Uwi principal threatens to fire unreliable officers

"While I do not intend to make the campus a prison, I intend to make it very secure. To achieve this, the administration, along with the St Joseph police and the Student Guild, will be working together," Tewarie said.

"And should any officer be found unable to hold their own, I will get rid of them immediately."

These statements were made yesterday to Newsday after a press conference called at the principal’s office at the university campus.

It was called in relation to the shooting and robbery of security officer Joseph Baksh while on duty at the campus north gate yesterday morning.

According to reports, Joseph, 35, and Derrick Olliviere were on duty at the gate at 1 am, when two men who looked like students walked passed them. The two "students" then accosted the two officers with a cutlass and shotgun. Olliviere escaped and ran, while the men disarmed Joseph of his pistol and shot him in the shoulder.

Joseph was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex and then transferred to the St Augustine Community Hospital where he is currently warded in a stable condition.

This incident comes after several years of reports on campus of rapes, robberies, car thefts and other incidents. Some of the incidents were curtailed after security measures were initiated.

In his speech, Tewarie indicated that measures such as mobile, foot and cycle patrol will be put in place along with the shuttle service, and a new safety escort service will be added. He also advised students to socialise in groups.

While stating that the campus was not bothered by the problems of drugs, URP ghost gangs and guns that affect the society, Tewarie added that the university is willing to assist the relevant authorities in dealing with some of the problems. He also indicated that the university can assist by way of GIS maps.

Director of Security, Wayne Richardson, supported the measures and assured Newsday that several other initiatives for the security of students, employees and visitors would be added. However, he could not disclose what measures would be implemented.

When contacted police said they believed the sole purpose of the attack was to get the gun. Insp Modeste of the St Joseph Police Station is investigating.