The Government says it will assume full responsibility for all repairs at the University of the West Indies South Campus in Debe.
Minister of Land and Legal Affairs, Saddam Hosein, revealed the Government’s surprise over recent media reports suggesting UWI itself had begun independent repair works, insisting that such actions were neither authorised nor aligned with Cabinet decisions.
Minister Hosein clarified that the rehabilitation work will be carried out by the Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited (PSAEL).
“We want to make it abundantly clear that it is only the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, through the PSAEL, that will be conducting all, all, all of the repairs and rehabilitation of the campus.”
He added that the aim is for classes at the South Campus to begin at the start of the new academic year in September 2026.
“The Cabinet has not taken any decision as yet as to what programmes or what faculty will be placed in the building. Those matters are still a work in progress because we need to get the building. Our first priority is to get the building up to scratch.”
Minister Hosein said repairs are expected to begin soon.
“The PSAEL has gone out to tender. I believe those tenders will close in very short order and there are several buildings that are in a state of disrepair, which we are going to bring back in the state of repair. There’s one building in particular though, which is you’ll see it’s a cylindrical building that requires a lot of work because it’s just a structure, just a shell.”
Government estimates place the cost of restoration between $60 million and $70 million.
He stressed that while discussions with UWI remain ongoing, structural rehabilitation remains the first priority.