UWI principal calls for harmony on campus

DR BHOE  TEWARIE, pro vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine campus, has called for greater racial harmony among the new student population. Speaking at Thursday evening’s matriculation ceremony at the JFK Auditorium at UWI St Augustine, Dr Tewarie urged the gathering to learn to live well with everyone, regardless of race, religion, social background or place or origin. He told students these practices were important in a world that is becoming more diverse and complex everyday.

Tewarie said: “You cannot solve problems without working with others. Narrow, petty, difficult, conflict prone people, end up contributing very little to anything. Treat with people as individuals, build relationships on a one to one basis and give more than you take from others.” Describing the University of the West Indies as a diverse learning community, Dr Tewarie disclosed the religious composition of the campus. The Roman Catholic faith, he said, accounted for 25 percent of the student population, followed by Hindus 19 percent; and Islamic 6.5 percent. According to Dr Tewarie, the various Protestant Christian religions make up 34 percent of the campus population, and 13 percent have not declared their religion. 

Dr Tewarie boasted that the 2004-2005 academic intake of 4,028 students is on record as the highest in the university’s history. He noted there are still 1,000 students who have the option of registering for graduate or undergraduate degree programmes, on a full-time or part-time basis. National scholarship winners make up the new student population, and Dr Tewarie has encouraged them to continue working diligently, maintain high standards and strive to be the best. There are 778 foreign students from 18 countries within the Caribbean, and 188 students from territories outside the region. He called on nationals studying at the university to be the ideal hosts and to make the visiting student community feel at home. Dr Tewarie earned sustained and lusty applause when he disclosed that the female population will dominate campus life by 62 percent compared to 38 from the opposite sex. He said there were seven women for every four men on campus.

When the students settled, a smiling Dr Tewarie said: “While you may look to us for guidance and direction today, we look to you for leadership tomorrow.” He added: “Campus life developed true leadership and was the way to escape psychological poverty, victimhood, entitlement and underdevelopment. That is what is keeping countries such as ours in the dark ages. You need to develop an attitude of gratitude for things you receive, a psychology of bountifulness in your engagement with the world, an attitude of helpfulness toward others, a disposition of generosity of spirit and mind-set of a doer, a creator, an energiser and contributor.”