Kamla first female in Mona honours list

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was officially inducted yesterday into a park in honour of UWI graduates who are or have been Heads of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus. A special plaque was unveiled to commemorate Persad-Bissessar in the park. A former student and lecturer at the Mona Campus, the T&T Prime Minister said she was deeply honoured to be added to the esteemed list of Heads of Government at the university’s park.

Speaking at the induction ceremony, Persad-Bissessar expressed her gratitude for the honour and praised the role of UWI in her journey to success. “Many of my most memorable experiences occurred right here during my time at the University of the West Indies. Indeed, this campus formed an integral part of my life’s journey and my time here has contributed significantly to the success I have achieved,” she said.

Professor Gordon Shirley, Pro Vice Chancellor and principal of the UWI, Mona, delivered the opening remarks at the special ceremony and thanked Persad-Bissessar for her continued support of the university. “We are most proud of the fact that we have produced such a large number of prime ministers and we are particularly proud of a prime minister who aside from being a member of the university alumni, was also a member of faculty and has remained an ardent supporter of the university, it’s regional mandate and its commitment to the development of our people,” Shirley said.

The Rev Ronald Thwaites, Jamaica’s Minister of Education in his address, said the Government and people of Jamaica were elated at the graciousness of Persad-Bissessar’s visit for the nation’s “birthday celebrations”. He said the gesture reaffirmed the covenant that exists between the Caribbean islands and the members of CARICOM.

“On behalf of all of us Jamaicans, we are so happy to welcome you. We extend our hearts to you and we hope that this gesture of recognition at the university will be a sign to our many generations of the potential of higher learning and of the gift that we give to each other in our region.” Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar is the first female prime minister and the 16th Head of Government to be inducted into the park.