Beginning today, Sunday, September 1, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is hosting landmark events to mark the historic opening of its Five Islands Campus, in St. John’s, Antigua.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles noted that “this is a matter of great pride for The University of the West Indies as it continues its onward march across the Caribbean, serving the development needs of our countries.”
He added, “The UWI was created to serve all our people equally. These are difficult financial times for the region but we must not succumb to self-doubt. Rather, more than ever we must stand together.”
Formal launch activities began with a public ecumenical service at The St. John’s Cathedral on September 1. Dignitaries included Antigua and Barbuda’s Governor General Sir Rodney Williams and Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
Dean of The St. John’s Cathedral, the Very Reverend Ernest Flemming, officiated at the service which started at 4:00 P.M. with an Academic Procession comprised of principal officers of the regional university, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, and Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Five Islands Campus, Professor Stafford A. Griffith.
An invitation-only ceremonial opening of the campus in Five Islands Village will follow on September 3, at 5:00 P.M.
The fourth landed campus, and fifth campus of The UWI, officially began operations on August 25 and is currently registering students for programmes across three schools: Health and Behavioural Sciences; Humanities and Education; Management, Sciences and Technology.
To mark the official start of the academic year 2019-2020, Vice-Chancellor Beckles visited Antigua on August 26. He paid a courtesy call upon Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon. Gaston Browne, at the Office of the Prime Minister, met with senior officials in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as well as Media on the implementation plans for the Five Islands Campus.
Live coverage is being provided of both events on local television by the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service, and across the region on UWItv via the FLOW network. The events are also being streamed live on UWItv’s website (https://uwitv.org/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/UWITv).
Instead of an international airport they should figure out a way to extend the length of the Melville Hall airport runway long enough to accommodate passenger jet aircraft like a 737 and 757. Dominica loses out because there are no direct flights from mainland US and Europe. People do not want to have to go through the hassle and conniptions having to overnight in neighboring islands just to get to Dominica.
I want Antiguan citizenship.
and who’s stopping you?
I’m waiting to win the lottery. Gofundme doesn’t pay as high as $100,000 US. Then I will leave this “last in too many things” country for “greener pastures”.
Hearty congratulations to PM Browne and all Antiguans. This is transformational leadership. I wish the newest UWI campus nothing but the best. Compare PM Browne’s leadership with that of Skerrit’s. Every thing that Skerrit touches turns to coal dust. The man is destructive. ROSS University gone forever after forty (40) years of residence in Dominica. The Banana Industry turned to coal dust. So many once thriving businesses have disappeared forever. Civil servants living in subtle poverty. Feeder roads for farmers to ply their their trade impassable or non-existent. Leadership is abysmal. How can any right thinking elector put this destructive set of people back in government after twenty years of uselessness. To do so is certainly INSANITY. Change the Change of 2000. Dominica is weilding from dark SECRECY and widespread CORRUPTION in government.
Wasnt the Ross Campus supposed to open this week? Or was it last week.
We are satisfied with too little in Dominica. That’s why we are not getting what we want for this country. It is also why we are “last in too many things” according to Reginald Austrie. Antigua’s PM works in the best interest of Antiguans. So he gets UWI for them. Skerrit works in the best interest of himself! You know it, yet you allow him to fool you time and time again. Remember the DLP launching fete for Fidel Grant at Wesley? Our Prime Minister told us something was in the works at Picard to replace Ross. You cheered and you screamed, half drunk from the free rum. He confirmed it in his budget address, the Dominica University of Medical Sciences (DUSM) was definitely coming. Where is that medical school today? Nowhere to be found! All schools are about to open. Roosevelt Skerrit has fooled you once again! When will you realize that this man is a liar. He’s not even a good one, we keep catching him in his lies. You have guts to say you want 5 more years of this? This?!