Professor Barry Chevannes is dead

Noted Jamaican sociologist Professor Alton Barry Chevannes, is dead.
    
Professor Chevannes who was admitted to the University Hospital of over a month ago  died there on Friday afternoon.

Barry Chevannes served the University of the West Indies in various capacities since 1973 as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Professor of Social Anthropology.
In 1994, he was appointed Head of his Department and later served as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
 
The  Professor was also well known for his public service.He was chair of the Council of the Institute of Jamaica, the founder of Fathers Incorporated, and of Partners for Peace, and is recognized for his contribution to Jamaican folk and religious song heritage.
   
He also chaired the National Commission on Ganja in 2000-2001.
   
Up to the time of his death, he was a member of the Peace Management Initiative, Chairman of the Jamaican Justice System Reform Task Force, and Co-chair of the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development.
   
Professor Chevannes was the recipient of many awards including the  Institute of Jamaica Centenary Medal for work in the field of culture (1979); the Norman Manley Award for Excellence in the field of social development (1997); the UWI Guild of Graduates Pelican Award for contribution in the field of anthropology (1998); the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in research, teaching, University service, and  Commander of the Order of Distinction.
 
Barry Chevannes who was 70 years old, was also head of the Centre for Public Safety and Justice at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

A graduate of St George’s College,  he gained his B.A. and M.A. from Boston College, his Master's in Sociology at the University of the West Indies (UWI), and his doctorate in applied anthropology from Columbia University, where he defended his thesis on the Rastafari movement in Jamaica.
     
He leaves behind widow Pauletta and two daughters.