SUNDAY 2ND NOVEMBER, 2014 – UWI TODAY
3
In late August
and early September, I had
the privilege of travelling to Apia, Samoa
to participate in events related to the Small
Island Developing States (SIDS). While in
Samoa, I attended both the Private Sector
Partnership Forum on August 30 to 31 and
the Third United Nations Conference on
SIDS from September 1 to 4. I attended these
events in my capacity as Vice Chairman of
the Technical Centre for Agricultural and
Rural Cooperation (CTA), an international
institution of the African, Caribbean and
Pacific (ACP) States and the European Union
(EU).
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime
Minister of the Independent State of Samoa,
chaired the forumonAugust 30,whichbrought
together participants from government,
business/industry, international organisations
and others. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General
of the United Nations was also in attendance.
Forum participants engaged in discussion on
seven key topics – oceans, natural resources,
connectivity (ICTs and transport), sustainable
agriculture, disaster risk reduction, renewable
energy and sustainable tourism.
The CTA, under the leadership of
Executive Director Michael Hailu, led the
forum on sustainable agriculture, which
focused on the role of the private sector in
reinvigorating the agricultural industries
of SIDS. As Principal of The UWI, St.
Augustine, I spoke on the need to bring
technology and entrepreneurship to bear
on agricultural production, so as to make it
more attractive, sustainable and profitable,
especially for young entrepreneurs. I spoke of
the development of anAgricultural Innovation
Park at Orange Grove in Trinidad that can
demonstrate the convergence of agriculture
(particularly protected agriculture), food
production and consumption, agri-tourism,
research and innovation and private sector-
led entrepreneurship.
At the SIDS conference, again chaired
by the Prime Minister of Samoa and with
the participation of several Caribbean prime
ministers andministers, the speeches of all 51
SIDS leaders focused on topics like sustainable
tourism, climate change, sustainable energy,
disaster risk reduction, oceans and seas, food
and nutrition security, social development
and many others. CARICOM citizens can
certainly identify with many of these issues,
but in the Pacific the isolation of islands and
the threat of extinction due to rising sea levels
and natural disasters are very stark.
In going forward, the leaders of SIDS
and others present declared their continuing
support for the enabling efforts of such
states to meet the challenges identified and
“to request the Department of Economic
and Social Affairs (UN) to maintain a
partnership platform focused on the SIDS
and to regularly convene the inter-agency
consultation group to report on the full
implementation of the Barbados Programme
of Action, the Mauritius Strategy and the
Samoan Pathway….”
For those of us living in SIDS,
complacency is not an answer. We should
not wait another 12 years to restate some
of the same issues and add new ones that
will undoubtedly arise, but as countries we
must develop the will to tackle many of the
issues raised. The UWI, with its talented
staff and students, has a major role to play in
the development of creative solutions to our
current challenges.
I could not write about my attendance
at SIDS 2014 and not mention three
developments that came out of the conference.
Firstly, the launch of the online Masters’
Degree in “Sustainable Development of
SIDS” – a proud moment for The UWI, as
we partnered with six other universities to
develop this timely academic programme.
Those wanting more information on this
relevant programme can contact Dr. David C.
Smith at
.
Secondly, I visited the National
University of Samoa (NUS) and met with
its President and Vice Chancellor. I was
pleasantly surprised to be joined by two
students fromTrinidad and Tobago studying
at the NUS as well as Samoan students
who studied at The UWI. These exchanges
were all facilitated by the CARPIMS EU
Scholarship programme. For those seeking
more information on CARPIMS, contact
Sharan Singh at
.
Thirdly, on my way back from Samoa
and passing through Fiji, I met with the Vice
Chancellor of the University of the South
Pacific (USP), Professor Rajesh Chandra.
USP, with whom we are collaborating on a
few projects, is very much patterned after
The UWI and is approved by 12 Pacific Island
countries. It is only the second regional
university in the world after The UWI.
Meeting with him and seeing the progress
of USP, I could not help but feel that in the
far off Pacific Islands, The UWI is spreading
its wings.
EDITORIAL TEAM
Campus Principal
Professor Clement Sankat
Director of Marketing and Communications
Dr. Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill
EDITOR
Mr. Joel Henry
CONTACT US
The UWI Marketing and Communications Office
Tel: (868) 662-2002, exts. 82013 / 83997 Or email:
Innovation is
Our Responsibility
FROM the Principal
This past October,
The University of the West Indies
(UWI) St. Augustine Campus held its second UWI-
NGC Research Awards Ceremony, entitled “Celebrating
Excellence in Research”. This event recognised the
outstanding research conducted by our facultymembers,
departments and graduate students; a vital exercise for
the university, one which we look forward to hosting
every two years.
In order for The UWI to make the greatest possible
contribution to the development of our region and the
world, we must intensify our efforts in the areas of research, exploration and
scientific inquiry.The Caribbean is young, and it is our responsibility to build upon
the foundation of knowledge laid by those who came before. We must leverage
our youthful dynamism and unique regional identity to bring forth our innovative
capacity, thereby powering development and claiming a place for ourselves on the
global stage based on our creativity, ingenuity and ability to find new solutions
for the world’s challenges.
This October, The UWI also had the privilege of hosting Secretary General
José Miguel Insulza of the Organisation of American States (OAS), as part of our
Distinguished Lecture Series. In his presentation, the Secretary General pointed
to education, science and technology as keys to greater productivity and economic
progress for the region. We also hosted His Excellency, Michel Martelly, President
of the Republic of Haiti, who spoke about his nation’s education policy and the
critical role of education in their rebuilding efforts.
For education to truly engender sustainable development, it cannot be
static. It has to grow and learn, just as it has to teach. We have to be committed
to discovering new information, creating new processes and systems, inventing
new technologies and refining those that are in current use. This is why we are
pleased to highlight the participation of Dr. JudithGobin of the Department of Life
Sciences in a deep-sea exploratorymission in the waters to the east of Trinidad and
Tobago. This mission has provided valuable insight into the thriving communities
that exist on the sea floor 6,000 feet below the surface.
In closing, on behalf of The UWI, I would like to congratulate all of our
Research Awards winners and encourage them not only to continue their work,
but to see their results translated into practical tools for the benefit of society. I
salute you for your accomplishments and remain committed to working for greater
recognition and support for the research efforts of all our students and staff.
Clement K. Sankat
Pro Vice-Chancellor & Principal
OUR CAMPUS
Small Island States,
Shared Purpose
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal,
Professor Clement Sankat on his journey
to Samoa for SIDS 2014
