University of the Virgin Islands students will pay tribute to international diplomacy and cooperation in the United Nations, debating issues affecting the Caribbean nations Belize and Jamaica at their sixth annual Model United Nations Conference on Wednesday at the St. Croix campus.

Eight UVI students – four from St. Thomas and four from St. Croix – have conducted significant research on major problems in Jamaica and Belize and will present their concerns, solutions and strategies to resolve the issues within their representing country.

The students representing Jamaica are from the St. Thomas campus and include Christel Brandy, Michael Charles, Desiree Lettsome and Verlyndah Rogers. Representing Belize are students from St. Croix, including Akeem McIntosh, Samantha Roberts, Sheniqua Slader and Berle Wallace.

Jamaica and Belize were the chosen countries due to student interest in dissecting regional problems. Students will debate a variety of topics including financial mismanagement, homophobia, education and women’s rights in Jamaica, as well as border disputes, aboriginal land rights, gang violence and drug trafficking in Belize.

Political science professor Kula Francis is the student advisor for the Model UN Conference and she said student presentations promise to offer insight on serious challenges facing Jamaica and Belize. “Their participation in the Model UN Conference is an early step in unfolding how to get to the root of public problems while developing techniques and strategies for positive change,” Francis said.

“This year students were surprised at how many of the problems facing Jamaica and Belize are also similar to our local problems,” she said, adding that many of these students have career goals in government, law, criminal justice, education and politics.

Students participating in the Model UN Conference come from around the Caribbean, including Anguilla, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Thomas and St. Croix.

This event is cosponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Rotary Clubs on St. Croix (Harborside and West).