Garcia dismisses call for sacking

In the statement, Gopeesingh described Garcia’s announcement as a “terrible howler.” He repeated his call for Garcia’s dismissal and suggested a “a timely public apology” be issued to UWI and the regional community it serves.

In an immediate response, Garcia said, “I pay no credence to what he has said.” Garcia, who is also Arima MP, said Gopeesingh has been calling for his removal as education minister since he assumed office after the September 7, 2015, general election. He said Gopeesingh, the Caroni East MP, is “struggling” to accept the fact that he is no longer education minister. Gopeesingh was education minister in the former Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration.

In a release last week, UWI noted that chancellors are appointed in accordance with the university’s Statute 4 which clearly states, “The chancellor shall be appointed by the University Council.” UWI confirmed that over the past few months, it has been working through a specially-appointed search committee to identify an appropriate successor to Sir George Alleyne, who is carded to demit office in the latter half of this year.

The university said the appointment of the its new chancellor will be discussed at the upcoming annual business meeting of the University Council on April 27 in Barbados.

The Education Ministry, in a statement last week, said Garcia was directed by Cabinet to report to the general public on the facts pertaining to the recommendation of the Search Committee on the appointment of the new UWI chancellor.

The ministry said, “Cabinet waited until, in its opinion, it was safe and prudent to advise our population on this development.” The ministry said Bermudez was the Government’s nominee for this post.