Prime Minister Bruce Golding yesterday called on the University of the West Indies (UWI) to focus on contributing more to the societies it serves even as the institution looks back on its achievements in the past 60 years.

"Even now, the university is faced with some very, very serious challenges that have to be dealt with. The university has to constantly question its relevance in this new global environment and the global reality that we face. The university has to continue to challenge itself to respond to the development needs of the country and the region," he told an audience of government officials, university officials, the diplomatic corps and students.

Golding, who is also a UWI alumnus, said the institution would have to be more intellectually proactive in providing solutions to pressing issues in order for the region to take its place in the world.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the thanksgiving service and official launch of the 60th anniversary celebrations at the UWI's Mona campus. He lauded the UWI for its contribution to regional integration and development.

Symbolic tree planting

The celebrations were augmented yesterday by the presence of four of the 33 members of the 1948 medical class.

The church service and Founders' Park programme had many references to UWI's achievements. The day's celebrations climaxed with a tree-planting ceremony at the site of the first classroom on the campus - which was located at Founders' Park.

In his sermon, the Rev. Dr. Ralph Hoyte, minister at the St. Andrew Scots Kirk United Church, encouraged those present to be a light in a world where there is persistent darkness.

"We are people of the light. We enjoy the light individually and collectively and we join in the protest against the darkness we will not deceive ourselves that there is no darkness, let us celebrate the fact that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has never overpowered the light," he said.