Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was recently inducted into a park in honor of University of the West Indies (UWI) graduates who are or have been heads of government at the UWI, Mona Campus, Jamaica.
A special plaque was unveiled to commemorate Persad-Bissessar in the park.
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar is the first female prime minister and the 16th head of government to be inducted in the park.
A former student and lecturer at the Mona Campus, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said she was deeply honored to be added to the esteemed list of heads of government at the University Park.
Speaking at the induction ceremony, she expressed her gratitude for the honor and praised the role of UWI in her journey to success.
“Many of my most memorable experiences occurred right here during my time at the University of the West Indies. Indeed, this campus formed an integral part of my life’s journey and my time here and has contributed significantly to the success I have achieved,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Professor Gordon Shirley, pro vice-chancellor and principal of the UWI, Mona, delivered the opening remarks at the special ceremony and thanked Persad-Bissessar for her continued support of the university.
“We are most proud of the fact that we have produced such a large number of prime ministers and we are particularly proud of a prime minister who aside from being a member of the university alumni, was also a member of faculty and has remained an ardent supporter of the university, it’s regional mandate and its commitment to the development of the people,” Shirley said.
The Rev. Ronald Thwaites, Jamaica’s minister of education in his address, said the government of Jamaica was elated at the graciousness of Persad-Bissessar’s visit for the nations “birthday celebrations”. He said the gesture reaffirmed the covenant that exists between the Caribbean islands and the members of CARICOM.
