I would like to, first and foremost, dedicate this dissertation to my mother, Caridad Superville Pierre, whose life story of strength and resolve in the face of hardship has taught me the value of hard work and persistence, without which I would not be the
person I am today. I also wish to express all my love and gratitude to my partner in life,
Hadassah St. Hubert, who has been a source of much hope during a rather turbulent time.
It is her words of consistent encouragement and support that have inspired me to keep
pressing forward with confidence and conviction.