Former PAHO director is new UWI chancellor

New UWI Chancellor Sir George Alleyne

Thursday, October 2, 2003

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Sir George Alleyne, the former director-general of the Pan American Health Organisation, is the new Chancellor of the University of the West Indies. 

The Barbadian-born Sir George replaces Guyanese-born Sir Shridath Ramphal. He assumed the new position yesterday and will preside at this year's graduation ceremonies. But his formal installation will take place at a later date, according to the Jamaica Gleaner.

Sir George was unanimously endorsed last week by the Joint Committee and Senate of the University. He is also head of a special commission to combat HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region. The new chancellor earned one of his earliest medical degrees there 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. 

Sir Shridath expressed confidence in the capacity of the UWI to fulfil its purpose, under the leadership of his successor, Sir George. In the meantime, the UWI is searching for a suitable replacement for Professor Rex Nettleford, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the UWI whose term of office ends next 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.

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