Meet the Lecturer: Dr. Arif Bulkan
Meet the Lecturer: Dr. Arif Bulkan
with Samantha Ramsaran and Stephan Maharaj
done everything in your home country.
Did you always want to be an Attorney at Law?
Can you describe your academic path from law school to your current position here today?
I practiced law in Guyana first as a prosecutor and then left as assistant DPP in 1996 to do work in private practice for another 6 years. During that time I started to teach part time in the University of Guyana in the LLB programme; Criminal Law and Human Rights. It was because I preferred teaching that I eventually left practice and did a Ph. D. I finished in 2008 and that’ s when I began teaching full time in Barbados. I’ ve been in academia full time for four years now.
How has your international experience impacted on you and your career?
I think it’ s an excellent move if all the other variables are in place. Going abroad would allow for a better quality programme and an opportunity to learn some life lessons after having
How has your experience as a lecturer been in this transitional period with the expansion?
I think the expansion generally happened very recklessly.
The matriculation requirements have lowered considerably and that has been the biggest challenge. Structural problems like the lack of resources will however eventually be ironed out.
How do you think the law |
society |
can |
aid |
in |
fostering |
a |
sense |
of |
regionalism |
among |
students? |
The law society can become more involved in campus life and create links with other faculties so that they would have a broader experience within Trinidad.
Are there any notable differences between students in the other Caribbean territories and Trinidadian students?
I’ ve always noticed that Trinidadian students tend to be much more reserved.
No, not really. This happened purely by accident. I didn’ t have any plans after A levels and my sister became concerned. There was a vacancy in the LLB programme so I applied and got in. I began the programme four weeks late. So I never had any intention of doing law, but once I started it I really enjoyed it.
What is your pet peeve as a lecturer?
Unresponsive students, but that comes with the territory( laughs).
Are there any notable highlights in your line of work as a human rights activist?
I’ m particularly pleased about intervening when CARICOM was discriminating against persons with HIV and weren’ t hiring them. It was only when I exposed CARICOM publicly that there was a Human Rights Conference and I got a commitment from them. I was not able to help the persons they victimized but the policy was changed and I pleased about that.
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