The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I., April 28, 2017 – The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is pleased to announce that Mr. Robert Bermudez has been appointed as its 6th Chancellor. The appointment came after members of the University Council accepted the recommendation of the Search Committee for the Chancellor at the Council’s annual business meeting, held on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at The UWI Cave Hill Campus in Barbados.   The appointment of the Chancellor of the regional university is always made in accordance with the University’s Statute 4 which vests this responsibility solely in the Council—the highest governing body of the University.
 
Now formally Chancellor Designate, Mr. Bermudez is expected to serve a seven-year term beginning on July 16, 2017. He succeeds Sir George Alleyne who has served as Chancellor since 2003. The Chancellor holds the highest office in The UWI system and its powers and responsibilities are laid down in The UWI Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations. The Search Committee selected Mr. Bermudez as the best candidate to fit into the diversity of roles assigned to this office.
 
Mr. Bermudez, a national of Trinidad and Tobago, has been an entrepreneur for over 40 years.  He has led the growth of his family-owned business, to a regional business throughout the Caribbean and Latin America and has enjoyed a distinguished career in business, serving as either Chairman or Board Director for several other corporate bodies in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. His vision for the University outlines a keen sense of the mission, effectiveness, relevance and interdependence of academia and the economy. His professional experience as a Caribbean-wide entrepreneur with business acumen garnered from across the region suggests that he will continue the distinguished tradition of Chancellorship that this University has maintained throughout its history.
 
Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Bermudez stated, “The University has had the benefit of a series of very impressive Chancellors who have provided vital insights into its governance. Maintaining the ethical order of the institution is a task not to be taken lightly. To be considered as a successor to Sir George Alleyne is in itself an honour.”
 
In extending congratulations to the Chancellor Designate, Sir George remarked, “It is a privilege to have served as the Chancellor of my University for the last 13½ years and I was happy to preside over my final meeting of the University Council at which Mr. Robert Bermudez was appointed as Chancellor. I assured Mr. Bermudez that I will be at his service to provide any help he may wish as he transitions into his new role. I am confident that The UWI made the right choice.”
 
Offering further details on the process, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles said, “It was my honour to chair the Search Committee that recommended Mr. Bermudez for the post of Chancellor of The UWI. It was a pleasure to make the case of the committee before the members of Council. Members have the power not to accept any recommendation. For this reason, in such cases there is always a sense of anxiety. It gave me a tremendous sense of pride when Council unanimously rose in support of the case for Mr. Bermudez, a distinguished Caribbean citizen, and welcomed him gloriously into our community. I have no doubt that our Chancellor Designate will preside over the Council of our regional university with dignity and distinction. I am keenly looking forward to working with him in the years ahead as we seek to bend our university into even greater regional service.”
 
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About the University Council
The Council of The UWI consists of the University’s current Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, the Pro Vice-Chancellors, Chairs of Campus Councils, Campus Principals, University Registrar, University Bursar, University Librarian, Treasurer, Chair of the Committee of Deans, Academic Board representative, Graduate elected by The UWI Alumni Association, appointed member of Government from each contributing country, Chancellor’s nominees – persons of high international, regional or national standing from the professions, commerce, industry, public service, labour movement and other non-governmental organisations, Tertiary Level Institution representative, Non-campus country representative, Senior Administrative/Professional staff representative, Administrative, Technical and Service staff representative and Student Guild representative.
 
About The UWI
Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, The UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology and Social Sciences. The UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. For more information, visit www.uwi.edu
(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)