Lead Editor - Newsgathering
ryan.bachoo@cnc3.co.tt
“I have found that our academics and intellectuals today are somewhat timid. Many of them are afraid to speak out in case they are criticised.”
A refuted response from the principal of the University of the West Indies St Augustine campus, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Last month, Dr Rowley scolded the university saying “I’m a little impatient that UWI has fallen away from its mission in scientific research.”
The Prime Minister was at the time speaking at the UWI Seismic Research Centre’s 70th anniversary function where he candidly added, “A university that has its pedigree in the great work done in research, as the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, cannot and must not be satisfied with a professorial or senior staff CV that is dominated by column inches of questionable opinionated expressions in the local daily or Sunday papers.”
Professor Antoine addressed the Prime Minister’s comments while appearing on CNC3’s The Big Interview programme which is set to air on Sunday at 8 pm. Antoine said while the university has a history of strong scientific research, there is another important factor that needs to be considered.
“I think the comment about science is also something we need to correct because, in fact, the University of the West Indies, and the St Augustine campus in particular, has a very strong record in terms of scientific research, and what we don’t have, unfortunately, is the support both from government and the private sector in terms of funding research. So, we talk about we need to have scientific research. Scientific research and the end product are not a cheap endeavour,” she said.
Pressed on the Prime Minister’s comments that lecturers are satisfied with writing columns in the newspapers, Antoine added, “It’s a bit ironic because I have been saying to my staff, we need to get our voice out there, quite the opposite. We don’t speak out enough I think as intellectuals. You remember the days of the Dennis Pantins and the Lloyd Bests and so on where every issue that happened in the society, you had a UWI person commenting, and that is what it should be like.”
Professor Antoine also revealed the university will be playing a major role as the Government moves to include migrant children in the education system.
In mid-July, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne revealed the Government is advancing policy geared towards integrating migrant children into the primary school education system by September.
“It’s an excellent decision,” Antoine said.
However, the UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor did not deny there will be challenges in integrating migrant children into the local education system. However, she said the UWI is prepared to assist in the undertaking.
“Certainly the teachers are not prepared [for the integration of migrant children in schools]. Language is the first difficulty and then you have other things about physical resources which we can’t help with but we can certainly help with the language, with the basic education, even with the mental health issues that would arise,” Antoine said.
She added it has already been discussed with the Faculty of Humanities. The support, Antoine said, will first go to the teachers helping them bridge the language gap.
“We will also be doing some direct instructions with students, I’m very pleased and excited about it. The Faculty of Humanities is very enthusiastic. We have a track record but we are willing to do more to support the government and the country in what is a very audible objective,” Antoine added.
A former president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights elected by the Organisation of American States, Antoine has long advocated for the integration of Venezuelan migrants into T&T society.
The full interview with Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine airs at 8 pm on Sunday on CNC3.
