News Releases

The UWI & Office of the Attorney General​ Sign MOU to Strengthen Strategic Collaboration

For Release Upon Receipt - April 14, 2026

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago – April 14, 2026 A new partnership designed to strengthen legal research, professional training and knowledge exchange in Trinidad and Tobago was formalised on Thursday, 26 February 2026, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Office of the Attorney General and the Faculty of Law at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine.

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration across a range of areas, including research, student engagement, professional development, and the exchange of expertise, bringing together the institutional strengths of both organisations. Through this partnership, the Office of the Attorney General and The UWI aim to advance legal scholarship, expand opportunities for practical training, and support initiatives that contribute to public service and the development of the legal profession.

Senator the Honourable John Jeremie, Senior Counsel, Attorney General, and a former Deputy Dean of Graduate Studies at The UWI’s Faculty of Law remarked that, “formalising this partnership represents the advancement of a shared vision for impactful engagement between academia and public institutions”.

Expanding on the significance of the partnership, Professor Derek Chadee, Deputy Principal of The UWI St Augustine, emphasized that the MOU signals a shared commitment to knowledge exchange and professional excellence and will strengthen the quality of training that will support innovation in legal practice and create opportunities for joint initiatives that benefit both institutions and the wider society. Also present were Dr Alicia Elias-Roberts, Dean of the Faculty of Law at The UWI St Augustine Campus and Mrs Indira Rampaul-Cheddie, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Office of the Attorney General.

Both parties expressed their enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead and affirmed their shared commitment to a productive and valuable collaboration.

 

 (L-R): Professor Derek Chadee, Deputy Principal of The UWI; Senator the Honourable John Jeremie, Senior Counsel, Attorney General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Dr Alicia Elias-Roberts, Dean of the Faculty of Law at The UWI; and Mrs Indira Rampaul-Cheddie, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Office of the Attorney General, pose for a group photograph during The UWI Faculty of Law and Office of the Attorney General MOU Signing, hosted at the Office of the Attorney General.

 

 (L–R) Senator the Honourable John Jeremie, Senior Counsel, Attorney General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Professor Derek Chadee, Deputy Principal of The UWI, share a handshake following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between The UWI Faculty of Law and the Office of the Attorney General.

 Members of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and the Office of the Attorney General who assisted with the preparation and negotiation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pose for a group photograph during The UWI Faculty of Law and Office of the Attorney General MOU Signing, hosted at the Office of the Attorney General. (L-R): Mr. Darren Taitt Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ms. Nirana Parsan, Head, Process Review Team, Mr. Sherwin Rampersad, Director, Legal Services,  Professor Derek Chadee, Deputy Principal of The UWI, Mrs Indira Rampaul-Cheddie, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Office of the Attorney General, Dr Alicia Elias-Roberts, Dean of the Faculty of Law at The UWI, Kara John, Attorney-at-Law and Legal Research Assistant at the Faculty of Law, The UWI, Mrs Debra Coryat-Patton, Attorney-at-Law, Office of the Campus Registrar, The UWI, Mr. Kenneth Franklyn, Manager, Public Procurement and Director, Human Resources Management Unit, Mr. Kelsey Marhong.

 

 (L-R): Mr. Darren Taitt Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Mr. Sherwin Rampersad, Director, Legal Services, Mrs Indira Rampaul-Cheddie, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Office of the Attorney General, Professor Derek Chadee, Deputy Principal of The UWI, and Dr Alicia Elias-Roberts, Dean of the Faculty of Law at The UWI, and Mrs Debra Coryat-Patton, Attorney-at-Law, Office of the Campus Registrar, The UWI, look on as the official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is signed during The UWI Faculty of Law and Office of the Attorney General MOU Signing, hosted at the Office of the Attorney General.

END

  About The University of the West Indies 

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has played a crucial role in Caribbean development for over 75 years, consistently contributing to the improvement of the well-being of people across the region.

Established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica, with just 33 medical students, UWI has grown into an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, it boasts five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and its Global Campus, along with international centres in partnership with universities across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the leading university in the Caribbean, it is home to the largest pool of intellect and expertise in the region, dedicated to addressing the critical issues facing both the Caribbean and the wider world.

 Validated by its inclusion in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual rankings since 2018, The UWI has affirmed its position as one of the top universities globally. It stands out as the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured in four of THE's prestigious ranking lists. The World University Rankings evaluate over 2,000 research-focused universities worldwide, while the Golden Age University Rankings highlight institutions established between 50 and 80 years ago. The Latin America Rankings focus specifically on universities within Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 This recognition has also springboarded the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global online graduate business school aimed at preparing future leaders for sustainable development.

 The UWI is an SDG-engaged university consistently recognised among the best in the world. Discover more at www.uwi.edu.

Contact