Outrage at UWI

■ Khamarie Rodriguez

THE Institute of International Relations at The University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine Campus on Tuesday cancelled a 'diplomatic dialogue' with Israeli Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago and Caricom Itai Bardov following student backlash over the event.

The virtual seminar, titled 'Unravelling the complexities of peace in the Middle East: An Israeli perspective', was scheduled to be hosted via Zoom today, as advertised on The UWI's social platforms and its campus calendar, but the event was cancelled shortly after it inspired outrage among hundreds of university students.

Galvanised by the conflict in Gaza for which Israel has received much criticism, and what has been termed a 'genocide' of Palestinian civilians, UWI students called the event 'inappropriate' and 'insulting'.

As university students around the world have undertaken pro-Palestinian protests on various college campuses, UWI students on Tuesday took to social media to voice their dissent over the event.

'Our university, mindless, that a zombie even thought about this. Facilitating genocidal propaganda while students around the world are standing up against the slaughter of children,' one student wrote.

'A propaganda session for our very own UWI students while university students around the world are protesting genocide on their campuses and insisting that their schools divest from Israel. Take a stand as many other countries have done before,' said another.

'Universities across the globe are standing up in solidarity, outraged by the atrocities committed in Gaza yet, shockingly, The University of the West Indies chooses to turn a blind eye! Amidst a worldwide cry against the genocide, UWI is set to host a representative of those leading these horrors, on Zoom no less! This is not just an event-it's a slap in the face to truth and justice!' a student stated.

'Shameful. I'd love to know who the planning committee was,' wrote another, while a student said: 'There is no Israeli 'perspective' that can wash away the blood of babies. Or tens of thousands of innocent non-combatants.'

Within hours of students voicing their concerns, advertisements for the seminar previously posted by the UWI could not be located by the Express. The attached Zoom link inviting students to participate in the seminar displayed an error code when linked.

The Institute of International Relations posted a notice to its social media pages, stating that it would be re-engaging the issue in a revised structure and format at a later date.

Student opinions

Young academics speaking to the Express yesterday stated that they were largely in support of the Palestinian cause.

Eighteen-year-old activist and student Zaafia Alexander said: 'I find it deeply troubling and outright outrageous that such a forum was even considered by the university. Hosting an event--presenting the perspective of an Israeli ambassador, no less-- given the current context, I see it as clear acts of aggression and human rights violations as it represents a failure to stand with the victims of these nefarious actions. The decision feels like a blatant disrespect and disregard to countless innocent lives lost and affected by the genocide.'

She added: 'To offer a platform to what many would deem as the oppressor and the criminal, a platform to provide their perspective without providing a space for the voices, is to alter the narrative altogether... why? Take it as it is: a war crime. Committed by Israelis in power. This is a genocide. Why would we need a forum to hear any other side, besides the victims?'

UWI: Multiple perspectives needed

In response to the Express yesterday, a statement signed by the Institute of International Relations (IIR) interim director Annitta Montoute cited an assessment of several factors as the reason the dialogue was cancelled.

In December 2023, Montoute wrote, the Institute had joined with the Caribbean Policy Consortium to host a webinar entitled 'The Israeli-Palestine War: Perspectives from the Caribbean', where a panel of multiple presenters shared their perspectives.

Today's intended dialogue, the statement said, aimed to present another perspective which would have been followed by a third component in the future.

The UWI agreed that 'a real-time multiple- perspectives approach' should be taken in the future to enrich the dialogue and ensure a more robust educational experience.

'The Institute of International Relations of The University of the West Indies remains committed to exploring viewpoints on complex global issues,' it said.

The Express also contacted the UWI Student Guild for a response and was told that the body was engaged in discussions on the topic.

VIRTUAL SEMINAR CANCELLED: Israeli Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago and Caricom Itai Bardov.