August 2013


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Message from the Principal: The spirit of Independence

As we mark the 51st anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence, there will no doubt be jubilant celebrations across our country. While there is much to celebrate, there must also be time for reflection; not only on our performance, well-being and development as a nation, and by extension the region, but also on our capacity to take command of our destiny.

Many who proudly embraced nationalistic pride in our post-independence years are concerned by the slow pace of regional integration, such as in the area of free movement of agricultural products; by the indecisiveness regarding the Caribbean Court of Appeal eight years after its establishment; by the underfunding of tertiary education and especially, the lack of investment in university research, which affects our region’s ability to bolster its development agenda with indigenous knowledge and talent. In many instances, we continue to look to others for solutions to our problems.

Then along came a 21-year-old who declared to the world that claiming our own success is not only desirable but possible. That young man, our own UWI student, Jehue Gordon, is bringing home his gold medal when he returns to our St. Augustine Campus in a few days. He has announced that his victory in Moscow was a result not only of his discipline and focus, but mainly of the support of three key people in his life.

Jehue has insisted for years that if you believe that you can do it, you can accomplish anything from anywhere, and he chose to do all his training and learning here at home. This has included choosing The UWI over several others internationally, which were offering athletic scholarships, and we will continue to support his quest for education.

We are at the start of a new academic year and as we prepare for our Matriculation Ceremony, where our alumnus President Anthony Carmona will welcome our new students, I would like to encourage all our students, new and continuing, to follow the credo of Jehue Gordon; to believe in yourselves, your institution and your country and take charge of your destiny. In commemorating our Independence, I salute the spirit of fearless determination, hard work and achievement that is necessary for the progress of our country and region. Happy Independence!

EDITORIAL TEAM

Campus Principal: Professor Clement Sankat
Director of Marketing and Communications: Mrs. Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill
Director of Marketing and Communications (Ag.): Mrs. Wynell Gregorio
Editor: Ms. Vaneisa Baksh

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