2,229 Guyanese have graduated from the University of the West Indies (UWI), according to President Irfaan Ali, who on Thursday evening received the Legacy Award Class of 2024 for “leadership and vision” in New York.
The Head of State who received the award during the American Foundation for UWI’s 27th Annual Awards Gala said that currently 659 students are enrolled in programmes through the tertiary institution.
Ali said that the number of Guyanese who graduated from UWI is a testament to the integral partnership that his government has with the administration of the university in pursuit of academic excellence.
The Head of State during his delivery remarked “The prosperity of Guyana must be the prosperity of our region”.
Ali also delved into the subject of being philanthropic and showing consideration for those who are suffering.
While the Guyanese Head of State thanked citizens who have raised over US$374,000 to donate to the people of Palestine during a charity event held at the Ramadan Village at the Muslim Youth Organization (MYO), he however expressed concerns at the amount of support that is given to sister CARICOM territory Haiti.
As the Caribbean country is continuously faced with gang violence and political unrest which has placed the citizens of the capital Port-au-Prince in a state of trepidation, President Ali is adamant that the region and the international diaspora must also show more support for the territory.
“I am proud of the Guyanese who raised over (US) $300, 000 for the people of Palestine. I must say that this is (commendable), but let us not forget our brothers and sisters. The people of Haiti have suffered too long and too little has been done to address their plights, Where is the urgency for the people of Haiti?”, the President quizzed.
“In our region, we have always had the moral standings and we must never be allowed circumstances to change our objectives”, he said.
The Head of State also lauded Vice Chancellor of UWI Sir Hilary Beckles for his pivotal role in the lobby for reparatory justice.
Ali who is in full support of this movement reiterated that an apology is not enough for the mental trauma and barbarity that Africans endured during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
“I must commend Professor Hilary Beckles for being the driver and leader in reparative justice, however, we must move from apologies to full justice that is what we want”.
“We cannot rely on external consultants, we have to do this ourselves that is what I said to Professor Beckles”.
According to the Head of State for full reparations to be achieved countries in the Caribbean cannot be solely dependent on external consultants, but they must have the resources to champion this cause and achieve it.
He also restated plans for collaborating with UWI to soon embark on the establishment of a medical school under the banner of the tertiary institution.
“The University of the West Indies has been doing tremendous work, and I believe we must value what we have in the region, and that is why we are working towards the establishment of the University of The West Indies Medical School”, Ali noted.
The Head of State was lauded for his “commitment to nation building” and as a “champion” for regional cooperation by Guyanese-born American actress CCH Pounder.
In his acceptance speech, the President said he is indebted to the people of Guyana, “whose resilience and generosity of spirit have inspired me to dedicate myself to a career in public service”.
Ali remarked “We cannot build a society where our culture is uprooted.
Our culture is an integral part of the societies that we are building and that must be important”.
