For almost 200 years veterinary surgeons/veterinary practitioners/veterinarians have been required to register/secure a licence in order to practise their profession in T&T. On December 20, 1814, then Governor Woodford, by proclamation, created the Medical Board of T&T for the purpose of examining physicians, surgeons, apothecaries, barbers, and vetinary (sic) practitioners seeking a licence to practise (www.mbtt.org/). I expect that some of your readers may be interested and surprised, perhaps, to learn that this year is the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Veterinary Surgeons Registration Board on enactment of the Veterinary Surgeons (Registration) Act (an Act to make provision for the registration of veterinary surgeons (1950 Ed Ch 25 No 1.8 of 1930 )).
By duration of existence and function, this occasion deserves to be noted.
I believe that the person who had the vision to create the Act was Trinidadian veterinary surgeon Captain (Royal Army Veterinary Corps, UK) Harry Vincent Mercer Metivier, OBE (military 1917), BSc London, Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, UK. Over the years veterinarians have served mainly livestock agriculture, public health, and companion animals. However, the Act needs now to be taken to the next level, from a government-appointed board to a self-governing Veterinary Surgeons Registration Board, eg, "The College of Veterinary Surgeons of T&T." The executive and majority membership would be elected by registered veterinarians and minority membership, officials and lay people nominated by the Government in office. Now is the time to pursue this deserved goal.
Holman Williams
Registered veterinary surgeon
Professor Emeritus, UWI