The Alumni Association has presented former CARICOM Secretary-General and current Ambassador to CARICOM, Sir Edwin Carrington with a Pelican Award, its highest peer award, for distinguished service to the Caribbean. The Pelican Award was first conferred in Jamaica in 1967 and Sir Edwin is the first to receive this award from the Alumni Association (Trinidad & Tobago Chapter).
On its 25th anniversary, the Alumni Association honoured 24 graduates of the St. Augustine, Mona and Cave Hill Campuses, all of whom are leading professionals and personalities.
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal Professor Clement Sankat congratulated the Alumni Association on its milestone year. He referred to Sir Edwin as representative of the very best of UWI graduates – a great leader, statesman, regionalist and exemplar.
All awardees, he said, had distinguished themselves and their Alma Mater through their contribution to their profession and to the development of the country and region. He quoted Vice-Chancellor, Professor E. Nigel Harris, who had once noted that “if our University’s 90,000 graduates were to stop working for a single day, Prime Ministerial offices in several Caribbean countries would close, half the Cabinet and government offices in all 17 English-speaking contributing countries would cease operation.”
Pelican Awardee Sir Edwin Carrington averred that The UWI Alumni are known to hold positions of leadership, influence and prominence. He expressed his honour to have been chosen for the prestigious award. He encouraged awardees to productively engage in their Alma Mater in four ways - through the donation of funds and resources to The UWI; by being marketers for the University; by being seen as role models for The UWI’s current and prospective students; and by forming an umbilical link between The UWI and its graduates to be excellent examples in society. He invited the Distinguished Alumni Awardees to join him in a solemn undertaking to improve their contribution and make a worthwhile investment over the next three years in all four ways to The UWI.
Distinguished Awardees
Pelican Awardee: SIR EDWIN CARRINGTON is the holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from London University, a Master’s Degree in Economics from The UWI and pursued further advanced studies in Economics at McGill University in Canada. He is also the recipient of Honorary Degrees. He was the longest serving Secretary-General of CARICOM, holding that position from August 1992 to December 2010. He was knighted through the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
DR. SHANGO ALAMU attained a BSc in Agriculture in 1974 and a doctoral degree in Tropical agriculture in 1979 from The UWI and has been a practicing farmer for the past 30 years. As a research fellow in The UWI Department of Crop Physiology, he was the first scientist to unearth the methodology of promoting flowering in Aroids, a strategy that is currently utilized internationally in developing this family of plants through hybridisation. He is the Managing Director of Agronomics Inc and has done considerable work on the conservation and preservation of the environment particularly in the Caura Valley.
MR. GERRY BROOKS is Group Chief Operating Officer of the ANSA McAl Group, and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Degree from The UWI in 1982. He pursued his LEC and was called to the Bar in 1984. He is also the holder of an MBA from Columbia University.
MR. IAN CHINAPOO was appointed Executive Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation, one of the country’s largest financial institutions with over 500,000 unit holders. He took up the post in 2013 and is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic initiatives at the Corporation. Ian holds a BSc in Accounting with First Class Honours from The UWI. He is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Programme from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
DR. VICTOR COOMBS studied Medicine at The UWI, Mona Campus, and holds a Master in Business Administration and an MSc in Emergency Medicine from the St. Augustine Campus. His professional career had its birth, growth and maturation in Trinidad & Tobago’s energy sector where he worked for 30 years, 21 of which as Chief Medical Officer for 21 years.
DR. NAOLA FERGUSON-NOEL completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at The UWI in 1996, and later attended the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine where she completed her Masters of Avian Medicine as well as a PhD in Medical Microbiology. She is currently an Associate Professor at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC) at the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine.
MRS. ANNA-MARIA GARCIA-BROOKS graduated from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business (formerly The UWI Institute of Business) with a Master in Business Administration in 2005. She is also a winner of the Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for General Proficiency. Mrs. García-Brooks has been the General Manager, Group Marketing and Communications with Republic Bank Limited since 2006 and leads the bank’s strategic marketing and communications function in the Caribbean region.
MR. KHALID M. HASSANALI graduated with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from The UWI, in 1974, and is currently the President/CEO of Petrotrin Trinidad and Tobago. He has more than 38 years’ experience in the local energy and industrial development sector, and has proven experience and competence in numerous fields, including a proficiency in cost and efficiency improvement, organisational transformation, business development, among many others.
DR. FLOYD HOMER holds a PhD in Forest Ecology from The UWI, St. Augustine. In the last 23 years, he has led international and national programmes related to forest, wetlands and coral reef conservation. He has also contributed to strengthening the capacities of government agencies and NGOs in 18 countries in the Caribbean to manage their natural resources. Dr Homer has worked with several international organisations, including the United Nations Development Programme and the World Wildlife Fund, UK.
MRS. MARY KWAILAN LA BORDE is the author of “Wind, Sea and Faith”, a book on her own life. In 1960, she sailed with her husband Harold La Borde across the Atlantic Ocean, and from 1969-1973, sailed with Harold and son Pierre, around the world. She and her husband were each awarded the Trinity Cross for their sailing endeavours. Mrs La Borde holds a BA in Modern Languages (French and Spanish) from The UWI.
MS. ALISON LEWIS holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Management from The UWI, St. Augustine. She is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, and has served on numerous organisational boards and committees. She assisted in establishing a rotation system for the Offices of the Executive Directors in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and in the structuring of the Trinidad & Tobago Heritage and Stabilisation Fund which was established as a sustainable investing approach to volatile energy revenues.
MRS. SUNITY MAHARAJ is currently the Director of the Lloyd Best Institute of the West Indies. She is also the Managing Director of Caribbean Newsroom Limited, her own media production and consulting company. She has had a healthy career in journalism and media, which includes her introduction of several print and television initiatives. Mrs Maharaj holds a BA (Hons) in Communication and Social Science, from The UWI, Mona Campus.
MR. HANNIBAL NAJJAR is Director of Coaches and Head Coach (Soccer), Mid-Continent University, Mayfield, KY, USA, as well as a management and coaching consultant. Mr Najjar has had a career of 36 years of sports administration and consulting, coaching, teaching/learning, leadership and has established successful individual sports and entire athletic programs. He holds a BSc in Management Studies from The UWI, three Master’s degrees, a BEd, an MPhil, and Middle School Teacher’s Certification.
DR. SHELTON NICHOLS earned BSc and MSc degrees in Economics from The UWI, St. Augustine, before completing a PhD in Economics in 1995 at the University of London. Among several positions held, Dr Nichols served as lecturer in the Department of Economics at The UWI, St. Augustine, as Executive Director of the Caribbean Centre for Monetary Studies (CCMS, now the CCMF), as Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago and as a Commissioner on the Board of the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission.
DR. CARLA NOEL-MENDEZ completed a BSc (Hons) in Management/Sociology at The UWI St. Augustine in 1990. After a brief stint in the public sector, Dr Noel-Mendez won a Rhodes scholarship to study at Oxford University, where she completed a PhD in management. Prior to her current position as Director of External Affairs at BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago, she worked at Procter and Gamble in Puerto Rico and as Trinidad and Tobago’s Director of Tourism.
DR. CHARLES E. PERCY, who is Managing Director of Methanex Trinidad Limited, has had a distinguished career spanning more than 32 years in the petrochemical and oil and gas industries in Trinidad and Tobago. The holder of a BSc in Electrical Engineering from The UWI as well as an Executive Masters of Business Administration from the UWI Institute of Business, now the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Dr Percy was a UWI Distinguished Alumni Award nominee in 2010.
PROFESSSOR DAN RAMDATH holds MSc and PhD degrees in Nutrition from The UWI. He is an internationally recognized clinical research scientist who has excelled in the production of credible research to influence health policy, and in building capacity among healthcare practitioners and community groups, to promote better health outcomes of people in the Caribbean.
DR. RONALD RAMKISSOON studied Economics at The UWI, St. Augustine, obtaining BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in the subject. Before joining Republic Bank in 1992, he was employed by the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago for 12 years as an economist in the Research Department. Up until November 25, 2013, he was Republic Bank’s Senior Economist and Manager of its Economic Intelligence Unit. Dr Ramkissoon is also a member of several business and professional bodies.
MR. ROBERT RILEY is the Head of Safety and Operational Risk, Competency and Capability Development at the BP Group in London, and previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of BP Trinidad & Tobago LLC and as its Business Unit Leader and Vice President of Law and Government Affairs. Mr Riley is an attorney-at-law, and a graduate of The UWI with degrees in Agriculture and Law. He was awarded the Chaconia Gold medal (National Award) for his contribution to national economic development in Trinidad & Tobago in 2003.
MS. KIZZIE RUIZ has had a relatively long and distinguished music career. Having successfully transitioned from the ranks of Junior Calypso Competitions, she is now considered one of the most compelling exponents of the calypso art form. Her successes culminated in her being appointed a cultural ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Communication Studies and is currently pursuing her Masters in Strategic Leadership and Management.
MS. DANA SEETAHAL, S.C. is an attorney-at-law with over 30 years’ experience. She received a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from The UWI in 1977 and was later awarded the Legal Professional Certificate from affiliate the Hugh Wooding Law School. A Fulbright scholar, she has also been a United Nations Human Rights Fellow and a Commonwealth Foundation Fellow. Ms Seetahal has acted as a criminal justice consultant to governments across the region and various international bodies.
MRS. TONI SIRJU-RAMNARINE has 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, and currently holds the position of Vice-President, Corporate Operations at the Atlantic LNG Company of Trinidad and Tobago. Prior to this, she was the Head of Sustainability and Corporate Communications. She holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from The UWI and an MSc in International Management from King’s College, London.
MS. DAWN THOMAS holds a BSc in Industrial Engineering (Hons) degree from The UWI St. Augustine and has completed the Executive Development Programme at the Richard Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, Canada. She is currently Group Chief Executive Officer of One Caribbean Media Limited, a post which she held at Caribbean Communications Network Limited. She was also CEO of Tracmac Engineering Limited and has served on many regional and international boards and committees. Ms. Thomas is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago.
MRS. GISELLE PINARD-THOMPSON graduated from The UWI in 1997 with a BSc (Hons) in Management Studies. She started her professional career at GlaxoSmithKline in 1997 as the Marketing Executive for their over the counter (OTC) range of products. In 2013, Giselle was appointed Vice-President Corporate Operations of bpTT where, in addition to her Communications and External Affairs accountabilities, she now leads Compliance and Ethics, Facilities and Management Services and Regional Risk Integration.
MR. RUBADIRI VICTOR is President of the Artists’ Coalition of Trinidad and Tobago. A multi-media artist/scholar and activist, he is uniquely networked amongst generations of creative practitioners in all fields in Trinidad and Tobago. In 2013, he was appointed an adviser to Minister of The Arts and Multiculturalism Lincoln Douglas. He has an Upper Second Degree in English Literature from the St Augustine Campus.
About The UWI Alumni Association (Trinidad and Tobago Chapter)
The University of the West Indies Alumni Association was established under the University’s charter, from which it derives its authority. The UWI Alumni Association - Trinidad and Tobago Chapter (UWIAATT) was re-established in November 1988 and serves as the representative body of the more than 40,000 UWI Alumni based in Trinidad and Tobago. From politics to business, science, education and the arts, in both the public and private sectors, UWI Alumni hold positions of leadership, influence or prominence. In the past 25 years the UWIAATT has epitomised its motto “we give something back to the UWI” through the contribution of financial and human resources to the UWI via its St Augustine Campus. The originator of the highly successful “World of Work” series for students, the UWIAATT has from inception provided 5 annual bursaries to needy students and over the past 18 years, has provided mentorship and guidance to more than 4,000 students at the St Augustine Campus. |
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