Ah cud sleep by you?...
By Claudia Liburd
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| Darlene Annius and Mellisa Stacey Giddings, active members of the UWI Guild of Students. |
(St. Augustine, Trinidad) --- “We need a home, will you share yours?” and “Wanted! One room”, were some of the words to be found on placards yesterday at the University in Trinidad, St. Augustine Campus.
Members of the University of the West Indies Student Guild came together to protest on behalf of international students who were denied accommodation on dormitory halls.
The protest which included a number of international students as well as local students who were sympathetic to the cause began their demonstration around 7 a.m. and they marched along the southern gate of the university where the heaviest traffic occurs as well as in front of the all-girl Trinity Hall.
In a brief interview with SKNVibes.com, Deputy Hall Chairperson of Trinity Hall, Ms. Mellisa Stacey Giddings explained that the protest was especially in aid of international female students who were displaced by the system.
“The Guild of Students as well as other associations such as the Barbadian Association, the St. Lucian Association, the Jamaican Association, the St. Vincentian Association, the St. Kitts, Nevis Association as well as the presidents of all the halls affected including Trinity Hall, Canada Hall and Milner Hall,” she said.
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| UWI Guild of Students Protest Alleged Unfair Treatment of Non-nationals. |
“We presented our demonstration especially in front of Trinity Hall, the all female hall. Trinity has a special case as it is women who are being made homeless. The other young men on campus did come out to show their support of the women as they too have had their share of this and they can understand their plight,” said Giddings.
Also echoing these sentiments was Darlene Annius who also is an active member of the Guild of Students.
“Primarily our strike is about regional students being put off hall and we are being replaced by a large number of Trinidadian students on hall. There is a stipulation of the number of local students allowed on hall and preference is normally supposed to go to first year international students…”
“Presently, at least forty international students are not being accommodated on hall. I personally believe that it is a deliberate attack on international students. While we cannot say that Trinidadians are given preferential treatment, unlike them we do not have the opportunity to go home and sleep, without having to book a plane to get out of Trinidad for a cost in excess of EC$1000 and that is unfair,” said Annius. The demonstration ended around 10:30 a.m. after university officials gave an assurance that the matter would be resolved by the end of the day. However, if this is not the case students of the University of the West Indies indicated that they have made a commitment and will continue to demonstrate until further action is taken to resolve the matter.
While the issue of gender has been central to several recent debates, the students opined that they have committed themselves to fight with meaning for gender equality, fair treatment, autonomy and empowerment on all fronts.
