Business View Caribbean | February 2021

5 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN FEBRUARY 2021 T he Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon. Gaston Browne, the Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles and the Chair of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Professor Sir Ed Byrne have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise their collaboration in support of a Centre for Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy at The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus. The Centre will aim to advance intellectual progress and strengthen institutional capacity in the areas of marine science and the blue economy while benefitting from the societal, economic and environmental opportunities for the Caribbean within this emerging sector. Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the Caribbean region, stand to benefit from an emerging industry worth USD$2.5 trillion globally through the sustainable diversification of the economy into areas such as aquaculture, marine renewable energy, biotechnology and sea vegetable farming. As a ‘large ocean state’, Antigua and Barbuda has been active in key blue economy initiatives, including co-championing the Commonwealth Blue Charter’s Sustainable Blue Economy Action Group , which encourages better stewardship of ‘blue resources’. The Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda said: “The UWI Five Islands Campus is an investment in the youth of Antigua and Barbuda and the Eastern Caribbean. My Government’s support for this Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy is predicated on our vision to provide easier access to quality training and new knowledge at a tertiary level for our people. Its realisation will require our collective ingenuity and commitment to identify and secure the necessary resources to advance this important ambition. I therefore invite all present today to partner with us in a tangible and efficacious manner to establish this Centre in short order”. This vision builds on The University of the West MOU SIGNED ESTABLISHING CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE FOR OCEA BLUE ECONOMY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES FIVE ISL Indies’ wider reputation as a leading institution leading climate action . The UWI’s advocacy on the SDGs and the 2030 development agenda have received global acknowledgement. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies said: “We are an activist university, tackling all of the big challenges facing our region, and committed to serving the development needs of our people. Expectedly therefore, The UWI has been at the forefront of teaching, research and advocacy on sustainable development and climate action in the Caribbean for many decades. Our years of significant contributions have earned us recognition as the global leader in the mobilisation of research and advocacy for a climate smart world. It is a designation we have proudly accepted with a deep sense of commitment. In furtherance of that commitment, we embrace this opportunity to mobilise our expertise as we work alongside our governments and partners in this OPENING L INES Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon. Gaston Browne