A ‘horrific’ campus. A Prime Ministerial visit. A missing Principal. And growing questions about leadership at UWI.
By Corneilus George
In public life, timing is everything. And right now, one question is echoing across Trinidad and Tobago to the UWI St Augustine Campus Principal: Rosemarie, where yuh gone?
Something is not adding up at the UWI St Augustine Campus. The deeper you look, the more it begins to feel like a situation where key pieces are missing – where public accountability, institutional leadership, and political reality are no longer moving in sync.
And that is what makes the contrast so striking. Because in 2025, the UWI Campus Principal, Professor Rosemarie Belle Antoine – appointed in 2022 – was everywhere: highly visible, vocal, leading tours, defending decisions, projecting confidence in the institution she leads.
Let us start with what we know.
Shortly after the 2025 general election, Minister Roodal Moonilal, Member of Parliament for Oropouche East – with a constituency office just a short distance from the UWI Debe Campus – visited the site on behalf of the Prime Minister. When the Debe Campus came under scrutiny, the Campus Principal Antoine was present.
But that visit did not go well. After touring the facility, Minister Roodal Moonilal described the experience as “horrific.” That is not a casual word. It signals serious concern – not just about the physical state of the Campus, but about oversight, management, and leadership.
And then the stakes escalated. It’s 2026, same Campus and even greater attention. This time the Honourable Prime Minister herself visits, accompanied by a high-powered Government team. Cameras are rolling. The country is watching. But where is the UWI Principal? Absent. Not leading the visit. Not accompanying the delegation. Not offering any explanation. Simply not there.
And in public life, absence at a critical moment is never neutral – it raises questions. Because leadership is not only about being present when things are going well. It is about standing firm when scrutiny is at its highest.
Then comes the announcement. A short notice that said ‘the Principal will be on leave for one month from April 27’. On its own, that may seem routine. But it raises eyebrows.
Typically, such announcements include context – official travel, conferences, or other duties. This one does not. It is brief. Minimal. Almost unusually so. And when information is limited, speculation grows.
So, questions were asked. And what we are hearing is that this is not a routine leave. Something more serious may be unfolding behind the scenes – serious enough to attract attention at the highest levels of the University’s governance. When matters reach that level, they are no longer internal. They become matters of public interest.
Now let us look at what else is being said.
There are growing indications that the relationship between the Campus Principal and the Campus Registrar, Dr. Dawn-Marie De Four Gill, has deteriorated significantly. What may once have been a working relationship is now described, by those close to the situation, as deeply strained – perhaps even broken.
That matters. Because these are two of the most critical leadership roles on the campus. When they are not aligned, the entire institution feels the impact. Processes slow down. Communication weakens. Confidence declines.
But the concerns do not stop there.
We are also hearing about growing dissatisfaction among staff – across different levels of the organisation. A perception that decisions are being made without adequate consultation. A feeling among some that their voices are not being heard. And over time, this can lead to frustration and disengagement.
Now, it is important to be clear – these are reports and concerns being raised, not conclusions. But when similar accounts come from multiple sources, they cannot simply be ignored. They point to deeper issues that deserve attention.
There is also talk of a recent incident that has raised further concern.
We are told that Principal Antoine, in what may have been a moment of candour, shared her frustrations with a member of her executive team. In doing so, she is said to have expressed strong views – not only about internal matters, but also about her own superior.
Investigation
If that is accurate, what followed is even more significant.
Those comments are said to have made their way back to the Vice Chancellor, Sir Hillary Beckles at the UWI Campus in Mona, Jamaica.
And if that is the case, it points to a breakdown of trust at a very high level within the institution.
In any organisation, but especially one as complex as UWI, trust at the leadership level is critical. When that trust is compromised, intervention often follows.
And there are indications that intervention has indeed taken place.
We are also hearing that the matter has escalated to the point where The Honourable Mr. Justice Adrian Saunders, former President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, has been engaged to conduct an “investigation” into the Campus Principal.
That is not routine. You do not engage the services of someone of that stature for minor administrative issues. You bring in that level of legal expertise when the stakes are high – when reputational risks are real, when a leader’s future is on the line, and when independent scrutiny is essential
So, it is reasonable to ask: What is happening at UWI, St Augustine that requires that level of attention?
Now step back and look at the full picture. A Campus described as “horrific.” A Prime Ministerial visit – and no Principal. A sudden leave notice. Reports of internal fractures at the highest levels. Growing unease among staff. And whispers of breakdown at the top. This is no longer about optics. This is about leadership.
Because leadership is not only about authority – it is about alignment. Alignment with Government. Alignment with the Vice Chancellor. Alignment within your leadership team. Alignment with staff.
When those alignments begin to break down, the institution itself begins to feel the strain. And UWI is not just any institution. It is a national asset. A regional leader. A publicly funded university that carries the trust and expectations of the people. That trust must be protected.
There is also talk on the ground that the Line Minister for UWI, Professor Emeritus Prakash Persad, Minister of Tertiary Education and Principal Belle-Antoine are not on speaking terms. On March 19, the normally very quiet Minister publicly rebuked Belle-Antoine, telling her that “she’s out of place” to inform students when the Debe Campus will be opened.
Because UWI is not just another institution – it is a national pillar. And pillars must not wobble.
And like a familiar Trini refrain, one question echoing across the country – Rosemarie, Rosemarie… where yuh gone? Because this is about accountability and until there are answers, the questions will only get louder.
