Sir George Alleyne FORMER DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Sir George Alleyne, is the new Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI).
He was unanimously endorsed last week by the Joint Committee and Senate of the University to replace Sir Shridath Ramphal.
Sir George, who will assume his new position today, will preside at this year's graduation ceremonies but his formal installation will take place at a later date.
A Barbadian national, who has served as Director-General of PAHO for two terms, Sir George is head of a special commission to combat HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region.
A LONG ASSOCIATION
WITH THE UWI
The new UWI Chancellor has had a long association with the university, being one of its earliest medical graduates and later served for several years as a member of its staff. He also did a nine-year stint as Professor of Medicine and Director of the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit.
In his outgoing address, Sir Shridath hailed the university as "the best thing we have done together as West Indians in a consistent way and at a level of excellence." He expressed confidence in the capacity of the UWI to fulfil its purpose, under the leadership of his successor, Sir George Alleyne.
Sir Shridath, who has been hailed as a giant in Caribbean integration, has served as Assistant Attorney-General of the West Indies Federal Government, as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Attorney-General of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
He also served as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, and as Chief Negotiator for the Caribbean on international, economic and trade issues with Europe and the Americas. He was also chairman of the West Indian Commission and as Convenor of the Chancellor's Commission on Governance.
In the meantime, the UWI is searching for a suitable replacement for Professor Rex Nettle-ford, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the UWI whose term of office ends next year July. While no decision has been made as to who will replace Professor Nettleford, reports are that the current principal Professor Kenneth Hall is the front runner.
