{} The Principal of the Cave Hill Campus noted how USA has 55% of the 18 to 30 demographic seeking tertiary level education, while Latin America’s relevant area is 35% and rising yet the Caribbean can only muster 10% of the 18 to 30 demographic in Tertiary level education.

Sir Hilary then pointed out as corroboration to what he sees as paltry results, the fact the West Indies is the slowest part of the world to recover from the current financial doldrums which have plagued the planet for nearly five years now…

While the Principal sees the need for a revolution in education, he knows it will be an uphill battle citing how a recent survey by Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper indicated 60% of Jamaicans felt Independence was a bad idea despite 50 years of breaking away from the UK.

He found this a sad view when especially juxtaposed with the fact 80% of UWI’s Cave Hill graduates secure a job in the first 12 months after earning their diplomas. The Principal sees Services and Management () as the rescue path for not just Barbados, but the entire region. The Pro Vice Chancellor received thunderous applause for his detailed assessment.

Sir Hilary however, did not realise another sad fact, there were about seven males in the audience which was close to capacity at the Sir Henry Fraser auditorium – this is not counting nor including media covering the event nor the head table of delegates & officials – which means apart from a dearth of tertiary graduands there is also a gender imbalance in the situation for my view! {NEXT? RELATED TOPIC – Dr Justin Robinson’s address at the CTO’s 6th Annual Tourism Human Resources Conf.}