networks, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 373-397
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2008) “Is Vision 2020 Twenty-Twenty Vision? A Preliminary Evaluation of Process” Journal of Social and Economic Studies, Vol. 57, No. 1, pp. 139-164

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2004) "Toward the Construction of a Social Vulnerability Index - Some Theoretical and Methodological Considerations" Journal of Social and Economic Studies, Vol. 53. No. 2, pp. 1-29

St. Bernard, Godfrey and Winston Matthews (2003) “A Contemporary Analysis of Road Traffic Crashes, Fatalities and Injuries in Trinidad and Tobago” Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, Volume 10 No. 1-2, pp. 21-27
St. Bernard, Godfrey (1994) “Ethnicity and Attitudes Towards Inter-racial Marriages in Trinidad and Tobago - An Exploration of Preliminary Findings" Caribbean Quarterly, Volume 40 Nos. 3 & 4, December, pp. 109-124

St. Bernard, Godfrey (1994) "Differential Attitudes Towards Endogamous Marriages: The Case of Indo-Trinidadians" International Journal of Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies, Volume 1 No. 2, pp. 1-12.

(d) Chapters in Books
St. Bernard, Godfrey and Lino Briguglio (2020) “Social governance in the Eastern Caribbean small island states” in Lino Briguglio, Jessica Byron, Stefano Moncada and Wouter Veenendaal (eds), Governance in Small States, pp. Routledge
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2019) “Lewis’s Unlimited Supplies of Labour, Development Policy, and Social Justice: The Relevance of Caribbean Demographics” in Hamid Ghany (ed), The W. Arthur Lewis Reader, pp. , Ian Randle Publishers
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2016) “Demographic Transition and Implications for Social Policy in the Anglophone Caribbean: The Cases of Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and Jamaica” in Aldrie Henry-Lee (ed) Pathways to Action: Social Policy in the Caribbean, pp. 89-111, Ian Randle Publishers (REFEREED)
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2014) “Strengthening Social Cohesion in the Context of Resilience Building in Small States With Reference to Commonwealth Small States” in Denny Lewis-Bynoe (ed) Building the Resilience of Small States – A Revised Framework, pp. 197- 237, Commonwealth Secretariat (REFEREED)
Conway, Dennis; Robert B. Potter and Godfrey St. Bernard (2013) “Caribbean Return Migration in Later Life: Family Issues and Transnational Experiences as Influential Pre-Retirement Factors” in John Percival (ed) Return Migration in Later Life: International Perspectives, pp. 89-111, Policy Press (REFEREED)
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2012) “Population Dynamics and Temporal Impact on Popular Culture: The Case of Trinidad and Tobago“ in Basil A. Reid (ed) Caribbean Heritage, pp. 58-75, UWI Press, Mona Campus, Jamaica (REFEREED)
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2010) “Alien Labourers and Development Process: The Case of Montserrat” in Allam Ahmed and Gale T. C. Rigobert (eds) World Sustainable Development Outlook 2010 – Towards Epistemic Sovereignty: (Re)-Thinking Development in a Changing Global Political Economy, pp. 233-250, World Association for Sustainable Development, University of Sussex, United Kingdom (REFEREED)
Potter, Robert B; Dennis Conway and Godfrey St. Bernard (2009) “Returning Youthful Trinidadian Migrants: Prolonged Sojourners’ Transnational Experiences“ in Dennis Conway and Robert Potter (eds) Return Migration of the Next Generation: Transnational Mobility in the Twenty-first Century, pp. 274-309, Ashgate Publishers (REFEREED)
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2008) “Exploring Childhood Victimization in Trinidad and Tobago: An Analysis of Homicidal Cases” in Aldrie Henry Lee and Julie Meekes-Gardiner (eds) Promoting Child Rights Through Research, Volume 1, pp. 30-55, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica (REFEREED)
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2006) "Return Migration in Trinidad and Tobago - Motives, Choices and Consequences" in Rob Potter, Dennis Conway and Joan Phillips (eds) The Experience of Return Migration: Caribbean Perspectives, pp. 157-182, Ashgate Publishers (REFEREED)
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2006) "Episodes of Return Migration in Tobago – A Phenomenological Study" in Frances Henry and Dwaine Plaza (eds) Returning to the Source: The Final Stage of the Caribbean Migration Circuit, pp. 188-213, UWI Press, Mona Campus, Jamaica (REFEREED)

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2005) "Labour Market Challenges and Contemporary Youth in Caribbean Societies: Towards an Ameliorative Process" in Dennis Pantin (ed) Reader on Caribbean Economy: Prelude to Sustainable Development in the 21st Century, pp. 387-411, Ian Randle Publishers, Jamaica (REFEREED)
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2004) "Measuring Social Vulnerability - Prospects for Evaluating Public Expenditure" in Ramesh Ramsaran (ed) Fiscal Experience in the Caribbean - Emerging Issues and Problems, pp. 645-678, Caribbean Centre for Monetary Studies, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine (REFEREED)
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2003) "Major Trends Affecting Families in Central America and the Caribbean" in Major Trends affecting Families, pp. 128-163, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, New York (REFEREED)
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2001) “Demographic Characteristics of Family and Living Arrangements in the Commonwealth Caribbean” in Harry Goulbourne and Mary Chamberlin (eds) Caribbean Families in Britain and the Trans-Atlantic World, pp. 92-116, London: Macmillan, ISBN# 0 333 776795) (REFEREED).
St. Bernard, Godfrey (1999) "Ethnicity and Attitudes Towards Inter-racial Marriages in a Multiracial Society: The Case of Trinidad and Tobago" in Ralph R. Premdas (ed) Identity, Ethnicity and Culture in the Caribbean, pp. 157-184, School of Continuing Studies, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago (REFEREED).

St. Bernard, Godfrey (1998) "Aspects of Family Life, Gender Relations and Ethnic Background: An Empirical Evaluation of Multi-Ethnicity and Youth in Trinidad and Tobago” in Wilma Bailey (ed.) Gender and the Family in the Caribbean, pp. 147-184, Institute of Social and Economic Research, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica (REFEREED).

(e) Edited Journal Issue
St. Bernard, Godfrey and Roy Mc Cree (eds) (2000) Caribbean Dialogue – A Policy Bulletin of Caribbean Affairs: Special Edition on Youth and Crime, Volume 6, Nos. 1 & 2
.

(f) Articles in Other Journals
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2011) “Early Childhood Education and Human Development Prospects: Are Some Children Disadvantaged?” Caribbean Dialogue – A Journal of Contemporary Caribbean Policy Issues Vol. 16, Nos. 1, 2 and 3

St. Bernard, Godfrey and Linda Hewitt (2011) “A Review of Caribbean Population and Housing Census Experience Using the Long and Short Forms" In JSM Proceedings, Statistical Computing Section, Alexandria, VA: American Statistical Association, pp.348-356
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2000) “Evaluation Strategies for Youth Development Programmes” Caribbean Dialogue – A Policy Bulletin of Caribbean Affairs Vol. 6, Nos. 1 & 2

St. Bernard, Godfrey (1999) “Foreign Born Populations and Development: The Case of St. Lucia" Caribbean Perspectives, January, 1999 - Issues in the `New’ Caribbean Migration, The Eastern Caribbean Center, the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.
St. Bernard, Godfrey (1998) “The Family and Contemporary Youth: Social Policy Challenges” Caribbean Dialogue – A Policy Bulletin of Caribbean Affairs Vol. 4, Nos. 3 & 4

(g) Technical Reports:
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2017) Towards Multi-Agency Harmonized Data Files – Collection and Classification Protocols for the Juvenile Justice System in Trinidad and Tobago, Juvenile Court Project, Trinidad and Tobago, 80 pages

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2017) Trends and Patterns in Juvenile Arrests 2000-2015 – Minor and Serious Offences in Trinidad and Tobago, Juvenile Court Project, Trinidad and Tobago, 97 pages

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2016) Harmonizing the Juvenile Justice System Multi-Agency Data in Trinidad and Tobago, Juvenile Court Project, Trinidad and Tobago

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2011) Early Childhood Care and Education in Trinidad and Tobago: An Exploratory Analysis, UNICEF, UN House, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2011) Central Registry for Domestic Violence: Users’ Manual for the Preparation and Analysis of Data Gender Affairs Bureau, The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roseau, Dominica, 108 pages

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2007) Small States Economic Review and Basic Statistics – A Critical Review Economic Affairs Division, CARICOM Secretariat, London, England

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2006) Social Outcomes and Characteristics of Youth in Trinidad and Tobago – An Analysis of the 2000 Population and Housing Census, United Nations ECLAC Sub-Regional Office, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 113 pages

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2006) Responding to the Need for Social Development in Montserrat – A Demographic Study, Development Unit, The Government of Montserrat, Brades, Montserrat, 70 pages

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2005) Social Vulnerability Measurement in the Caribbean Sub-Region – A Pilot Test, United Nations ECLAC Sub-Regional Office, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2004) Formal Review of DFID-Funded Social Development Assistance Programme to the Caribbean Development Bank – DOMINICA CASE STUDY, Caribbean Development Bank, Barbados, 38 pages
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2004) Ethnographic Survey of Persons Living With HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago United Nations Development Programme/Trinidad and Tobago HIV/AIDS Alliance, 72 pages

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2003) Towards a Social Vulnerability Index in the Caribbean United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Regional Headquarters for the Caribbean, Port of Spain, 38 pages

St. Bernard, Godfrey (2001) Protocol for Data Collection on Domestic Violence in Caribbean Societies, The Social Affairs Division, The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

St. Bernard, Godfrey (1999) Framework for Policy Planning – Transforming the Information and Data Architecture, Policy Research and Development Institute, Tobago House of Assembly
St. Bernard, Godfrey (1998) Family and Society in Trinidad and Tobago: The Findings of the National Survey of Family Life 1994, Ministry of Social AND Community Development, The Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

(h) Technical Reports Edited/Reviewed
Jamaica Country Report 2018 - Sustainable Development Goals

Project: Government of Jamaica (GOJ)/United Nations Development Programme

In 2017, the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) was contracted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on behalf of the Government of Jamaica, to prepare the country’s first Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Country Report. To undertake this assignment, SALISES formed a multi-disciplinary team led by Prof. Aldrie Henry-Lee and Dr. Arlene Bailey - Principal and Co-Principal Investigators. Other members of the team included Prof. Anthony Clayton, Dr. Carroll Edwards, Dr. Georgiana Gordon-Strachan, Mrs. Yhanore Johnson-Coke, Ms. Kemesha Kelly, Mr. Richard Leach, Dr. Kurt McLaren, Dr. Patricia Northover, Mr. Orin Spence, Dr. Godfrey St. Bernard, Ms. Nicole Thwaites, Mr. Giovanni Williams and Dr. Michael Witter.
The study highlighted some of the good practices for which Jamaica has been recognized; lessons learned in mainstreaming and localizing the SDGs and accelerating implementation; challenges which may be faced during the implementation process; areas for capacity building in monitoring and reporting on the SDGs; and related areas where additional support may be useful.

St Bernard, Godfrey (2009) National Census Report Series – 2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Data Analysis Sub-Project; Georgetown, Guyana: CARICOM Capacity Development Programme
• Belize by Leopold Perriott
• Bermuda by Cordell Riley
• British Virgin Islands by Elizabeth Talbert
• Grenada by Wendy Crawford
• Saint Lucia by Linda Hewitt
• St. Kitts and Nevis by Linda Hewitt
• Suriname by Jack Menke
• The Bahamas by National Statistics Office of the Bahamas
• Trinidad and Tobago by Sonkarley Biaie

Uche, Chukwudum and Godfrey St Bernard, Godfrey (2009) Regional Special Topics Monograph Series – 2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Data Analysis Sub-Project; Georgetown, Guyana: CARICOM Capacity Development Programme
• International Migration by Elizabeth Thomas-Hope
• Gender and Development Issues by Leith Dunn and Alicia Mondesire
• Children and Youth by G. Edward Ebanks
• Economic Activity, Education and Training by Barbara Bailey
• `The Elderly by Valerie Nam

(i) Other Professional Documents:
St. Bernard, Godfrey (2003) Course Material - Survey Design and Analysis (SY22E), St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago: Distance Education Centre, The University of the West Indies

Projects

Current Projects:
Name of Research Project #1: Rights of Children and Youth Partnership – Strengthening Collaboration in the Americas (RCYP)

Grant Source: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Canada

Amount: CAD 4.2 million

Duration of Grant: 2017-2022

Role: Co-Applicant and Lead Researcher (The University of the West Indies)

Academic Partners: Ryerson University (Lead Partner), Dalhousie University, Mc Master University, Pontifica Universidad Catolica, Madre y Maestra, The Governing Council of The University of Toronto, Universidad Lutherana Salvadorena, Universidad Nacional, Autonoma de Honduras, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Prince Edward Island, University of San Carlos de Guatemala, University of Technology, The University of the West Indies, Wilfred Laurier University, York University

Non-Academic Partners: Catholic Children’s Aid Society, Toronto Centre for Development and Constructive Interaction (Dominican Republic), Commonsense Childbirth (Florida, United States), El Consejo Nacional de la Ninez y la Adolescencia (Dominican Republic), Federacion Dominicana de Municipios (Dominican Republic), Institute for Research Development on Inclusion and Society (Ontario, Canada), Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth (Ontario, Canada), Save the Children Dominicana (Dominican Republic), UNICEF El Salvador, UNICEF Nicaragua

Sites for the Studies: Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica

Name of Research Project #2: Caribbean Population Dynamics and Prospects for Sustainable Development

Grant Source: No Grant

Amount: Personal Interest and Support

Duration of Grant: On-going

Role: Lead Researcher – SALISES Cluster for Population and Sustainable Development

Brief Description of Research Activity:

With reference to the Caribbean Sub-Region, this research project is motivated by my training as a demographer and the scholarly interests that I have developed in seeking to obtain a better understanding of the symbiotic relationship between demographic phenomena and real life outcomes that are shaped by human populations, and at the same time, shape a host of characteristic features associated with such populations. In essence, the research seeks to elicit data that can throw light on temporal and spatial similarities in demographic, economic, cultural, social, behavioral, attitudinal and other key characteristics that are reflect human character. As such, it draws on quantitative and qualitative methodologies spanning a host of disciplinary foci. Accordingly, it thrives on developing and inter-disciplinary approach to understanding emergent Caribbean realities. It is predicated on the notion that inter-disciplinary rhetoric has gained momentum in understanding Caribbean reality but is handicapped insofar as it is devoid of demographic sensibilities.

During the Post-World War II Years and until the early 1980s, there was a proliferation of Caribbean scholarship informed by disciplinary insights from the field of demography. Scholars, notably George Roberts, Jack Harewood, Lloyd Brathwaite, Joycelin Messiah, Norma Abdulah, were among the major fore-runners and produced formidable volumes of research output that have not been adequately embraced as inputs into planning processes directed at improving the lives of Caribbean peoples. Since the mid-1980s and throughout the 1990s, scholarly biases persisted starving the region of opportunities to embark and pursue research rooted in rich scholarship informed by demographic insights. This research project has already embarked upon initiatives to emphasize the critical role of demographic insights in meeting the needs of development agendas.

Currently, I am the Chairperson of the Caribbean Research Cluster for Population and Sustainable Development. I am also a member of each of the Clusters on Youth Development, Social Policy and Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development. The four research clusters are administered from within SALISES and bring together allied researchers with different disciplinary foci. My specific research work has focused on a number of themes including children and youth, population aging, elderly care, population aging and social security, population and environment, population and spatial mobility, human capital development, demographic transition and its impact on the future of Caribbean societies, Caribbean fertility decline, and population, social inequality and sustainable development. These themes reflect the essence of the papers that I have presented in conference over the past five years and thus central to work that I have published or currently preparing for publication. Already, I have three manuscripts, two of which are in advanced stages of readiness for publication.

Name of Research Project #3: Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion

Grant Source: No Grant

Amount: Personal Interest and Support

Duration of Grant: On-going

Role: Lead Researcher – SALISES Cluster for Population and Sustainable Development

Brief Description of the Research Activity:

This research undertaking is another pet project that is motivated by my training as a demographer and applied statistician with a profound interest in the philosophy of science, its impact on the formation of critical strands of methodological insights and the latter’s contribution to real life problems that different publics seek to alter in accordance with progressive development agendas. The spate of homicide and the alarming prevalence road traffic crashes have become two serious social problems that have implications for the well-being of individuals in all spheres of human life. Both problems are preventable and are due to attitudes and behaviours that human beings harbor individually and as part of collectivities. Accordingly, this research project draws primarily on secondary data from administrative sources from within national statistical systems to map connections between demographic, ecological and circumstantial evidence on one hand, and outcomes that reflect variable phenomena that are manifest in the form of critical outcomes associated with homicide events and road traffic crashes.

As such, my current research focuses primarily on Trinidad and Tobago, and secondarily Jamaica. It draws principally on quantitative methodologies and techniques and demographic insights to provide answers to research questions that inform public policy to influence positive outcomes in these two main domains. Not surprisingly, much of my published research, papers presented in scholarly meetings, and current work that is being revised for publication, reflect themes relevant to this overarching research endeavour. As the Co-ordinator of the M.Sc. in Development Statistics, I am increasingly supervising research papers focusing on these themes and seeking to publish the outcomes jointly with my students. I also supervised as many as four research papers of students reading for the M.Sc. Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health in The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago. While there are several publishable prospects from this research effort, I am actively preparing a manuscript entitled “Blood on the Dance Floor”.

Name of Research Project #4: Vulnerability, Resilience and Sustainable Development

Grant Source: No Grant Yet. However, I have been approached by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to lead a study that will culminate in the development of a Comprehensive Wealth Index for Trinidad and Tobago and by extension, other Caribbean States. The UWI, St. Augustine as at January 15th 2021 is yet to approve the UWI’s engagement in the Project. The Project spans the period 2020-2023 and is worth CAD100,000.00 over the period of the Project. The IISD continues to apprise me and involve me in the development of the Project and are hopeful that the UWI would get on board.

Amount: CAD100,000.00 for the Comprehensive Wealth Index Project once the UWI agrees to participate.

Duration of Grant: 2020-2023

Role: Lead Researcher – SALISES Cluster for Population and Sustainable Development

Brief Description of the Research Activity:

My focus on Vulnerability, Resilience and Sustainable Development was influenced by collaborative research done with colleagues from the UNECLAC, The University of Malta and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Having become acquainted with the vast literature in this area, I have contributed scholarly papers to refereed journals and as edited book chapters. I continue to contribute to thought-movements in this area by virtue of the papers that I have presented in conferences over the past two decades. In fact, while as President of the Caribbean Studies Association in the year 2012/2013, I had the privilege of determining the conference theme and opted for the following theme: Caribbean Spaces and Institutions: Contesting Paradigms of “Development” in the 21st Century. That choice of theme reinforced my commitment to expanding the discourse on sustainable development across ontological, epistemological, methodological and technical boundaries, drawing on inter-disciplinary perspectives to context conventional interpretations and manifestations of “development”. My most recent publication and indeed one that has recently been submitted for consideration fit nicely within this research activity. I expect to be involved in the research on the development of the comprehensive wealth index with a group of international colleagues. We continue to meet and expect that there will be numerous publication outputs associated with our proposed research.

UWI Lead Researcher/Co-Applicant - The Experiences of Young Return Migrants in Trinidad and Tobago (Indiana University – Indiana, USA and University of Reading – UK) – Early 2000s (To Verify Dates)

UWI Lead Researcher/Co-Applicant - Rights for Children and Youth Partnership Project in Latin America and the Caribbean (Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada) - 2015-2022

Graduate Studies

Graduate Studies:
• Pioneer, Programme Developer and Programme Co-ordinator, Master of Science in Development Statistics, 2008-2020
• Developed fully each of the following courses in the M.Sc. Development Statistics -SALI6031, SALI6016, SALI6024. SALI6023, SALI6017, SALI6019, SALI6015
• Teaching at Master of Science and Doctoral Levels in SALISES, both in St. Augustine and Mona Campuses, 2000-2020
• Successful supervision of research papers of at least 75 Master of Science Students in SALISES, St. Augustine and Mona Campuses. I have supervised at least 68 research papers of graduates for the M.Sc. in Development Statistics and continue to supervise at least 10 additional students from that Programme currently. Period 2000-2020.
• Successful supervision of theses of three (3) doctoral students and actively engaged in the supervision at the doctoral level of three additional students. Period 2000-2020.
• On several occasions, I have either assumed the role as chairperson or assessor during seminars convened to assess M.Phil/PhD students in SALISES Regional and across several departments regardless of the Campus 2000-2020.
• On several occasions, I have either assumed the role as chairperson or examiner during MPhil/PhD examinations of students in SALISES Regional and across several departments regardless of the Campus 2000-2020.

Developed and Co-ordinated the Master of Science in Development Statistics from 2008-2020

Doctoral Students Successfully Supervised = 3

Masters Students Successfully Supervised = 75+

Courses Taught

Courses Taught:
• SALI6012 – Research Methods for the Social Sciences (2000-2015)
• SALI6031 – Techniques of Applied Social Statistical Analysis (2000-2020)
• SALI6016 – Demographic Techniques I (2008-2020)
• SALI6024 – Demographic Techniques II (2008-2020)
• SALI6023 – Monitoring and Evaluation (2008-2010)
• SALI6017 – Social Development Statistics (2008-2020)
• SALI6019 – Elements of Official Statistics (2008-2010)
• SALI6015 – Survey Research Design and Management (2000-2020)
• SALI7002/8002 – Research Design and Management (2000-2020)
• SALI7101/8101 – Specialized Research Methods (2000-2020)

Vertical Tabs

About SALISES

Programmes

Useful Links

Publications

You are here

Godfrey St. Bernard, Ph.D.

Vertical Tabs