The Council of the University of the West Indies, meeting in extraordinary session on Friday, September 26 unanimously endorsed the recommendation of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate to appoint as the next Chancellor, Sir George Alleyne, succeeding Sir Shridath Ramphal who will proceed on retirement on September 30, 2003. Sir George Alleyne, a Barbadian national, was a two term Director-General of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and is currently heading a special Commission to combat HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region. He has had a long association with the University of the West Indies, as he was one of its earliest medical graduates and later served for several years as a member of staff, culminating with a nine-year stint as Professor of Medicine and Director of the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit (TMRU). He will assume the position on October 1, 2003 and will preside at this year’s graduation ceremonies but his formal installation as Chancellor will take place at a later date.
The Council also paid tribute to the outgoing Chancellor. In a Resolution adopted by Council, the Honourable Sir Shridath Ramphal was hailed for his ‘unswerving loyalty and commitment to the University of the West Indies, despite his simultaneously carrying out responsibilities as Chancellor of two other institutions, namely, the University of Guyana and Warwick University”. Council acknowledged the great debt owed to Sir Shridath by the University as well as the entire Commonwealth Caribbean for his lifetime of dedication to the development of its people, in his various capacities – as Assistant Attorney-General of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, as Chief Negotiator for the Caribbean on international economic and trade issues with Europe and the Americas, as Chairman of the West Indian Commission and as Convener of the Chancellor’s Commission on Governance.
The other item on the agenda was a report by another Joint Committee of Council and Senate, charged with the responsibility of identifying a suitable successor to Professor the Honourable Rex Nettleford, as Vice Chancellor. The Chairman of that Committee, Dr. Marshall Hall, reported that while the Committee was deeply impressed with the calibre of candidates, and in particular with the five persons short-listed, that more time was needed to reach a decision. He therefore asked Council to allow additional time – until the end of November, 2003 – to complete its deliberations. Professor Nettleford’s current term of office expires July 31, 2004.