Garcia: UWI won't punish protesting students

MINISTER of Education Anthony Garcia said the University of the West Indies (UWI) students who protested for the safety of their fellow students in October will not be punished by the university, as activism is part of university life.

Yesterday, responding to a question in the Senate, Garcia said, "The University of the West Indies St Augustine campus has advised that the campus has not initiated any disciplinary action against the students who were arrested during the protest action on October 18, 2018 at the University of West Indies' St Augustine campus."

The police did take action, as two students were arrested after they formed a human barricade against traffic. The protest took place after it was reported that a female student was robbed and almost raped.

Garcia said that students should be allowed to stand up for what they believe. "The UWI maintains that students activism is central to university life," he said.

"In light of the circumstances leading to the protest, the intervention of the TT Police Service, the consequent arrests of the students and the legal process that has ensued, the decision was taken by the campus not to apply any internal disciplinary measures."