Dr, Barriteau, who also holds the position of Deputy Principal at the UWI, will be the 9th woman to be presented with the prestigious award, after the first one was made back in 1984 to Ms. Nesta Patrick, a national of Trinidad & Tobago.
Dr. Barriteau is being rewarded for the significant contributions that she has made at the national and regional levels in various fields of endeavours, impacting the social and economic development of the Community.
The Triennial Award for Women was introduced in 1983 to recognize and honour Caribbean women who have made significant contributions to socio-economic development at the national and regional levels.
The Grenadian-born Barbadian citizen has served both the regional and national education sector with distinction for nearly 40 years, first as a classroom teacher of History and English, then as a researcher and professor of gender studies, and now providing academic and administrative leadership in the capacity of Deputy Principal of the Cave Hill campus of the UWI.
Dr. Barriteau’s illustrious career is underpinned by an equally impressive academic sojourn, which took her to the rung of Doctor of Philosophy in political Science, earned at Howard University.
A strong advocate of gender and development, she has made phenomenal contribution to the advancement of women’s empowerment and gender equality, through her advocacy, teaching, research and publications.
A prolific researcher, writer and presenter, Dr. Barriteau has authored one book on gender – The Political Economy of Gender in the Twentieth Century Caribbean, contributed articles and chapters to a plethora of publications and edited several others, while finding time to make presentations at national regional and international seminars primarily on gender related issues.
According to the CARICOM acting Secretary-General, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite, who made the announcement at last Friday’s Media Clinic in Basseterre, ahead of the 32nd Regular Conference of Heads of Government of the 15-member grouping, the award will be presented to Dr. Barriteau at the opening ceremony of the Conference in St. Kitts and Nevis, on Thursday, 30 June, 2011.