On Friday 22nd June, 2018, Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago toured the Chaguaramas Campus of the University of Trinidad and Tobago. The campus administers programmes in Maritime Studies and Maritime Sciences with the main objectives of training nationals for sophisticated jobs in the maritime field as well as undertaking important research in order to expand and improve the body of information on the seas surrounding Trinidad and Tobago.
During the tour, Her Excellency was briefed by various members of staff on the ongoing activities of the campus and its various programmes which train students to operate both at sea and on shore. After training at this facility students are qualified for maritime jobs anywhere in the world.
Of special interest to Her Excellency were the University’s state-of-the-art engine room as well as the bridge simulators, where she had the opportunity to experience a simulated storm at sea from the bridge of both a large and small vessel.
Students of the institution also demonstrated rigging techniques for President Weekes and exhibited the University’s collection of exotic marine organisms including eels, jellyfish, lionfish and whale bones. As part of efforts to raise money to fund the facility’s vital research, students at the University have created educational and informative colouring books featuring local marine life. Her Excellency was presented with copies of these books at the end of her tour.
President Weekes thanked the UTT staff for an enlightening experience and the students for their enthusiastic presentations. She declared herself to be greatly impressed with the modern and well-kept facility and expressed her wish that more of our citizens were aware of this obviously world-class facility in which Trinbagonians can all be justifiably proud.
Her Excellency visited the University at the invitation of Chairman of the Board of Governors Professor (Emeritus) Kenneth Julien. Programme Leader Professor Mark Tupper accompanied Her Excellency on her tour.
