Pro-Vice Chancellor, Global Affairs, University of the West Indies.
Ambassador Richard L. Bernal
Office: 876-977-0801 || Mobile: 876-389-9625
Email:
richard.bernal@uwimona.edu.jm || Website: richardbernal.org
Ambassador Dr. Bernal, a professional economist with over 40 years of experience was educated at the University of the West Indies, University of Pennsylvania, New School for Social Research and the School for Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University. He holds the degrees of B.Sc., MA, Ph.D. (Economics), and MIPP (International Public Policy). One of the 50 Distinguished Graduates of the University of the West Indies.
Member of the Broad of Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (2008-2016).
Previous to the IADB he was the Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) for 8 years with responsibility for trade negotiations for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Cuba and the Dominican Republic. He was Principal Negotiator for Forum of Caribbean States (CARIFORUM) in the negotiation of the CARIFORUM-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement and CARICOM’s lead negotiator and spokesperson in the World Trade Organization and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations.
Dr. Bernal was Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States of America and Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS) for the period May 6, 1991 to August 31, 2001. When he demitted office after 10 ˝ years, he was the 4th most senior Ambassador in Washington D.C. and Dean of the Caribbean Diplomatic Corps. Ambassador Bernal has given testimonies to several Committees of Congress (House and Senate) and the US International Trade Commission on issues of concern to the Caribbean.
Ambassador Dr. Bernal has conducted meetings with prime ministers, presidents, the heads of international organizations and CEOs on multinational corporations and banks. Dr. Bernal has deputised for the Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Previous to his diplomatic posting, he was Chief Executive Officer of a commercial bank. He has also worked in the Bank of Jamaica (central bank) and the Planning Institute/Agency of Jamaica and as Advisor to the Minister of Finance on external debt management and stabilization and adjustment policy.
For 7 years he taught international economics and development economics at the University of the West Indies. He is Honorary Professor at the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies of the University of the West Indies. While at the university he was active with trade unions, NGOs and churches.
Dr. Bernal has published over 100 articles in scholarly journals, books, and monographs (some available at richardbernal.net) as well as opinion editorials in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and the Miami Herald. Three books:
Globalization, Trade and Economic Development. A Study of the CARIFORM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013).
Dragon in the Caribbean. China’s Global Re-Positioning. Challenges and Opportunities for the Caribbean (Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers, April, 2014).
The Influence of Small States on Superpowers: Jamaica and U.S. Foreign Policy (Lanham: Lexington Publishers, July, 2015).
He has appeared on McNeil-Lehrer report, CNN, PBS and BBC radio. Has been quoted in the Financial Times, Washington Post, New York Times and Washington Times. Numerous interviews in Caribbean press, newspapers and radio. |
