Premier Fahie was at the time speaking as the Co-Chair of an October 14, 2020, ECLAC - UWI Development Partner virtual forum.

In brief comments, the Premier said, “I had the distinct privilege to Chair the United Nations ECLAC-UWI Regional Development Partners Forum on Investing in Higher Education to build more Diversified Resilient economies in the Post COVID Era.”

“In my capacity as Co-Chair of the ECLAC’s Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), we have successfully partnered to agree to focus on 'Investment in Higher Education' as a key component of rebuilding and re-tooling our human capital to thrive in the post-COVID-19, knowledge-based digital economy,” he said.

Premier Andrew A. Fahie said higher education is key to re-tooling human capital for post-COVID-19 era.

Regional universities must play a part - Premier

Premier Fahie said more immediately, there is a need for the region’s universities to play a part in data collection and analysis, research and innovation, along with entrepreneurship and industry development.

“In this regard, we are very fortunate to be served by the Caribbean’s prominent educational institution, the University of the West Indies, along with other institutions in the region that are providing support to governments, businesses, and other bodies on a variety of issues.”

Other Presenters at the virtual meeting were Prime Minister of Barbados, Honourable Mia A. Mottley; Sir Hillary M. Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI); Ms Diane Quarles, Chief of Economic Commission for the Latin American and Caribbean (ECLAC) Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean; as well Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education in the VI.