Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders has been officially installed as the 11th Chancellor of the University of Guyana on Friday, February 13, assuming leadership of the institution at what he described on “the hinge of history” for the Caribbean nation.

The ceremony was attended by Guyanese President Mohamed Irfan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Education Minister Sonia Parag, and representatives from regional universities.

In his inaugural address, Sanders outlined a vision centred on transforming the university into a driver of national capability rather than an observer of development.

He said that knowledge remains the only sustainable national advantage in an era where capital is mobile and natural resources finite.

“I accept the office of Chancellor of the University of Guyana with humility, but with a clear sense of duty,” Sir Ronald told the gathering. “Universities exist to prepare a society for the world it is entering.”

Sir Ronald thanked Antigua and Barbuda for supporting his Caribbean diplomatic service over five decades, concluding his address with a commitment to ensuring the university translates research into practical value through partnerships and innovation.

He emphasized the need for balance between technical training and humanities education, arguing that economic transformation requires intellectual preparation across disciplines.

Dr Wayne Wesley, CEO of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), described Sir Ronald’s appointment as “a masterstroke, not only for the University of Guyana, but for Guyana and the Caribbean.”

He referenced Sir Ronald’s scholarship on small island developing states and climate change as evidence of intellectual force that will benefit the institution.