The College of the West Indies (The UWI) and the College of Glasgow (UofG) have introduced the repatriation of a Jamaican Big Galliwasp specimen from The Hunterian assortment at UofG in Scotland, UK. The species of lizard, which is believed to have been collected within the 1850s and is presumed to be extinct, will return to its homeland, Jamaica. This repatriation train is momentous as it’s the first repatriation of a pure historical past specimen within the Caribbean. It symbolises an vital milestone for scientific analysis, cultural heritage preservation within the area, and repatriation as a part of the reparatory justice for the Caribbean.
A joint group from The UWI and the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) will journey to Glasgow to retrieve the specimen. The group consists of Dr Shani Roper, Curator at The UWI Museum, Elizabeth Morrison, Zoologist Curator at IOJ, Museum, Dr Tannice Corridor, Lecturer in The UWI Life Sciences, and Dionne Newell, Senior Analysis Officer in Entomology at IOJ, and Desireina Delancy, Graduate Scholar, The UWI, Mona. The group returns to Jamaica with the lizard specimen on April 24.
This repatriation train is throughout the sphere of the execution of a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The UWI and UofG, geared toward fostering collaboration in analysis and schooling and addressing the historic legacies of colonialism. Some of the tangible outcomes of the MOU is the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Improvement Analysis (GCCDR), which funds analysis initiatives that advance improvement objectives within the Caribbean, facilitate tutorial partnerships, and lift world consciousness in regards to the ongoing affect of historic slavery. This repatriation not solely represents the return of a invaluable piece of Jamaican heritage but in addition signifies a dedication by the UofG to rectify previous injustices and guarantee Caribbean possession of its scientific and cultural treasures.
In keeping with Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, “The reparatory justice motion offers with varied points of various scales that have to be addressed. By returning the Galliwasp to its rightful place, we take a small however important step in direction of laying the muse for a regional and worldwide dialogue on repatriation.”
Professor Simon Anderson, Professor of Inhabitants Well being Sciences at The UWI Cave Hill Campus and Board Director of the GCCDR expressed, “The Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Improvement Analysis has contributed to the Galliwasp’s repatriation because it sees this initiative as a manner of additional strengthening the connection between The UWI and UofG. We hope that this go to and the return of the Jamaican Big Galliwasp will spur new analysis and collaborations.”
Steph Scholten, Director of The Hunterian, College of Glasgow, mentioned, “The Jamaican Big Galliwasp lizard specimen that can return to its homeland Jamaica, turned a part of our collections in 1888. It was chosen for interpretation and show within the Hunterian Museum by Professor Churnjeet Mahn, one of many Neighborhood Curators who labored on The Hunterian’s ‘Curating Discomfort’ mission. That is a part of The Hunterian’s energetic and important engagement with its historic legacy, making it a extra significant place for extra various audiences. We hope that this return will assist foster additional relationships between The College of the West Indies and the College of Glasgow, in addition to deepen understanding of repatriation points within the museum sector.”
The partnership between The UWI and the UofG for the return of the Galliwasp represents their steady dedication to social justice and cultural fairness. This initiative is in keeping with different ongoing strategic efforts between the 2 establishments, such because the joint Grasp’s Programme in Reparatory Justice. This distinctive interdisciplinary programme includes programs with a historic foundation and a reference to present-day realities, with the first objective of facilitating a deeper understanding of the demand for reparations justice.
Upon the specimen’s return to Jamaica, an official handover ceremony can be held as it is going to be deposited within the Pure Historical past Museum of Jamaica on everlasting mortgage within the nationwide wildlife assortment for safekeeping and permitting it to be accessible to all Jamaicans.
Members of the general public are invited to remain tuned to comply with the repatriation journey of the Jamaican Big Galliwasp from Scotland to its homeland.
