At the time of writing, Trinidad and Tobago has a seven-day average of 292 new COVID-19 cases per day. We have had 211 deaths, 42 in the first nine days of May. The government has enforced increasingly stringent measures to limit public gatherings and non-essential movement. The health system is in danger of being overwhelmed. Some say it has already been.
Among those lost to the virus is one of our own. A member of the UWI St Augustine campus community, employed with the university, has died due to COVID-19. We feel a collective sorrow for her passing, especially those of us she worked closest with and spent the most time. Our campus has followed strict protocols to protect staff and students throughout the pandemic. In fact, we have been closed to students for well over a year, providing teaching and other services remotely. Following the recent directives from the government, we have closed the campus almost completely. Nevertheless, we are still part of Trinidad and Tobago, and our republic is under siege.
We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure the safety of all personnel while maintaining our standards of teaching, research and other work.
Our island neighbour, St Vincent, is still dealing with the fallout of the explosive eruption of La Soufrière, a devastating natural disaster that forced roughly 20,000 people (18 percent of the population) to evacuate their homes. Reports have put the cost to St Vincent and the Grenadines at as much as 50 percent of its GDP.
These are difficult times, at home and in the region.
My hope is that at the time of reading, there has been improvement; the pandemic precautions have had some success in lowering the number of cases, and the international effort to support SVG has raised enough to preserve the economy and provide for those in need. However, as part of The University of the West Indies, we have the capacity to do more than just hope. We can provide invaluable assistance. In fact, we have been.
This challenging period has provided the opportunity, both here at the St Augustine Campus, and region-wide as the collective institution of The UWI, to apply our research, expertise, knowledge resources, outreach and the human capital of our graduates to the current crises. We were at the forefront of the Caribbean response to COVID-19. We are still there, right here in T&T, working with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to recover the ground that has been lost in this new wave of the pandemic.
In this issue of UWI TODAY we focus on the response to La Soufrière and the role of The UWI Seismic Research Centre (SRC). SRC was integral to the monitoring, evaluation and advising on the volcano. It is no exaggeration to say that their work saved many lives. They are a Caribbean asset and we are proud to host them at UWI St Augustine.
Now our campus community is engaged in fundraising efforts to assist the people of St Vincent, some of whom are our students. I encourage all of our readers, both on and off campus, to contribute what you can. We are in the midst of a resurgent pandemic that has lasted well over a year and many of us are feeling its effects on our income and livelihood. Still, whatever you can give has value, and will be appreciated.
We are in a time of great turbulence, where reevaluation and change have become necessities. Upheaval requires adaptation, and all around us is upheaval. In 2019, in my presentation to the Campus Council, I called for “bold strokes” to move us forward, that message is more relevant than ever.
Yet as we move forward, let us not forget the outstanding accomplishments of this institution. As we face the crises before us, let us take courage from our faith in our capabilities and dedication to the well-being and prosperity of Caribbean society. We are a vital Caribbean resource and we will be here, working hand-in-hand with national and regional bodies, finding solutions and offering aid.
