Education Minister Daryll Matthew has expressed disappointment with St. John’s Rural West representative Richard Lewis who he claimed has failed to support the proposed development of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus.

The university is set to receive an $80 million expansion funded by the Saudi government, which will provide many benefits to the surrounding communities.

However, Matthew claims that Lewis has been hesitant to embrace the project due to its location and has not encouraged his constituents to explore ways to share in the benefits that will derive from it.

On Saturday, Matthew explained that Lewis has an obligation to get all those living in the Grays-Greene area to position themselves to participate in this massive US$80 million build-out.

Rather than playing politics and opposing the project, Lewis should encourage the people to ask how they can participate.

“I have said to him [Richard Lewis] you have an obligation, my friend, to get all those persons living in the Grays-Greene area to position themselves to be a part of this massive US$80 million build-out,” Matthew said on the Browne and Browne show on Pointe FM

Matthew told listeners that he then called on Lewis not to hold fast to his position and noted that he and the UPP took the same stance when they did not initially support the project.

The education minister also highlighted that former Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, who initially opposed the project, had a change of heart and fully endorsed the university at its current location.

Matthew emphasized that the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus expansion will provide numerous benefits to the surrounding communities.

He noted that people from the area can benefit in ways that will be life-changing, such as job opportunities, educational opportunities, and improved infrastructure.

The education minister also pointed out that the constituency Lewis represents will be the largest beneficiary.

Therefore, he encouraged Lewis to partner with the community and explore ways to benefit from the university town that it will become.

“Blatant lies”…Lewis said he is dissappointed that Matthew would fabricate such stories.

He said Matthew is simply fearful that he will become the leader of the UPP.