Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, says Trinidad and Tobago is now entering Phase Two of its independence.
While delivering remarks to retirees and new members of the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) at a ceremony titled ‘A Homage to Heroism’ over the weekend, Sir Hilary praised Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as a visionary, noting that it took courage in her first term to expand tertiary education by opening the UWI South Campus and making it accessible to all parts of the nation.
“We had neglected our people in the South of this Republic. Port of Spain has done what it had to do by harbouring this campus and taking care of it. The time came for us to go into the South and bring all of our people into the light so we can build these nations.”
Sir Hilary said a similar movement needs to happen in Jamaica since most tertiary learning is centred at the UWI Mona campus, thereby keeping education away from persons who cannot afford to make the journey across the island.
He called the Penal campus the most significant development in UWI since the Barbados Cave Hill site.
The UWI Vice Chancellor is now referring to Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar as the leader of what he says is ‘Phase Two’ of our regional independence movement.
“Jamaica needs to do that. Trinidad and Tobago needs to do that, and Prime Minister Kamla is in an excellent position to lead this Republic into Phase Two of its development journey. In much the same way that Eric Williams led Phase One, I believe it is now important for our Prime Minister to lead in Phase Two to bring our young people back into the centre of development.”
The UWI South Campus is currently being rehabilitated for reopening. No set date has been given.