Dear Editor,
We are writing to express our profound concern and disappointment regarding the selection of a recipient for the Spirit of Excellence Award University of the West Indies, St. Augustine in the category of Operational Excellence.
This prestigous event was featured in the Daily Express on July 7, 2025. While the intent of this award is to recognize individuals who embody the university’s values of integrity, service and excellence, a recent honoree falls far short of representing these ideals.
It has come to light that the individual in question currently faces multiple proceedings, including serious allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct. While the process must run its course, the existence of such grave charges is enough to warrant careful reconsideration before bestowing public recognition upon anyone under such scrutiny especially in a university environment where the safety and dignity of all members must be paramount.
Honoring an individual with unresolved and disturbing entanglements sends a harmful message to survivors of misconduct, to the campus community, and to the many hardworking, morally grounded individuals whose contributions are overlooked.
It is not only disingenuous to celebrate such a figure, but also deeply damaging. It undermines the credibility of the award itself and compromises the integrity of the institution’s values.
There are countless individuals across our university who serve with genuine dedication, professionalism, and a strong ethical compass many of whom have never received acknowledgment for their tireless work. Choosing to elevate someone with such a shadowed background over those individuals is not only unjust but frankly, insulting.
We urge the university to review its vetting processes for awards of this nature and to take seriously the voices of those within the community who are hurt, appalled and disheartened by this decision. We can and must do better in honoring those who truly represent the spirit of excellence.
UWI, Student
