The UWI and the University of Glasgow (UofG) collaborated for a landmark repatriation of a Jamaican Giant Galliwasp specimen from The Hunterian collection in Scotland back to Jamaica. Collected in the 1850s, this lizard species was presumed extinct, and its return marked a historic first for the Caribbean in the repatriation of a natural history specimen.

A collaborative team from The UWI and the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) travelled to Glasgow to bring the specimen back home. Dr. Shani Roper, Curator at The UWI Museum, Elizabeth Morrison, Zoologist Curator at IOJ, and several other experts retrieved the Galliwasp, arriving in Jamaica on April 24. This move was part of a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding to promote research collaboration and address colonial legacies.

One key initiative born from this agreement was the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research (GCCDR), which supported projects advancing Caribbean development and aimed to raise awareness of the historical impacts of slavery. The return of the Galliwasp not only represented a reclaiming of heritage but also signified a commitment from UofG to rectify past injustices and empower the Caribbean with ownership of its scientific and cultural artefacts.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, emphasised the significance of this repatriation in the broader reparatory justice movement, stating, “By returning the Galliwasp to its rightful place, we took a small but significant step towards laying the foundation for a regional and international discussion on repatriation.”

Upon arrival, the Galliwasp was formally handed over to the Natural History Museum of Jamaica for permanent safekeeping, making it accessible to the public. This repatriation exercise represented a vital step in the ongoing social justice and cultural equity efforts. It aligned with The UWI and UofG’s strategic initiatives, including a joint Master’s Programme in Reparatory Justice.

As the public awaited the Galliwasp’s journey from Scotland to its homeland, this undertaking embodied hope and reconciliation for the preservation of Jamaican cultural and natural history.