Wehner condemns UWI law classes at ABLP headquarters

By Azara Lavia
azara.lavia@antiguaobserver.com
United Progressive Party Senator Jonathan Wehner is condemning the decision to hold classes for the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus Bachelor of Laws programme at the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party headquarters, describing the arrangement as inappropriate and raising questions about why alternative venues were not used.
His criticism comes after UWI Five Islands welcomed the first cohort of students into its new LLB programme earlier this week.
The university announced on Tuesday that students from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis had officially begun classes, describing the launch of the programme as a historic milestone for the campus.
Wehner, however, strongly objected to students receiving instruction at a building associated with the governing political party.
“It is absolutely ridiculous that the law courses for the UWI Five Islands Campus for the LLB programme are being held at Labour Party headquarters, the ABLP headquarters.”
The opposition senator argued that a student’s university education should not be associated with any political party, regardless of which party is in government.
“You’re trying to tell me that it is okay with associating in any way, shape or form someone’s education that they’re pursuing with a political party. Why are we going to a political party’s headquarters so that people can have their education? That’s not right.”
Wehner said several government-owned facilities could have been used to accommodate the classes while the Five Islands Campus works to expand its available facilities.
He pointed to the Multi-Purpose Cultural Centre, the John E. St Luce Finance and Conference Centre and conference rooms at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium as possible alternatives.
“All three of those venues are government owned. The government could have easily facilitated the hosting of law courses at those different venues. Why go to Labour Party headquarters?”
Wehner also questioned whether UWI Five Islands is paying for use of the facility and whether the ABLP stands to benefit financially from the arrangement.
“The question must be asked, is the ABLP collecting rent from UWI Five Islands for the use of their headquarters building? If they are, that is clear corruption.”
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No evidence was presented by Wehner to establish that the ABLP is receiving rental payments from UWI Five Islands, and his comments on corruption remain an allegation.
The UPP senator said his broader concern is what he views as the potential politicisation of education and the message sent by having students attend university classes at the headquarters of a political organisation.
“Are these the things we’re going to accept? The politicisation of the educational system here in Antigua and Barbuda where people must go to a Labour Party headquarters to receive an education from an institution that has nothing to do with the Labour Party? UWI is not political in any way, shape or form.”
Wehner maintained that government-owned conference facilities were created to accommodate circumstances where institutions require additional space and said there was no justification for bypassing those venues.
UWI Five Islands, meanwhile, said the start of its LLB programme marks the beginning of a new chapter for the campus, with the inaugural cohort expected to graduate as the Class of 2029.