Rajendra Ramlogan
Minister in the Ministry of Education Dr Lovell Francis made a stirring call for developing our human capital. According to Dr Francis, "Unless we take this education system that has a number of strengths but some critical weaknesses and we get it right now so that we produce that kind of student who will become that kind of citizen... that will create that kind of development that will lead to long-term prosperity...this nation is doomed…"
He added: "For the last two centuries...we had something that we could depend upon...it used to be sugar, (then) cocoa, and then oil—our crutch to lean on for the last 100 years...the days of oil and gas are numbered…some nations thrive on their human resources that are highly productive...and allows their society to thrive, evolve and prosper" (McEachnie, T&T Guardian, November 27, 2018).
The recognition of human capital as the true agent of economic transformation is quite laudatory. Further, it is important to acknowledge that a tertiary institution such as the University of the West Indies (UWI) must be considered as a key catalyst to the development of human capital. Within the womb of the UWI, our next generation of thinkers are being nurtured with the hope that they would lead the Caribbean region into a future that would see the unleashing of our human potential, moving us beyond our dependence past and present, on natural resources such as sun, sea, sugar, and oil.
Yet, the idealistic uttering of Dr Lovell is at odds with the crime and violence stalking our wider society and now intruding into our premier tertiary institution. According to the former minister of National Security, Edmund Dillon, "For the year 2017 the stats are as follows: There were three robberies, three break-ins—I am talking about the university campus itself—and there were nine incidents of larceny and one serious crime, a total of 16 serious crimes" (T&T Hansard, March 6, 2018). Students and university personnel claim that the numbers reported are a fraction of the number of crimes actually committed, as many go unreported.
The disturbing spectre of crime at the UWI exploded into the full glare of the public when on October 16, 2018, there was a report of attempted robbery and rape of a student at the UWI. This attack culminated in a protest by students with ensuing allegations of police brutality in the apprehension of two protesters. One month later on November 28, 2018, it was the turn of Maria Dass Supersad, an employee of the UWI, to face the trauma of crime at the paramount centre of tertiary learning in T&T . Maria was reportedly kidnapped in the car park near the UWI North Gate at about 3.07 pm as she was about to pick up her six-year-old daughter.
Our political leaders need to understand that the university environment must be one that is nurturing and transformative. We strive to create a cradle of learning that allows our young people to experience academic pursuits and knowledge growth in a safe environment. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft noted “To continue improving the human condition…This means investing in young people. Specifically, it means investing in their health and education, or what economists call "human capital" (Gates Foundation, GoalKeepers Report 2018).
Perhaps Minister Lovell read a previous article where I noted that with very limited natural resources, Singapore made "a name for itself for its commitment to the development of its human resources, knowledge-based economy, and commitment to education. Singapore has placed high importance on the value of their human resources since their independence and they have served as an avenue to their economic success (The Singaporean Development Model Sen Foundation 2014)". Talk is cheap, Mr Minister. There is growing helplessness within our university community of students, academics, and administrators as to the deteriorating security situation at the UWI. Enough is enough. No more sound bites. Visit the UWI and start an immediate dialogue to find meaningful solutions for creating a more secure incubator so that we can reap great future dividends from our investment on human capital. "There's nothing that can't be done. If we raise our voice as one. They've gotta hear it from me. They've gotta hear it from you. They've gotta hear it from us. We can't take it. We've already had enough." (Michael Jackson, We’ve had enough).
Prof Rajendra Ramlogan is a lecturer in Commercial and Environmental Law at The University of the West Indies.