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The inaugural Freedom Lecture was held on Tuesday, 4 August 2026 at the Norman Manley Law School in Kingston, Jamaica, in collaboration with the Caribbean Court of Justice, supported by the Ministry of Justice ad Constitutional Affairs, Jamaica
The Aubrey Fraser Lecture Theatre reached capacity, with a spillover room opened to accommodate additional attendees. Participants also joined online, with registrations from 20 countries and territories across the Caribbean and beyond.
The evening featured the keynote address by the Honourable Mr Justice Winston Anderson, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, followed by a multidisciplinary panel discussion and audience engagement.
WATCH THE LECTURE
ABOUT
For many, freedom is understood through
the enduring legacies of Emancipation and
Independence.Yet freedom has become
more complex. In our interconnected world,
the decisions of relatively few individuals
can shape the lives of billions.
The Norman Manley Law School, in collaboration with
the Caribbean Court of Justice, supported by the Ministry of Justice and
Constitutional Affairs, Jamaica, staged a public forum.
For many, freedom is understood through the enduring legacies of Emancipation and Independence. Yet freedom has become more complex. In our interconnected world, the decisions of relatively few individuals can shape the lives of billions.
The Caribbean is not immune. War, political instability, technological disruption and geopolitical tensions influence our economies, institutions, security and everyday lives. These realities, merit careful consideration within the region.
The New Freedom Lecture is a public forum, which examines issues of regional and global significance through the broader lens of freedom. It brings together distinguished voices to consider how the exercise of power, the rule of law and global developments influence our societies and the freedoms we enjoy.
Held on August 4, between Emancipation observances across the Caribbean and Jamaica's Independence, the inaugural New Freedom Lecture provided a timely opportunity to reflect on freedom in a contemporary context, which includes that external forces are able to take unilateral or other actions with significant impact on how our freedoms are exercised, without our involvement.
The Norman Manley Law School,
in collaboration with the Caribbean Court of Justice, and supported by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Jamaica, invites you to
a public forum.
In his keynote address, No First Use of Nuclear Weapons: The Limits of Law?, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, The Honourable Mr Justice Winston Anderson, examined the role and limits of international law, in responding to one of the gravest exercises of state power.
The conversation continued through a moderated panel discussion, bringing together voices from law, theology, science, public policy and youth leadership to explore the wider legal, ethical, societal and policy questions arising from the keynote, and their implications for the Caribbean and the wider world.
The discussion extended into questions of Caribbean sovereignty and agency, peaceful nuclear technology, ethics and conscience, youth participation and the wider international order.
Participants in person and online, from Jamaica, across the region and beyond, joined a timely conversation on freedom, law and the forces shaping our shared future.
2026 FREEDOM LECTURE PARTICIPANTS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Honourable Mr Justice Winston Anderson
President, Caribbean Court of Justice
Dr Christopher Malcolm
Principal, Norman Manley Law School
HOST - WELCOME AND REMARKS
SPECIAL REMARKS
The Honourable Phillip J. Pierre
Prime Minister of St Lucia and Chairman of CARICOM
VIDEO ADDRESS
Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica
VIDEO ADDRESS
MODERATOR
Ms Janella Precius
Senior Journalist and Broadcaster
PANELLISTS
Prof Charles Grant, FisntP
Director General
International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences, The UWI
Dr Peter Glegg
Campus Legal Officer
The UWI, Mona
Dr Lisa Vasciannie
Head of Department of
Government, The UWI, Mona
Rev Norbert Stephens
Former General Secretary
United Church in Jamaica and
the Cayman islands
Mr Rahym Augustin-Joseph
Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholar, LLB and Youth Representative
INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Ms Eulalie Greenaway
Senior Tutor, Norman Manley Law School
VOTE OF THANKS
Ms Opal Wisdom
Student, Norman Manley Law School
REGISTER TO ATTEND
Attend In Person
Reserve your seat by completing the registration form. Seating at the Aubrey Fraser Lecture Theatre is limited and advance registration is recommended.
Attend Online
Join the livestream from anywhere.
Register to receive your access link and event reminder before the lecture.
COLLABORATORS
SUPPORTED BY
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