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UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 2 JUNE 2019
OUR CAMPUS
UT: Sir Dennis, you have had a long and
noteworthy career. Why did you decide to take
on this important but laborious task in your
retirement?
DB:
It was difficult to say no. The University of the
West Indies is one of the most important institutions
for Caribbean integration, which I fully believe in
and support. It has made a tremendous impact on the
growth and development of our region. It is one of the
best functioning regional institutions that we have.
When I was asked to make some contribution to
ensuring its sustainability and improving the way it
operates - that’s not something one could say no to.
Were there facets of the University that you saw
and thought this might need some change or
restructuring?
I think that part of the reason I was selected, is that
I, like many of the other commissioners, was not part of
the university structure. So I did not come in with any
preconceived notions based on intimate knowledge or
experience. So it was very important for us to spend a
fair amount of time getting as much information as we
can both from the institution and also from the people
who have been interacting with the University
We are spending the first part of our time trying
to get as much feedback as we can from the key
stakeholders of the University.
I believe you had your first town hall inTrinidad
and Tobago recently.
Yes, this was the first.
Have there been any other mechanisms of
communication?
We’ve been doing face to face meetings with several
individuals and stakeholder groups. The initial work
that we’ve done in this way has been at the (UWI) Mona
Campus (in Jamaica). We’ve been there, speaking to
many of the regional management figures, starting at
the level of (UWI) Vice-Chancellor (Professor Sir Hilary
Beckles). Then we met with the Pro Vice-Chancellors,
campus principals, academic management, and others.
(UT: The Commission has carried out several
stakeholder consultations through focus groups, public
forums, interviews, and general surveys. They welcome
submissions from all stakeholders within and beyond
the academic community, emphasising the perspectives
of students, alumni, governments as well as the private
and social sectors.)
This trip to the St Augustine Campus gave us a
special opportunity because of the University Council
meeting (see story on page 5). Many of the governments
were present through their ministries of education.
So we were able to engage with a number of them. So
we have had a broad spectrum of communication of
information already.
Making UWI Better
B Y J O E L H E N R Y
How has that communication been?
It’s been good. Everybody we engaged came because
they wanted to come. We extended invitations and persons
who are interested in seeing the University work better have
come forward. So we have had a number of fully free and
open discussions.
So after this Trinidad trip, what happens next?
We will continue our investigative process. We haven’t
gone to the (UWI) Cave Hill Campus (in Barbados) yet, and
we have tomake another trip to theMona Campus. We will
also be starting to organise the information that we have
received. We have promised to issue a report in September
(2019). So the writing process will be starting now.
Seems like a lot of work.
Yes it is (laughter).
What would you like to come out of this process?
What do you hope will be the end product of the
Commission’s work?
We want to make a contribution to the vision of
the University as a premier educational and research
institution. We also want to make certain that it is
sustainable and competitive and that it will be of service
to our young people and continue to prepare leaders of the
highest standard for the future.
Hopefully, all of this will contribute to the quality of life
throughout the region, and ensure that we develop socially
and economically, and that individual persons excel at all
levels of endeavour.The objective, really, is to have a positive
impact on our society.
Sir Dennis Byron
PHOTO: KEYON MITCHELL
Isthereanythingyouwouldliketoaddinconclusion?
We’ve tried to develop a sort of “feel” for this phase of
our work. What we really want to do is hear the voices. We
think there is a lot of information, a lot of good ideas, lots
of people have concerns, and some have recommendations.
We would like our report to be relevant to the needs that
the people have expressed and we would like it to reflect
the best ideas that emerge in our region.
So at this stagemy real concern is to encourage persons
who have interests, concerns and ideas to pass it on to us.
So that they can assist in developing the recommendations
we send to the Chancellor.
Sir Dennis, thank you for your time.
How canThe UWI improve?
It is a massive, region-spanning institution that has had an incredible impact on Caribbean society. But no institution is perfect - especially
one of this scale and with such an influence on the lives of so many. In January 2019 UWI Chancellor Robert Bermudez announced a nine-member Commission on
Governance to“examine the performance of The UWI, its management practices, features of transparency and accountability within the University system, and to make
recommendations to the Chancellor.” The Commission, made up of respected citizens from throughout the region, was in Trinidad and Tobago at the St Augustine
Campus during UWI’s University Council meeting in late April. While here,
UWI Today
had the chance to speak to Commission Chair, renowned jurist Sir Dennis Byron.
CHANCELLOR’S COMMISSION
ON GOVERNANCE
Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron
(Chairman) – Former President of the
Caribbean Court of Justice
Ms Judith Bowen
– Attorney-at-Law
Mr Richard Byles
– Chairman,
Sagicor Group Jamaica
Ms Angela Hamel-Smith
–
Human Resources Practitioner
Professor Emeritus E Nigel Harris
–
Former Vice-Chancellor of The UWI
His Excellency Dr Didacus Jules
–
Director General, Organisation of Eastern
Caribbean States
Sir Elliott Mottley
– Attorney-at-Law
Mr Darrion Narine
– President of The UWI
St Augustine Guild of Students 2018-2019
Mrs Jacqueline Sharp
– Director,
Coffee Traders Ltd and President, The UWI
Alumni Association, Jamaica Chapter
The UWI invites all regional citizens
to join the conversations. Learn more
about the work of the Commission at:
and email your confidential contributions to:
