UWI Students Today Ambassadors Tomorrow (UWISTAT) officially welcomed nineteen new members during its recent induction ceremony and hosted the second Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) Awards presentation. The inductees who hail from within and beyond the Caribbean are students currently enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at The University of the West Indies.

Speaking at the Induction and Awards Ceremony, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris, emphasized the importance of students assuming leadership roles and highlighted the need to continue to actively promote the mandate of UWISTAT beyond the walls of the university.

One of the major focuses of UWISTAT is to promote the CSME. During the second semester of 2008/9 UWISTAT hosted week of activities surrounding regional integration with a focus on CSME. This included an Essay competition held for UWI and high school students. The essays were judged by the CSME Unit, spearheaded by Mr. David Prendergast.

Seema Kadir of the University of the West Indies was named the winner in the UWI category and awarded $120,000 from the Office of the Principal and received the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris trophy. Her winning essay was titled, “Critically discuss the relevance of the CSME in the global economy”.

In the high school category, the awards went to Kevon Kerr of Cornwall College, in first place who received $15,000 and a plaque and in second place, Cato Powell of Frome Technical High who received $10, 000 and a plaque. Both students’ essays focused on the role of the media in promoting CSME

Presentations were also made to the AZ Preston Debate Team which won the debate competition for CSME week against Taylor Hall.

During this academic year UWISTAT actively engaged in several initiatives promoting pelican pride. Members travelled across Jamaica to high schools to promote CSME and HIV/AIDS Awareness, launched the annual Footprints project, introduced the first ever CSME week and made donations to charitable organizations. UWISTAT- was developed by the Director of Alumni Relations in the Office of the Vice Chancellor in 2005, in association with the Guild of Students of the three UWI campuses, in order to increase regional ties and awareness between students and alumni.