forefront of leading empirical research in the Caribbean on the mental health effects of cannabis. Abel has received honours and awards for his outstanding work and public service, including the Order of Distinction, Officer Class, 2007 from the Government of Jamaica, special awards from the Medical Foundation of Jamaica and the Jamaica Psychiatric Association respectively as well as awards from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). He was promoted to the rank of Professor, UWI, in 2013. Professor Abel has been a consultant to CARICOM and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on public mental health. Professor Abel has served and continues to serve on numerous boards in the public and private sector. Currently he is the Chair of the National Council on Drug Abuse, Jamaica and a Commissioner, on the Cannabis Licensing Authority of Jamaica. ESTHER BEST Ms. Esther Best is the Manager of the National Drug Council of Trinidad and Tobago, the Unit within the Ministry of National Security with responsibility for discharging Trinidad and Tobago’s overarching strategic drug policy. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work - Summa Cum Laude, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. and the Masters in Social Work, Howard University, Washington, D.C. Ms. Best has represented her country and the region at a number of important international fora on drug reform and policy, including cannabis/ marijuana. Between 2002 and 2007, Best lectured at the Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus at both the Bachelors and Masters levels. She has also been a guest lecturer on the issue of drugs in other faculties at the UWI. Ms. Best was one of the academic staff charged with developing the course content for modules to be delivered in the Caribbean Distance Education Programme offered by the Organization of American States at the Certificate level in addiction studies. FRANKLIN LENNOX FRANCIS/RAS FRANKI TAFARI Ras Franki Tafari is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to Ethiopia and a citizen of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and of Antigua and Barbuda. He holds a B.A. in History & Economics from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus 1969 and a Diploma in Economic Development from Glasgow University, 1972. Ambassador Francis is an Historian, Social Activist, Rasta Leader, Sports Journalist, Cricket Commentator and Teacher in secondary schools in Antigua/Barbuda and Jamaica and the UWI Challenge programme in Antigua. Ambassador Francis has held a number of important positions with significance to the subject of cannabis, including:
Rastafari Nyabinghi Elder, Rastafari Nyabinghi Theocracy Order. Past Chairman Caribbean Rastafari Organization Member of Reparations Committee (Antigua/Barbuda) Member Antigua and Barbuda Herb Commission
Ambassador Francis has worked and researched for over 40 years on the subject of cannabis. In 2018 he represented the Government of Antigua and Barbuda at the Organisation of American States General Assembly, speaking on the subjects of cannabis and cannabis law reform initiatives in his country and its position on the Rastafarian community. DR. ALANA DIONE DEVINA GRIFFITH Dr. Griffith is a Lecturer in Sociology specialising in Social Policy. She began lecturing part-time with UWI Cave Hill in 2004 while working in the Prime Minister’s Office Barbados as a Research Officer. She joined the Faculty as a full time member later in 2005. She left UWI to pursue a PhD at the University of Kent (UK) in 2008. Upon completion of her PhD in 2011, she took up a post at Kent as an Assistant Lecturer. She has also held a Research Assistant post at the University of Kent. She re-joined the UWI Social Sciences Faculty in 2012. viii