Monday, October 29 2012

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GRADUATING: Alana Nalini Gajadhar is congratulated by University of the West Indies Chancellor Sir George Alleyne for receiving her post-graduate dipl...

CARIBBEAN corporate organisations are signalling their commitment to an integrated Caribbean, contributing in cash and kind to the completion of the Vice Chancellery building of The University of the West Indies (UWI).

Approximately US$1 million has already been raised through donations from companies like the Neal and Massy Group, Caribbean Cement Company, alumnus, Dr Aleem Mohammed, chairman of SM Jaleel and Company Limited, and Chas E Ramson of Jamaica.

The new Vice Chancellery Building — UWI Regional Headquarters (UWI-RHQ) — seat of central governance for the entire university, was officially opened at Mona Campus, Jamaica, in June, by Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson-Miller.

The building cost US$12 million, of which US$8.25 million was provided through a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) loan, according to a statement from the university.

The loan is guaranteed in equal portions by the governments of Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and includes generous repayment terms and fairly low interest rates. Apart from the loan, the CDB also gave UWI a grant of US$500,000.

Though the building is completed, the University says it needs additional funds for the longer term aspects of the project and hopes that the private sector across the region will contribute to the fund.

Many management offices have been relocated to the UWI- RHQ which also has a museum and archives and some of UWI’s research institutes.

Located just outside the UWI, Mona, UWI-RHQ according to the Vice Chancellor, Prof E Nigel Harris, “is truly regional. It’s a place which belongs to all the campuses.”