Medgar Evers College continues to be a staple in the community, with the many conferences and ceremonies they continue to host that are opened to the public. These events range from the annual Black Writers conference to many others. On Thursday May 5, 2016, The Office of International Education at MEC hosted their Inaugural International Education Awards Ceremony.
The Office of International Education (OIE) “provides Medgar Evers students with global knowledge and experiences. The office organizes and manages educationally enriching international learning opportunities through: Study abroad programs to diverse destinations and culture, joint student and faculty research programs, international internships and experiential learning.” The ceremony recognized and celebrated the work of faculty, students, alumni, and community leaders. This event was not only important to the educational department, but also to the Caribbean population that is represented in the college, being that the keynote speaker was none other than the Honorable Dr. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. As a proud Trinbagonian, I had to be present to hear him speak. Not only was it a momentous occasion, but hearing the national anthem of Trinidad and Tobago ringing through my school’s auditorium was indeed a proud moment.
Dr. Keith Rowley was elected Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on September 7, 2015. He completed his secondary education at Bishop’s High School in Tobago, and went on to receive his BSc in Geology and Geography with First Class Honors and the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica. He continued his education at the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, where he earned the MSc in Volcanic Stratigraphy. He subsequently earned his Doctorate in Geology, specializing in Geochemistry. Dr. Rowley entered politics in 1981, and throughout his tenure, his portfolio extends to Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Marine Resources, Minister of Planning and Development, Minister of Housing, Minister of Trade and Industry, and many more. In 2010, Dr. Keith Rowley was elected leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), and served as leader of the Opposition until the PNM’s victory in 2015.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the diaspora of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean diaspora as a whole. He touched on his visit to Washington D.C., where he stated “we had the pleasure of engaging in very cordial and meaningful discussions with Vice President Joe Biden. We touched on a wide range of issues: bilateral trade, hemispheric security, crime and lawlessness, climate change, the impact of the fall in oil and gas prices unfavorably affecting the economies of Trinidad and Tobago and numerous other societies worldwide and, not the least, the international response to the coldhearted atrocities being inflicted upon humanity by terrorist regimes." He emphatically stated that “these discussions will be on-going as we seek to establish common ground upon which to overcome these social, economic and political adversities," and “upon deep reflection of the current state of world affairs” he chose to address the audience on the topic of “Making the Difference." In his speech, he highlighted the accomplishments of notable individuals like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, W.E.B Dubois, Marcus Garvey, Dr. Eric Williams, and many others. He touched a little on the affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, stating, “Since assuming office a mere eight months ago, the government which I have the honor and privilege to lead has been making steady progress. We have been doing so objectively, systematically, and without the excesses of expensive fanfare. Step by step we have been putting the modalities in place to steer the nation’s ship of state towards recovery and restoration following a traumatic and painful period of five years of reckless, irresponsible and woefully unacceptable governance.”
His keynote address was both well delivered and well received. His full speech can be found here.
