Dame Jennifer Tours UWI’s Jamaica Campus
Bermuda’s Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith is introduced to University of West Indies [UWI] Professor Gordon Shirley by vice-chancellor Professor E. Nigel Harris [centre] yesterday [Apr. 26].
Dame Jennifer led a contingent from Bermuda which toured the Mona campus this week as the UWI and Bermudian educational institutions move to strengthen their collaborative relationships.
During the recent Budget Debate, Dame Jennifer told the House of Assembly: “You will be aware of the relationship established with the University of the West Indies.
“That relationship is to commence in the September, 2011 school year and we will soon be announcing the criteria for the UWI scholarship. This scholarship will be funded using existing scholarship funds and will be available to students who have completed the Bermuda College programme or who are pursuing a degree not available at the Bermuda College.”
UWI is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean. The aim of the university is to help “unlock the potential for economic and cultural growth” in the West Indies, thus allowing for improved regional autonomy. The University was originally instituted as an independent external college of the University of London.
The university consists of three campuses at Mona, Jamaica, Saint Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago and in Barbados. There are satellite campuses in Mount Hope, Trinidad and Tobago (Faculty of Medical Sciences) and Montego Bay, Jamaica, and a Centre for Hotel and Tourism Management in the Bahamas.
Sounds like a wonderful boondoggle Dame Jennifer. Hope you and the contingent of civil servants enjoyed your trip to Jamaica (that’s quite a long way to go to shake hands and tour facilities) while Bermudians struggle at home to put food on the table, let alone consider taking a Caribbean vacation.
Could this not have been done over the phone??
Is anyone paying attention? She was kind enough to offer an irrestible deal to Government regarding her then personal car.
She is now reaping her reward. “There is no such thing as a free lunch”. (Anon)
typo—-irresistible
Was David Burch a part of her contingent ?
They have never revealed how much the relationship with UWI is costing Bermuda. It should be made public (as for other countries who participate).
Hopefully its a step in the right direction for Educating Bermudians….we sure need it!
lol
Hmmm yes…the word contingent did suprise me. What’s that 4,5, maybe 6 folks escorting the Dame? Webinars and video conferencing PLEASE!! Reveal to da taxpayers why all deez Ministry folk dem in yad!
So at present we have the Premier, Deputy Premier and Education Minister all off island. We are in a crisis and they still chose to take these trips on the tax payers money. We are headed for a long summer of discord and protest. Listen to you people…
PLP Government should be charged with Domestic Abuse….think about it….they all go overseas looking like saints, but at home they dish out one hell of a beating.
There aint nothing like a dame!
Just how much money have we given to UWI? After all, if Dr. Brown can buy a luminary designation I’m sure that the entire population of Bermuda is equally deserving – it was our money (not his) that bought the label.
So how many Bermudians are at that University?
A real waste of money if you ask me.
Do the research…its not benefiting the UWI….its a benefit to Bermudian students….as an associate member of CARICOM…(so that they can get QUALITY education)…..if you weren’t….students wouldn’t’ have gotten scholarships!
You guys shouldn’t be like that, we all like a good free business trip. If it’s so important have opposition ask questions in Parliament how much the travel budget has been since Oct 2010, with details on each trip. Then judge based on the returns we have reaped from the following:
- Patrice Minors recent trip to NYSE with Pam Burrows and all her other travel
- Jennifer Smith Jamaica trip above
- all other Entourage travel of other Ministers
Aren’t opposition supposed to actively be doing this kind of probing?
Why they are just labeled as haters if they do. And aren’t those plantation questions PLP should shut down parliament if asked such questions again! Where have I heard that before………………………….
LOL
Is the opposition useless or are they painted that way by perception of PLP supporters just asking.
Bermudians love to drink and take trips off di rock, nuffin wrong with that there Bie!