Hosein: No decision yet on faculties for Debe campus

2026-03-20 - 05:13

Lead Editor – Newsgathering kejan.haynes@guardian.co.tt The government is taking steps to bring the University of the West Indies (UWI) Debe campus up to operational readiness ahead of the new academic year, but no decisions have been made regarding which faculties will occupy the site. Since its construction during the first Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration, the campus has been expected to host the Faculty of Law as its flagship programme, alongside faculties in Medicine, Agriculture and Science and Technology. In May last year, the Prime Minister warned the university not to “test her,” insisting that the Faculty of Law be prioritised. At yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein said the focus remains on restoring the campus, which he described as having fallen into disrepair. “We are getting the facility up to a state of readiness. The building has fallen into a state of disrepair,” he said, adding that several structures require significant rehabilitation. He also pushed back against reports that the university would undertake its own repair works, including plumbing upgrades. “Therefore, we want to make it abundantly clear that it is only the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, through the PSAEL, that will be conducting all ... of the repairs and rehabilitation of the campus so that we can have an intake of students for the upcoming academic year,” Hosein said. He added that Cabinet has not taken any decision on which programmes or faculties will be placed at the campus. “Once the repairs are ready, we estimate that it will be finished very soon,” he said, adding that the government remains in control of the rehabilitation process. Hosein also dismissed reports that UWI would carry out independent works on the campus, including $4 million in plumbing repairs, describing them as misleading. The comments follow a Guardian Media report suggesting that four faculties, including Law and an expanded Medicine programme, would immediately move into the campus once repairs are completed. Government officials expressed surprise at the coverage, which they said implied decisions had already been taken. Hosein said the Government’s focus remains on students. “Our interest is the best interest of the students. That campus was meant to serve as a rural part of Trinidad and Tobago, to give access to those in the south. That is still our intention. We won’t let personalities affect our policies,” he said. The Debe campus, a multi-million-dollar project spanning approximately 100 acres, was left largely unused after the People’s Partnership administration left office in 2015, amid structural concerns and maintenance issues. UWI has invested over $150 million of its own funds over the years to advance construction and carry out repairs, while government contractors are expected to complete essential works in time for the planned August opening.