Lucky: Honour Eric Williams

Lucky said there should be no question on whether or not to recognise the work of Williams.

“It is rather unfortunate that a big debate had to be engaged in determining whether this great man ought to be recognised, now that he has passed on. In my view more ought to have been done to recognise this great and distinguished person,” said Lucky.

Lucky, a former High Court judge, made this statement during her feature address at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Faculty of Science and Agriculture 16th annual prize award ceremony.

The Opposition PNM, of which Williams was a founding member, had called on the Government to publicly recognise his contribution to national development on the anniversary of his 100th birthday this year.

The party has held its own observances on a small scale through public lectures at constituency offices.

In her address, Lucky urged the UWI graduates to follow in Williams’ footsteps, whom she deemed an advocate of ethical thinking.

She said if TT wanted to compete with developed nations, citizens must adopt a sense of ethical thinking.

“Ethical thinking is much needed in this country and region, which seeks to (promote) itself as a forerunner in achieving global recognition for developed status,” she said.

Lucky went on to add that unethical behaviour was commonplace since written law decided what was right and wrong. This, she said, made it harder to convince persons that ethical thinking was the right way to go.

“In our country today, in order to determine whether one’s behaviour or conduct is acceptable, the law is the only benchmark. As long as the action is not illegal, or doesn’t breach any written or unwritten law, then that conduct is deemed to be acceptable.”

She added, “Our society has waived its right to demand the highest standards of ethical behaviour from all who played to serve the public interest,” she said.

She questioned whether there was room in this country for ethical thinking or behaviour.

“In a country that is never starved for excitement and seemed to thrive on scandal, bacchanal and controversy, is there any room for ethical thinking? And if there is, who will cultivate and grow the seed for ethical thinking which does not thrive on infertile soil?”

Lucky placed this responsibility on UWI, urging them to encompass the importance of ethical thinking within their courses for the students since she believes shirking this responsibility could place this country and by extension the region in peril.

Sixty students of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture collected prizes for their excellence in various components of the programme. Professor Dyer Narinesingh, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, congratulated the recipients and advised them to continue in their search for education and knowledge as this will generate wealth and employment for this country.

Two additional faculties, the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Faculty of Food and Agriculture will be added to the university in the very near future. UWI Principal and Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Clement Sankat said these two additions will seek to put UWI in the forefront with other leading educational institutions globally.