Installation, Inductions, Farewells & Celebrations

New Leadership

In the period under review, The UWI welcomed Mr. Robert Bermudez as new Chancellor of The University of the West Indies. Mr. Bermudez began his seven-year term in July 2017 as the University's 6th Chancellor, succeeding Sir George Alleyne, who served as Chancellor for two consecutive seven-year terms since 2003.

Mr. Bermudez has been an entrepreneur for over 40 years, having overseen the growth of his family-owned business to a regional business throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. During his distinguished career, he served as Chairman or Board Director for several other corporate bodies in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.

The appointment of a Chancellor whose professional life has been spent outside of academia is an indication of The UWI's determination to recalibrate its philosophies and focus on radically transforming the nature of its operations and its quality of service and commitment, including creating more strategic alliances with the business community. Chancellor Bermudez' vision for the University outlines a keen sense of the mission, effectiveness, relevance and interdependence of academia and the economy.

As part of the installation ceremony's ritual, Chancellor Bermudez is robed by the Presidents of the Student Guild Councils across the four campuses.

In March 2017, Dr. Luz Longsworth was formally inducted as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Open Campus during a ceremony held in Belize, where Dr. Longsworth lived and worked for many years. Professor Brian Copeland, was also officially inducted in July 2017 as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the St. Augustine Campus.

The reporting period recorded several new appointments. Dr. Joseph B. Powell succeeded Mrs. Linda Speth as General Manager of The UWI Press.

Professor Jessica Byron was appointed Director of the Institute for International Relations (IIR) at the St. Augustine Campus. Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Grenada to the USA, Ms. Gillian M.S. Bristol, was appointed Director of Latin American Caribbean Centre (LACC). Mrs. Stacy Richards-Kennedy was appointed Director of Development in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.

The induction of Dr. Luz Longsworth Pro Vice-Chancellor & Principal The UWI Open Campus.

Professor Brian Copeland, Campus Principal at The UWI St Augustine is inducted by then Chancellor, Sir George Alleyne.

Farewells

Even as the institution welcomed some colleagues to new posts of influence, it also said a grateful and respectful farewell to persons who passionately served The UWI.

In April 2017, the University celebrated the career of Professor Emeritus Sir George Alleyne as Chancellor of The University of The West Indies with a farewell dinner held in his honour at the Cave Hill Campus. His second consecutive seven-year term as Chancellor formally ended in July 2017.

Former Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of the St. Augustine Campus, Professor Clement Sankat, was also honoured with a special retirement reception in September 2016 at The University Inn and Conference Centre.

Former Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Emeritus Sir George Alleyne receives a gift at the farewell dinner in his honour.

Professor Clement Sankat (left) with his successor, Professor Brian Copeland at Professor Sankat's official farewell.

UWItv's First Anniversary

The UWI established UWItv in December 2016. The multimedia public information and education service was immediately hailed as a "game-changer in Caribbean education and public outreach". It represents a partnership between The UWI, CaribVision (the regional cable service of the Caribbean Media Corporation) and the RJR Group in Jamaica.

The channel showcases a range of UWI-related content that can potentially be accessed by millions of viewers in 22 Caribbean country markets, along with those in Caribbean Diaspora communities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. It has a presence on applicable cable channels, as well as online via its own website, YouTube channel and social media sites such as Facebook. This allows its content to be accessed in real time or on demand, from virtually anywhere.

UWItv hosts a vast searchable video database, and is an invaluable resource for students, scholars, librarians, researchers, documentarians and journalists throughout the region and across the world.

During its first year, the platform live-streamed important events such as symposia, regional meetings and conferences, and served as a medium for disseminating messages on culturally significant issues and events.

Its first anniversary was celebrated with a commemorative event and awards ceremony at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination at Cave Hill Campus. Feature speaker, President of Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) and Managing Director of the RJR Communication Group, Jamaica, Mr. Gary Allen, described the platform as “a source of information - for people in the Caribbean about the Caribbean...".

His voice was joined by several others, commending UWItv on the role it has begun to play in disseminating information and sharing opinions across the region. A major endorsement came from the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. William Warren Smith, who announced the Bank's agreement to invest US$130,000, to be used for technical and other support for the further development of the platform.

At the UWItv Anniversary & Awards Ceremony, (from left to right): Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI; Mrs. Patricia Atherley, special awardee; Mr. Julian Rogers, recipient of the inaugural UWItv award; Ms. Janet Caroo, Managing Director, UWItv and Dr. William Warren Smith, President, Caribbean Development Bank.