Caribbean Icon Sir Roy Augier Passes Away
A Legacy of Vision and Leadership
Sir Roy Augier
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has expressed “sadness” at the passing of St. Lucian-born Sir Roy Augier, Professor Emeritus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), who celebrated his 100th birthday only last month.
“We have lost a visionary and pioneer who recognized the importance of a regional examination system,” said Dr. Wayne Wesley, CXC’s Registrar and chief executive officer.
His leadership and governance oversight inspired the work and ingenuity of succeeding leaders and staff to establish the CXC as the preeminent standard for secondary certification in the Caribbean, while achieving global relevance and broad international recognition and acceptance of CXC®-issued certification.
Professor Augier is reported to have died peacefully at his home in Jamaica on Sunday. He was a distinguished Caribbean historian and an inspirational figure at CXC. He represented the UWI at the Council’s inaugural meeting in 1973 and later served as CXC chairman between 1986 and 1996 and on various Governance Committees until 2017.
A Life of Service and Achievement
Last month, Sir Hilary Beckles, the UWI Vice-Chancellor, in a statement marking Professor Augier’s 100th birthday, described him as a “Caribbean Renaissance Man and Professor Emeritus of History.”
Sir Fitzroy “Roy” Augier was a scholar, educator, activist, World War II veteran, and administrator who “continues to inspire us to reflect on our Caribbean history, how we perceive ourselves – not as how others perceive us, and how that sense of ownership and belonging should help us to fulfill a vision of a strong Caribbean civilization in the future.”
Born in Castries, he attended elementary and secondary schools before serving as a gunner in the Royal Air Force. After the war, he completed a Master’s and Doctorate degree in History at St Andrews University in Scotland and made Jamaica his home for the next 70 years.
Shaping the Direction of Teaching and Learning
“Jamaica and The University of the West Indies were the bases from which he made significant contributions to shaping the direction of teaching and learning across the Caribbean at several levels across the decades,’ Sir Hilary wrote.
He said that following his appointment at the then-University College of the West Indies (UCWI) as a Research Fellow at ISER in 1954, he joined the Department of History in 1955 and became Professor of History in 1989, the pinnacle of academic achievement in the academy.
As The UCWI transformed into The UWI, Roy’s strong sense of regionalism and activism also translated into ensuring that Caribbean History became a discrete subject and how it was taught and researched at the secondary and tertiary levels within the Caribbean.
He produced seminal publications such as The Making of the West Indies; Report on the Rastafarian Movement; Sources of West Indian History and the UNESCO-sponsored project General History of the Caribbean, forever changing how scholars and people across the globe view the history of the Caribbean.
A Legacy of Mentorship and Leadership
The UWI Vice Chancellor said that during and after his years at UWI, Professor Augier taught, advised, or mentored several generations of Caribbean historians and academics.
Verene Shepherd, Brian Moore, Swithin Wilmot, and Kathleen Monteith are some academics who benefitted from engaging with Roy and other greats such as Elsa Gouveia and Douglas Hall.
It was also my honor to benefit from his counsel during my early years in the Department of History at the Mona Campus. The intellectual activism inspired our research and career trajectories in the Department of History.
A Visionary Leader
Professor Augier, during his tenure with CXC, was instrumental “in gaining acceptance by regional stakeholders for the CAPE examinations as a replacement for the British A-levels.
CXC qualifications are now accepted for matriculation by leading universities around the world, which must be a tremendous source of pride for Sir Roy, who was affectionately dubbed “Mr. CXC” by many in recognition of his avid championing of the institution,” Sir Hilary said of the “husband, father, grandfather, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emeritus, Caribbean Renaissance Man.”
Conclusion
Sir Roy Augier’s passing leaves a void in the academic and historical community, but his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of scholars and leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was Sir Roy Augier’s background?
A: Sir Roy Augier was a St. Lucian-born historian, educator, and administrator who spent most of his life in Jamaica.
Q: What was his academic background?
A: He completed a Master’s and Doctorate degree in History at St Andrews University in Scotland and held various positions at the University of the West Indies, including Professor of History and Pro-Vice-Chancellor.
Q: What was his role at CXC?
A: He was instrumental in establishing the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and served as its chairman between 1986 and 1996 and on various Governance Committees until 2017.
Q: What was his legacy?
A: He left a lasting legacy in the fields of history, education, and leadership, inspiring future generations of scholars and leaders in the Caribbean and beyond.