U.B. Taps Guyanese-Trinidadian Engineer for President

Clement Sankat

The University of Belize has a new president. He is professor Clement Sankat, former Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago. Professor Sankat was born in Guyana and is trained as a chartered professional engineer.  He succeeds Alan Slusher who held the post since June of 2014 and was announced by chair of the Board of Trustees, Harrison Pilgrim, during the University’s graduation ceremonies on February eleventh.  Professor Sankat has experience teaching Engineering Graphics, Design and the Management of Innovation.  His research expertise is in engineering applications for Food and Agriculture: post-harvest technology and the utilization, processing and preservation of tropical agricultural commodities especially through refrigeration, drying and dehydration. The statement quotes the new president as calling for an extension of educational services at the national university.  He says, “the role of the University must be, as a first priority, to provide much larger numbers of Belizean students from across the country an opportunity for a quality tertiary education, thereby nurturing future leaders for various professions as well as developing thinkers and providing a launch pad for creative and talented entrepreneurs.” He believes that this cadre of youthful nation builders will propel the country’s social and economic prosperity and ensure its sustainable development.