September-October 2010


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Joining the family

“Today’s Matriculation Ceremony marks an important milestone in your lives. It is the beginning of a new and exciting journey, one that will provide you with knowledge, skills and a foundation for contributing to your personal development, as well as the development of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region,” said Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar to the 2500-plus students who entered the University as first-year undergraduate students on September 16, 2010.

Professor E. Nigel Harris, UWI Vice Chancellor and Professor Clement Sankat, UWI Pro Vice Chancellor and St Augustine Campus Principal, also recognised these incoming students as new members of the university’s academic community.

“We ask that you begin preparing yourself from nowto be a distinctive UWI graduate—a creative and critical thinker who is socially responsive, innovative and entrepreneurial and a competent leader in your chosen field,” Professor Sankat stated. Mr Mark Regis, President of the UWI Alumni Association, also encouraged the students to join the UWI Alumni Association after graduation.

The matriculation ceremony included a formal procession of the University Council, which included Ewart Williams, St Augustine Campus Council Chairman and Central Bank Governor, as well as members of Campus Management, Faculty Deans and other members of academic and administrative staff. As part of the ceremonial tradition of welcoming new students as members of the university community, one new undergraduate student, Mr. Tichard Manwah, signed a symbolic register on behalf of the new students, and all new students were invited to sign the Matriculation Book.

Mr Hillan Morean, UWI Student Guild President, led the students in the Academic Vow.

Photograhy by: Benedict Cupid