Much has been said about the newly-constructed UWI Campus located in Penal/Debe. While I believe that there seems to have been full disclosure on both sides of the coin, I wish to add certain points that have not been fully expressed.
The former president and former UWI St Augustine Campus principal may have been candidly advised that the concerns that he expressed were valid and pressing. However, in all that was declared, even by his detractors, who adopted other opinions, simple research concludes that it is critically necessary that there is rapid expansion at UWI St Augustine.
I understand from examining data that is available online that 52 per cent of their student body comes from south Trinidad, with 30 per cent of their academic staff also commuting from south of the Caroni river to St Augustine. It is difficult to argue against the fact that there is certainly a need to provide UWI services in South Trinidad.
What seems more pressing to me, is to determine the level of support that will be given to the UWI’s regional institution by the currently elected government.
While I understand the importance of building the UTT institution, as a thrust that must be embarked upon in furthering our sovereign status, we must equally understand the value of the continued development of the UWI, as it maintains its footprint and value in developing the wider region.
A foundation of some 65 years cannot simply be ignored, and more importantly, the role that the UWI has played and must continue to play cannot be underscored. The success of each Caribbean island state depends on the strength of the entire region as a connected body.
The UWI is the most significant symbol of Caribbean integration, and it is only through this mechanism that our region can continue to develop resilience to economic distress and other diversities experienced in our regional space.
To those who much is given, much is expected. Much has been given to T&T, and much is expected from us as a people. UWI graduates have and continue to produce many of the Heads of State and Heads of Government of our island states, in addition to captains of industry throughout this region and internationally. Our government, whose members comprise many alumni of the UWI, is testimony to the role that institution must continue to play.
Let us not hold the perspective that the UWI competes with UTT, but that both institutions must complement each other and the government must hold firm to continuous development of these exemplary organisations.
They both bring different benefits to our citizens and the entire Caribbean region at large. Let us develop a model of excellence in regional education that can be respected by the entire world.
Bob Mills
Tunapuna