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UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 7 APRIL 2019
OUR PEOPLE
“I still say ‘our’,” remarks EwartWilliams.
He means “our”
UWI St Augustine.
He is reflecting on his decade as Chair of the Campus
Council, two five-year terms. And even though his tenure
is complete his instinct is to talk of the campus as “we”, “us”
and “our”. It speaks to a connection to the university that
goes all the way back to the 1960s. It tells of a commitment
to its future, a future for which he helped lay the foundation.
“My role was not as an executive,” he says of his position
on the Council. “But for the ten years, anywhere I could have
helped, I did. And when I needed to give advice or volunteer
suggestions, I gave it my best.”
This is no exaggeration. During his tenureMrWilliams’
activities went far beyond the traditional role of chairman.
His support was especially important in the area of funding
for The UWI.
“As Campus Council Chair I was a member of the
University Audit Committee, which gaveme an opportunity
to participate in the resolution of the financial challenges
being faced by the University,” he says.
Locally he is most well-known for his role as Governor
of the Central Bank (from 2002 to 2012).In the world of
international economic policyWilliams is renowned for his
30-year career with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He achieved the position of Deputy Director of theWestern
Hemisphere Department, a massive accomplishment in
his field, especially for someone from a small developing
country. Last year he received the national award, the
ChaconiaMedal (Gold), for exemplary service to the nation.
Now retired, he still sits on a few state boards. But other
things keep him busy.
“Well I have five grandchildren,” he laughs.
He’s slimmer than in his older photos and his speech is
more deliberate, but the laughter is powerful. Tall and jaunty,
he has a surprisingly confident and easygoing energy, much
more like a sportsman than a technocrat.
“I am a San Juan boy,” he says of himself.
That San Juan youth was there in the early days of The
UWI St Augustine. He was a member of the first class of
students at the College of Arts and Sciences in 1965, where
he studied economics in the Social Sciences Division (and
was Student of the Year of the St Augustine Campus in 1967).
After graduation he was the first and only member of the
economics class to do a master’s degree.
It sounds commonplace today, but the St Augustine
of the 1960s was far from what it has become. Back then it
was a fledgling institution with a small group of students
(800 in 1965). Yet still Williams and students like him had
faith in the institution.
“My generation was very excited about going to this
new university,” he says.
“I had a strong nationalist sentiment,” he smiles, “which
lasted the 30 years I spent in Washington DC and it has got
even stronger since.”
A deep love - and gratitude - for Trinidad and Tobago
stands out in his words and actions.
He reflects: “This society has given me so much. This
society has made me what I am. When I came back to the
Central Bank as Governor I really saw it as a way of giving
back to society.”
Williams adds, “I am passionate about Trinidad and
Tobago. My late mother used to tell people that in my 30
years in Washington I missed 29 Christmases and one
Carnival.”
That spirit of gratitude also brought him back to UWI.
Speaking at the UWI St Augustine Campus Council
2019 meeting, Campus Registrar Mr David Moses said:
“(Ewart Williams) has given yeoman service as a
Caribbean man, not only to Trinidad and Tobago but to
the Caribbean and the world.”
His active service, Mr Moses said, spanned almost 15
years, during which he supported three campus principals
– Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie, Professor Clement Sankat
and now Professor Brian Copeland. Mr Williams became
a member of the Campus Planning Committee in 2004 and
then he served as Chair of the Audit Committee. In 2009 he
became Campus Council Chair.
For the next decade he worked intimatelywith Professor
Sankat and his successor Professor Copeland, as well as with
the St Augustine and UWI’s regional administrators.
“When I first came and saw the kind of transformation
that was being envisioned for the university I was
overwhelmed,” he says. “I asked them, ‘are you sure you
can do this?’ Don’t you think it is too crowded an agenda?
Looking back I think the process of transformation is being
successfully implemented, though perhaps unexpected
obstacles have slowed down the pace below what was
envisaged.”
Williams speaks highly of both campus principals. He
admires the intellect and energy of the Vice-Chancellor of
The UWI Professor Sir Hilary Beckles (who expanded an
already ambitious programme), and he has a special word
of thanks for Chancellor Emeritus, Sir George Alleyne, who
gave him the opportunity to serve The UWI.
Of Professor Copeland he says, “he has a passion for
the things he does and is prepared to take the time to bring
people along. When you do this you can attempt herculean
tasks and I think that is where the success is coming from.”
He is particularly happy with UWI’s evolving role in
“getting involved in the problems of society, and helping the
society workout solutions”.
“Many of the programmes that are being introduced
now, like service learning and engagement with the
community and private sector, should have been started
many years ago” he says.
“Changes in the economic and social environment have
made it clear that the university needs to be more actively
involved in the transformation of the national economy
and in the resolution of the many social problems that we
face,” he says.
“I think that’s happening now.”
His optimism about UWI and its role is refreshing.
He does however see the challenges the university has
to deal with and the improvements it needs to make.
Williams points to the danger of UWI continuing to rely
disproportionately on the Government of Trinidad and
Tobago as its biggest financier.
He also highlights the importance of balancing the
need for increasing student enrolment with maintaining
the quality of UWI graduates entering the workforce. The
former Council Chair spoke as well about staff and ensuring
they are compensated properly for their work:
“One of our successes, particularly under Brian
Copeland, is the extent to which he has achieved buy-in by
the staff. However, you are talking about a staff that hasn’t
had a salary increase in the longest while. You are talking
about a staff that is under pressure.”
Challenges aside, Williams is optimistic about the
trajectory ofThe UWI and proud of the work it is doing. He
also looks back very fondly at his time as Chair.
“I functioned as an advocate, a kind of cheerleader and
advisor,” he says of the position. “I enjoyedmy time there. At
times, it was demanding. The university has more meetings
than the Lord allows. But it was a labour of love.”
And for anyone with ambitions for life that could take
them to achievements as great as his, what does he advise?
“Take yourself seriously and think big,” he smiles.
“Could you imagine a little fellow from San Juan, going to a
brand new, small university, turning up at the IMF? When
I entered the IMF’s Economist Programme, my class was
largely filled with PhDs from the Ivy League schools. But I
had confidence. And UWI taught me to analyse economic
problems and to think on my feet. You have to work hard
and believe in yourself. Be open to learning new things.”
It’s good advice for the individual, good advice for the
institution.
UWI to
D’ BONE
B Y J O E L H E N R Y
PHOTO: ANEEL KARIM
