This unique event scheduled for Thursday, October 20th, 2011 from 7pm to 9:00pm, is part of the USM Lecture Series under the theme "Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sint Maarten."
Utilizing the text of the award winning book "A Small Place" by Jamaica Kincaid, the 2001 American documentary film "Life and Debt" examines the economic and social situation in Jamaica, and specifically the impact thereon of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank's globalization policies. Part of these policies were conditional on structural adjustment policies, which required Jamaica to enact harsh economic reforms, including trade liberalization, privatization, and deregulation. However, the reforms were unsuccessful and left the country with $4.6 billion dollars in debt.
After the film, Mr. Alberts, a lecturer at USM, will focus on explaining globalization and its effect on small island economies, comparing and contrasting issues presented in the film to that of Sint Maarten and setting these issues within the broader context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Come and join USM students and faculty at this event which is a first of its kind at USM, officials said on Tuesday. The event is free and will be held at the USM Lecture Hall which has a seating capacity of 200 people.
