Dr Terrence Drew, CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis (photo by Terrence Drew)
CARICOM Heads of government have endorsed a plan to replace the University of the West Indies’ Royal Charter with a treaty signed and ratified by member states, completing a process that would remove the institution’s founding legal authority from the British Crown and anchor it within a Caribbean sovereign framework for the first time.
The decision was reached at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, held in St Kitts and Nevis where Chair and Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrence Drew, announced the decision.
“I think moving a step closer to indigenise that institution, that is a significant achievement for the region,” Drew said at the closing press conference of the meeting.
The University of the West Indies was established under a Royal Charter, a legal instrument granted by the British Crown, a colonial-era mechanism that has underpinned the university’s governance since its founding.
The proposed treaty would replace that framework entirely, placing the institution’s legal foundation within CARICOM’s treaty architecture instead.
Vice-Chancellor of the UWI, Sir Hilary Beckles has been championing this move, which has been part of a long running process by the region to structurally reform, as the Royal Charter remained the legal instrument through which the university derives its authority to confer degrees.
In 2025, Sir Hilary suggested that if the Royal Charter was to ever be revoked, the university could cease to exist.
This week’s endorsement by heads of government moves the proposal from a stated priority to a formally agreed mechanism with the proposed treaty designed to preserve the autonomy, governance structures, and academic freedom that have characterised the institution under the Royal Charter.
Finally! It’s about time we anchor our institutions in our own sovereignty. UWI belongs to the Caribbean, not the British Crown. Big step forward 👏🏽
Historic moment happening right here in St Kitts and Nevis 🇰🇳. Caribbean unity in action.
Symbolism nice, but will this improve funding? Student support? Tuition fees? That’s what matters to most families
We have to admit that just even the invention of UWI was a great and big deal for our young people. Clapping hands for the governments who had a hand to play in its development
Given the said implications this is good. It’s a wonder that UWI is ranked among top universities worldwide. But from a students perspective the institution is remains archaic in so many areas. I was a student eons ego and my son is currently studying for his undergraduate degree; and the complaints sadly are still the same. Heads of government, there’s still so much that needs to be done to enhance the experience at UWI
Given the said implications this is good. It’s a wonder that UWI is ranked among top universities worldwide. But from a students perspective the institution is remains archaic in so many areas. I was a student eons ego and my son is currently studying for his undergraduate degree; and the complaints sadly are still the same. Heads of government, there’s still so much that needs to be done to enhance the experience at UWI
Given the said implications this is good. It’s a wonder that UWI is ranked among top universities worldwide. But from a students perspective the institution is remains archaic in so many areas. I was a student eons ego and my son is currently studying for his undergraduate degree; and the complaints sadly are still the same. Heads of government, there’s still so much that needs to be done to enhance the experience at UWI.
Congratulations to our CARICOM on this bold and courageous move.