UWI Press Takes Home Two Prestigious Caribbean Awards

The University of the West Indies Press (UWI Press) is pleased to announce that two of its publications have received distinguished Caribbean awards.

“Near a Plantation: Free Villages of Barbados, 1840-1945” by Professor Emeritus Sir Woodville Marshall has received the 2025 Elsa Goveia Memorial Book Prize. This biennial award, presented by the Association of Caribbean Historians, recognises notable contributions to Caribbean history. The announcement was made in June during the 56th Annual Conference of the Association.

has been awarded third place in the 2025 Gordon K. and Sybil Lewis Award earlier this month. This award is presented by the Caribbean Studies Association (CSA), which is the leading organisation for scholars and practitioners focused on the Caribbean region, including Central America and the Caribbean Coast of South America. The CSA is dedicated to promoting Caribbean studies from a multidisciplinary and multicultural perspective.

In extending congratulations to the authors, Director of the UWI Press, Christine A. Randle, commented, “We are delighted for our authors and the continuation of the UWI Press’s rich legacy as a Caribbean publisher with a strong track record of outstanding scholarly works by regional researchers.”

In Near a Plantation, Professor Emeritus Sir Woodville Marshall presents a transformative account of post-slavery Barbados. Through meticulous examination of wills and deeds, Marshall challenges established assumptions, delving deep into the complex dynamics that

influenced the lives of former slaves. His exploration offers a comprehensive perspective that reshapes our understanding of how free villages came to be in Barbados.

Politics in an Island State offers a fresh, insightful look at Jamaican politics and governance through the life of Wills O. Isaacs, an influential yet often overlooked political figure. Professor Emerita Diane Austin-Broos challenges dominant narratives of crime and chaos by tracing the island’s complex history of decolonization, industrialization, and social democracy. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in Caribbean society, leadership, and development.

Copies of Near a Plantation and Politics in an Island State are available for purchase at www.uwipress.com. For ordering inquiries, examination or review copies, or to request an interview with the author, please contact uwipress.mktg@uwimona.edu.jm.