UWI Open Campus Meets, Countries Asked to Meet Commitments

Jane Bennett

The fourth round of the Open Campus Council Meeting of the University of the West Indies took place today at the Starfish Jolly Beach Resort in Bolans Village, Saint Mary’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The meetings are held by the council chairpersons, including Belize’s own Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Doctor Luz Longsworth, to review the performance of the open campuses across the region, as well as to discuss the financials for the year ending July 2017. Interestingly, it was revealed that two hundred and fifty million U.S. dollars is owed to the university by a number of countries. So how much does Belize owe? Head of UWI Open Campus, Belize Jane Bennett explains.

Jane Bennett, Head, UWI Open Campus, Belize

“Belize was very proud and happy to host this campus council meeting last year. It is a big deal; it is when all of the leadership of the university comes together and the main purpose is to present annual reports, financial reports and also to talk about what the campus has been able to achieve. And so every year, there is a different venue around the Caribbean and this meeting is held with the Open Campus leadership as well as other UWI officers. So they come together; financial and other reports are presented and they evaluate what has been done and what is yet to be done in terms of the finances and the operations.”

Reporter

“Two hundred and fifty million U.S. is owed by different governments. Is Belize included in that?”

Jane Bennett

“I am very proud to say that Belize is one of the few countries that…Belize is one country that keeps its commitment to the university. We may be behind for a year max, but Belize is one of the key contributors that has kept its commitment to this university. So to answer your question, yes, but very minimal. Belize is one of the countries that, as I said before, we stay on board with our commitment to this regional university.”