(second from right) Minister of Education, Ronald Jones engaging in conversation with (right) Dr. Sam Suhail, Dean of Clinical Sciences at the AUB and (third from right) Dr. Syed Kazmi, Associate Dean of Academic and Students Chair with AUB.
One medical school on the island has received high praise from this island’s Minister of Education.
Speaking yesterday morning at the White Coat Ceremony for some 35 students, at the American University of Barbados (AUB) School of Medicine, Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones lauded the management and faculty of the school for the work they have been doing since starting operations here a few years ago. His comments came as he also made mentioned of the rapid development of AUB during that time, in particular its move to its permanent home in Wildey, St. Michael.
He noted that AUB is the first of its kind in Barbados, as he explained that Cabinet had some misgivings about opening, or allowing offshore medical schools to come to Barbados. But the Education Minister said he is not regretting the decision to allow AUB in.
“…Let me say this is not an offshore medical school, this is a medical school of Barbados… It was indeed my pleasure to see the humble beginnings, just a bit down the road, then the step up to Landsdowne… to be located here now at Wildey,” he said.
Minister Jones added, “I remember when I took this paper to Cabinet, it had in it one line which said that Bajans will not attend, and the Prime Minister who is the current Prime Minister now said no, that must be removed; because there was the notion of protectionism for the University of the West Indies. But he said no, no, no, if others can come here and enjoy it, Bajans must also come here and enjoy it. And that has been out of any Cabinet paper for any of the medical schools that I take before the Cabinet of Barbados.”
With that in mind, he disclosed that Barbadians are taking advantage of the options available for studying medicine, as he revealed that there are some students currently enrolled in their final year of CAPE at secondary school, who have applied for entry to AUB.
His comments came as he told those gathered that he has no doubt that the AUB “stands perched” to be a great medical university, and urged those in charge not to stop the progress they have been making. The Education Minister made the point while indicating that he is proud of the advancement they have achieved thus far, even in the face “stumbles” and misgivings. He said the stumbles allowed their reality to become even more defined, and their purpose to become even more certain. (JRT)桨