News Releases

UWI takes stringent measures to maintain a clean and healthy campus

For Release Upon Receipt - July 17, 2015

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. July 17, 2015 – Campus Administration at The University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine have noted, with concern, a pest issue affecting the Greenhouse at the Department of Life Sciences. On Wednesday July 15, 2015 Campus Registrar, Richard Saunders, met with campus stakeholders to address the issue and to assess the need for treatment in any other areas.

At that meeting, a treatment and eradication plan was developed in an effort to restore a safe and healthy environment for staff at the Greenhouse. Subsequently, the plan was discussed with the Greenhouse Foreman to chart the way forward.

Professor John Agard, Head of the Department of Life Sciences, confirmed that Trinidad Pest Control Limited has been contracted to do a full service of the area beginning Monday, July 20, 2015. The programme will include sanitation of the affected area as well as an extended programme of bated traps for internal areas. Areas identified where rodents were entering the buildings are to be sealed with cement and wire mesh and cleaning and sanitizing of work areas. Additional treatment measures include the disinfection of underground drains, increased bait stations and frequent monitoring of bins in the area. The Greenhouse continues to be operational but will be closed to student access on July 20 – 22 while the treatment is being undertaken. The department has confirmed that no student work has been compromised.

A follow-up meeting on the matter is planned for Wednesday July 22, 2015 to evaluate progress. Campus Occupational Health, Safety and the Environment (OSHE) Unit Manager, Mr. Rajesh Kandhai, will continue to visit the Greenhouse to do the requisite evaluations and make any additional recommendations necessary to restore the integrity of the Green House. The OSHE Unit will also evaluate any risks associated with the recommended plan and in accordance with OSHE guidelines, will advise employees when the affected area is sufficiently safe to work after treatment for eradication.

Campus Management wishes to assure staff, students and visitors to the campus that the situation is being carefully managed as the maintenance of a clean and healthy campus remains a priority.

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About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology and Social Sciences. UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. Website: www.uwi.edu

 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

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