Governor-General Champions Alumni Engagement and National Development at UWI Five Islands Campus

His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, delivered a stirring address at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus on Thursday, April 10, 2025, during a special ceremony to welcome the newest cohort of UWI STAT (University of the West Indies Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow) Ambassadors and to reconnect with alumni based in Antigua and Barbuda.

The event, which brought together students, faculty, alumni, and special guests, served both as an induction for the UWI STAT Ambassadors and as a recommitment to alumni engagement through the Antigua and Barbuda Chapter.

The programme featured remarks from key campus representatives, the formal pledge by the new UWI STAT Ambassadors, and the announcement of strategic alumni initiatives.

In his address, His Excellency, a proud UWI alumnus and Pelican Awardee, lauded the growing impact of the Five Islands Campus and the importance of a revitalized alumni network.

“Tonight, we press the reset button,” he stated, encouraging the chapter to host quarterly alumni gatherings focused on mentoring, knowledge-sharing, and community building.

Significantly, Sir Rodney announced the launch of the Governor General’s Alumni Roundtable, an upcoming national dialogue initiative to be hosted at the Five Islands Campus.

The Roundtable will invite students and alumni to propose solutions to pressing national challenges in areas such as education, innovation, youth development, and sustainability. A live televised event will showcase the best proposals, with the most promising solution earning recognition at an award ceremony at Government House.

“This is more than a discussion,” he emphasized. “This is a chance to turn ideas into impact.”

The evening’s programme included welcoming remarks and the launch of the UWI Alumni Outreach Campaign by Shavar Maloney, Marketing, Communication & Commercialisation Officer; acceptance remarks by Ajanté Fraser, UWI STAT Ambassador; congratulatory addresses from Sandra Griffith-Carrington, Global Campus Officer for Alumni Relations, and Joshua Bishop, Global Campus Alumni Assistant; remarks by Jevonte Spencer, Guild President 2024/2025; and acknowledgements by Kioja Burke, President of the UWI STAT Executive.

The event concluded with refreshments and camaraderie, as participants affirmed their commitment to the UWI legacy and to shaping a brighter future for Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean.