C’bean must unite

The current crop of students must ensure that the concept of Caribbean unity becomes a reality.

This was the stance of retired UWI Cave Hill principal, Sir Keith Hunte, as he addressed the 2014 evening graduation ceremony of the Cave Hill Campus recently at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.

Moments after receiving an Honorary Doctor of Laws, Sir Keith underlined the importance of regional integration. He said,“This graduation ceremony is as good an occasion as ever to remind ourselves that though over the last 50 years significant progress has been made within the university…much more remains to be done.”

Pointing to the lows and highs over the years in reaching regional unity, he stressed, “Clearly, given the challenge of the relatively small size of our markets and the need to effectively mobilise all devices to expedite development of all dimensions, then you would have to argue what is the better alternative than building a strong regional community that would enable us to give of our best in terms of human development of ourselves and in terms of paving our way in the world.”

He therefore told the graduands of their responsibility in the ongoing process of community-building at the national, as well as at the regional level.

“You are a member of integration, the university. A number of people had predicted that it wouldn’t last and that it would break up. You have a duty to see that in your lifetime that is not possible. The university belongs to you and to your heirs and successors and so does the regional movement in the making,” Sir Keith argued, adding, “We cannot afford to drop the baton that has been given to us by the pioneers of integration, or stumble through irresolution or self-doubt.” (JMB)