Unacceptable defamation of our PCA
Dear Editor,
Kaieteur News – University of the West Indies (UWI) alumni – like myself – are still trying to make sense of the bizarre editorial that appeared in the Barbados Nation Newspaper on March 11, 2021 under the heading “Time for Change, ”And that constituted an exaggerated, insignificant and far-reaching attack on our University, that some of us felt obliged to respond in writing.
Also adding to the “bizarre” nature of the editorial was that it actually included a portrait type photograph of the personality that the editorial surpassed when portraying him as a “white knight in shining armor” who is supposed to save our University . : namely, Mr Robert Bermudez, the current chairman of Massy Holdings Ltd. of Trinidad and Tobago and Chancellor or ceremonial head of the University of the West Indies (UWI) since the year 2017.
Furthermore, we found it was more than a bizarre passing that, in an editorial entirely devoted to the UWA, there was only one mention of the Vice-Chancellor – the University’s chief academic and administrative leader – Sir Hilary Beckles. What – we asked ourselves – was the editorial writer really trying to achieve? And who on his behalf?
Then there was the actual content of the editorial vis-à-vis UWI! The editorial tried convincingly to convince us that something was terribly wrong with UWA’s current governance structure – the governance structure that is in fact the product of UWA’s outstanding former Chancellors’ contributions to Sir Shridath Ramphal and Sir George Alleyne. According to the editorial, the “concerns” about this governance structure are highlighted in a Report commissioned by Chancellor Bermudez, and “should be raised and discussed as a matter of urgency” – indeed, as early as the next day!
Indeed, this “Alice in Wonderland” type editorial must have had UWA students and alumni wondering whether the editor was referring to some other UWI, based in some other part of the world !
And I’m saying this because, as recently as 2019, the UWI we know, has been rated by the Times Higher Education – the world’s most respected university rating agency – as the No. 1 University in the whole Caribbean , and among the best of the best. 1 per cent of Gold Age Universities (those aged 50 to 100) worldwide.
In addition, all of us who pay attention to UWA issues are well aware of the remarkable development that our University has undergone over the past six years, under the inspirational and visionary leadership of Vice-Chancellor Beckles. Indeed, we have all looked forward with surprise as UWI became a “global University,” with an active institutional and academic presence on every continent of the world.
For the benefit of the Nation’s editor, here is a list of the ten international academic “Centers” that UWA has established over the past 6 years: –
1. UWI – SUNY (State University of New York) Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development – USA
2. UWI – Brock Center Canada – Caribbean Studies – in Canada.
3. UWI – Suzhou Institute of Information Technology – in China.
4. UWA – Coventry Center for Industry – Academic Partnership – in the UK.
5. UWI – Center for African Culture and Diaspora University of Lagos – in Nigeria.
6. UWI – University of Johannesburg Global Africa Center – in South Africa.
7. UWI – University of Colombia Partnership – in South America.
8. UWA – University Center for the European Union – in Europe.
9. UWI – University of Havana’s Caribbean Center for Sustainable Development of the Caribbean – in Cuba.
10. UWA – University of Glasgow’s Center for Redress Development and Justice – in Scotland and Jamaica.
There have also been other mind-blowing developments, such as the UWI Global Online program that generates revenue by selling academic content to a global online student body; the birth and development of UWI television; the establishment of the new Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda; establishing Sports Faculties on all campuses; establishing (2021) the world’s first Institute for Climate Smart Studies; and the innovative way in which UWA has resolved the issue of government financial arrears fatigue, by allowing our governments to provide physical assets to the University in return for arrears, thereby – in Trinidad’s case – provide US $ 100 to UWI. Million Couva Hospital, for use as a “for profit” International Medical School.
Indeed, it is very much to be recorded that when Sir Hilary Beckles became Vice-Chancellor of UWA in 2015, he assumed administrative responsibility for a University saddled with unpaid Government financial arrears to the tune of $ 120 Million dollars United States! During his time as Vice-Chancellor he has successfully reduced those arrears to US $ 40 Million.
In addition, the development of UWA has been so remarkable over the last six years, that several colleges and universities in the hemisphere have applied to be associated with our University, and be designated as UWA Colleges. This development will result in UWI becoming part of a multilingual university system, with the Dutch and French languages being added to UWA’s academic culture.
In light of the above, what – you might ask then – was the editorial purpose really?
Well, it all comes to light when the editorial writer ends his mistake with the following conclusion: –
“… If UWA were a private sector business these issues could not slip and people would be held accountable… The Chancellor is not from academia… but he is a successful businessman… Commissioning the report in itself significant; its findings cannot be filed. Mr. Bermudez is accustomed to making difficult decisions. UWI should be no exception. ”
So, it’s really about Mr Bermudez leading the management (and taking over) of the Private Sector in managing and managing our University. And when you take the time to read and examine the Chancellor’s Report, you will discover that this is the basic thrust of the Report, and the fundamental proposition that the Report is pushing.
In summary, the Report effectively proposes – from now on – that the fundamental power to manage and manage our University will be vested in a newly created Executive Committee of the University’s highest policy-making body – the University Council – to be chaired by none other than the Chancellor – Mr. Robert Bermudez – himself!
That is, Mr. Bermudez would no longer be a ceremonial figure. Instead, he would now replace Vice Chancellor Beckles as effectively the main administrative and academic leader of our UWA. Indeed, under the proposed new governance structure, Mr Bermudez would actually be the Chairman and CEO of the institution, and would exercise a great deal of power in our University and over. He would be like a god in his stature – hardly answerable to anyone.
But that is not the only aspect of Private Sector occupation being pushed. Indeed, it is also recommended that, in addition to the lower level Campus Councils, a pivotal University Council have six “Advisory Committees” responsible for the critical areas of Governance, Finance and Capital Allocation, Audit and Risk, Human Resources, Success Students and Digital Transformation, and notes that these Committees comprise a mix of internal (University) and external (non-University) personnel, and are chaired by one of the external members (read “Private Sector”) ) members of the Committee.
In addition, the Chancellor’s Report calls for the complete abolition of the University’s high-level Finance and General Purposes Committee, the Finance and General Purposes Committee of each Campus, and the University’s Strategy and Planning Committee. And it needs to be noted that these are the Committees through which our University’s democratic ethos and culture has traditionally been established – bringing lecturers, administrators, student representatives, private sector executives along with other stakeholders to participate in University discussions and breakdowns. policies and decisions.
All of this – we are advised – should be replaced by a private sector-controlled corporation-like structure, under the presidency of an all-powerful Chancellor who has never even attended a University of his own, and would – presumably – have a very limited appreciation of the culture and mission of such a high academic / human development institution.
Oh, and by the way, one of the directions that this all goes to, is a significant increase in tuition fees that students would be required to pay! This is, needless to say, another of the recommendations contained in the Chancellor’s Report.
Caribbean people – especially those of a working class background – would be well advised to use this Nation’s Newspaper editorial as a wake-up call, and start paying much more attention to what’s on offer to our University – the critical institution we rely on for our social. development and national development.
Truly,
David Comissiong
Graduate of UWI