Upon assuming office in April 2025, the Honourable Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC MP, Prime
Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, announced the Government’s intention to open
the UWI South Debe Campus. The Prime Minister was always committed to ensuring that the
Debe Campus serves rural parts of Trinidad by creating academic and economic growth for the
people of Trinidad and Tobago.
Based on the last ten (10) years of neglect, the Campus fell into a state of disrepair due to political
spite and malice by the former PNM Government.
As such, Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprise Limited (PSAEL) was designated as the executing
agency to conduct the repairs and rehabilitation of the Debe Campus. In August 2025, PSAEL
engaged a consultant to prepare the scope of the Project to bring the Campus back to a state of
readiness.
In September 2025, PSAEL received a Facility Condition Assessment Report (FCA) that outlined
the current condition of the Campus, identified and prioritised the interventions required for the
operationalisation of the Campus, and forecasted both capital and operational expenditures.
At all material times, it was agreed between PSAEL and UWI that PSAEL would conduct the
repairs at the Debe Campus.
It came as a surprise that after the keys to the Campus were handed over by UWI to PSAEL last
Friday to commence the works, UWI toured the Campus yesterday and announced it will be
conducting plumbing works at the Campus.
After 10 years of the Debe Campus remaining in a state of stagnation, there is a newfound interest
from those responsible for the current state of the Campus, now attempting to claim credit for the
Government’s commitment to repair and reopen the Debe Campus. Those who lost their voices in
the last ten (10) lost years of governance to challenge the former PNM Government to open the
Campus have now found their voices. After those 10 years of abandonment, they have now
identified where Debe is on the map of Trinidad.
The Honourable Saddam Hosein, MP, Minister of Land and Legal Affairs and Minister in the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, has expressed deep concern regarding what were described
as contradictory and inaccurate remarks made by the UWI in relation to the repairs.
Rehabilitation works are expected to commence shortly, with major infrastructural repairs and
maintenance scheduled to be completed in a timely manner, to facilitate the reopening of the
campus for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Minister Hosein reaffirms that all participating entities remain committed to ensuring that the
rehabilitation process is completed expeditiously, to deliver a fully functional campus for students
and stakeholders.
