The UWI fete, brainchild of Professor Max Richards, then principal of the St Augustine Campus and former President of the Republic of T&T, started in 1990.
It was the first public “all inclusive” Carnival fete and the contribution for admission was $100.
The fete is the major annual fund-raiser of the UWI Development and Endowment Fund. Fast forward to 2015 and the UWI Fete celebrates its 25th anniversary in grand style with the theme Welcome Home!
Chairman of the The UWI Development and Endowment Fund, Ron Harford, said that “the UWI fete is a perfect opportunity for people to have fun while doing good.”
Harford said, “over the past 25 years this Development and Endowment Fund has allowed us to grant bursaries to more than 3,000 students on the basis of need and in recognition of excellent scholastic achievements. We are happy to be in a position to have built up the Fund and be able to support students in perpetuity.”
At the signing of contracts between fete principals last week, Chairman of the UWI Fete Dennis Ramdeen said: “We’ve been all over the world so now it’s time to come back home, so UWI Fete has chosen the Welcome Home! theme to celebrate our 25th anniversary.”
This year’s fete is scheduled for Sunday, January 18 and will feature Machel Montano and his full band; 3Veni with KI; Roy Cape All Stars, featuring Blaxx; Dil-e-Nadan, featuring Raymond Ramnarine; Rhapsody NG and St James Tripolians.
Early bird tickets are available until December 19 at the UWI Student Advisory Services, St Augustine Campus, and at Pepper Advertising, 37 Picton Street, New Town.
About UWI Development and Endowment Fund:
The Fund was launched in April 1989 with its primary objective being the establishment of a Development and Endowment Fund which will enable the University to provide:
• Scholarships at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels to promote academic excellence, to alleviate the hardship of deserving students and to facilitate student interchange between the Campuses of the University.
• Funding of research in selected areas.
• Endowment of Chairs and Lectureship in key disciplines.
• Funding of capital projects.
The fund is managed by a committee comprising Chairman Harford and members representing Business, the UWI Alumni and the University.
Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, is Patron of the Fund.
