St. Mary's University Field School in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

St.Vincent and the Grenadines, May 4 to 17, 2014

For Master’s Students & 4000 Level Undergraduate Students (3.0 credit)

Vulnerable states have faced multiple global crises recently: financial meltdown, the expansion of uneven free trade agreements, and the alarming rate of climate change. The Eastern Caribbean lies on the razor’s edge of these crises: its tourism industries hit by financial chaos; its traditional exports weakened by the decline of preferential trade; and its small island economies hit disproportionately by natural disasters and rising sea levels. At the same time, states and social movements have fought against these trends with unique development alternatives and forms of regional cooperation devoted to sustainable development, health, and education. St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is ideally suited for an exploration of the challenges of:

• the decline of preferential trade & rise of “free trade”
• fair trade bananas & other new agroexports
• new forms of South-South cooperation (ALBA, Petrocaribe…)
• (eco)tourism & the construction of SVG’s first international airport
• human development & the “post-colonial” Caribbean state
• climate change in small island developing states
• biodiversity conservation in marine & terrestrial environments

INSTRUCTORS: Dr. Gavin Fridell (course co-ordinator), Dr. Kate Ervine, Mr. Cecil Ryan (Projects Promotion Ltd). The course includes local speakers from government and social movements and is in partnership with the SVG Community College and the Critical Development Studies (CDS) network.

COST: $990.00 (Registration is limited)

Includes: accommodation, breakfasts, tours, and all costs associated with classes and instruction

Does not include:

• Tuition (standard SMU domestic and international tuition fees apply. See: http://www.smu.ca/servicecentre/ttn_undergrad.html)
• Return Airfare (From Halifax to SVG, approximately $1300-1600)
• Lunches, suppers, and basic incidentals

Course is contingent on enrollment. Students outside SMU are welcome. 

For registration and further details, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..