UWI leaves Kambon ‘baffled’

As talks continue on the issue of renaming Milner Hall at UWI’s St Augustine campus, director of the Cross Rhodes Freedom Project (CRFP) Shabaka Kambon has described as “baffling”, calls by the university, for him to cease from posting videos, photographs and comments on social media in relation to the matter.

Kambon told Newsday that the post in question is actually a transcript of what of transpired during one of the consultations held on the issue of Milner Hall. “The CRFP is not involved in cyber bullying of any kind. This is an outrageous claim by UWI. This post which UWI is referring is still available on our Facebook page ‘Rhodes Must Fall Caribbean’. We want the public to be the judge and look at the post dated October 26, 2017,” Kambon said.

Kambon said he was disappointed with the university’s remarks. “What we do at ‘Rhodes Must Fall Caribbean’ is we use social media to present the views of those in support of and those against the efforts we are making to stop the society from venerating what we consider to be unjust historical figures,” Kambon said.

He said the group was very disappointed that UWI, which is supposed to be committed to democratic values and freedom of expression would be trying to stop CRFP from speaking at campus events. “The proceedings were taped and we want to invite Dr (campus Principal Brian) Copeland to share those tapes with the public to see for themselves,”Kambon said.

In an unsigned media statement, The UWI stated it had asked Kambon to remove certain social media posts on the page ‘CRFP’. “Professor Copeland asked Mr Kambon whether he had removed his social media posts attacking a student (who had contributed at the first consultation defaming and misrepresenting him as a defender of slavery, colonialism and imperialism to the point of cyber-bullying), after receipt of a formal Cease and Desist legal demand from the University,” the statement said.

The release said the letter demanded that Kambon and his colleagues, “immediately cease and desist unlawful posting of videos, photographs and comments on your Facebook page in relation to the renaming of The UWl’s Milner Hall of Residence and desist from any other infringement of our rights in the future.”

Over the past days, UWI has hosted internal consultations over the renaming of the Milner Hall. The consultations according to UWI have continued following a decision by the University’s Finance and General Purposes Committee (F&GPC) that the name should in fact be changed, have included students, particularly residents of Milner Hall; alumni and members of staff.

Kambon attended the consultations at the Campus which were debates on the issue. “While students expressed strong and diverse views on the matter, as is fully encouraged in our academic environment, Mr. Kambon’s tone at the first consultation was belligerent and disruptive. Following the meeting, social media content of a disparaging nature was posted about a student representative of The UWI,” the release said.