By Kisean Joseph
The University of West Indies (UWI) Global Campus in Antigua and Barbuda unveiled a peace monument on Friday, which was donated by Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL).
The ceremony, which included a peace walk that brought together government officials and students, marks a new chapter in the nation’s commitment to fostering peace through education and legislation.
“The monument will be a remembrance of peace always in Antigua and Barbuda and the region,” said Colleen Letlow, Head of Site for UWI Global Campus Antigua and Barbuda.
“This initiative is not only supported by the UWI, the leadership of the UWI Global Campus but it’s also supported by the government of Antigua and Barbuda.”
The unveiling comes at a crucial time as global conflicts continue to escalate. Minister of Education Daryll Matthew emphasized the urgency of peace initiatives, particularly in light of current world events.
“We’re living in a very troubled world beset by conflicts in many places. The Middle East, in Russia, Ukraine, and even the threat of conflict right here in our Caribbean region, in Guyana with the border dispute with Venezuela,” Matthew said. “Peace is threatened not only in faraway places that may seem distant to us or not relevant to us, but it can be threatened in our own backyard.”
HWPL’s involvement with Antigua and Barbuda has deep roots, according to Regan Durkin, Director of HWPL’s Washington DC branch.
“Our relationship with Antigua and Barbuda began years ago with Prime Minister Gaston Browne. He was the first Prime Minister, Head of State in the Caribbean to sign on to the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War,” Durkin said.
The installation of the monument aligns with broader educational initiatives as Minister Matthew announced plans to integrate peace education into the national curriculum, to address what he described as urgent challenges facing the nation’s youth.
“Here in Antigua and Barbuda, we face our own challenges, especially among our youth. It is felt that many are grappling with a lack of empathy and an erosion of respect for authority. This is why peace education is not just important, it is urgent,” Matthew said.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Osbert Frederick offered a timely perspective on the importance of peace initiatives. “What is the reason for war? It doesn’t help anybody,” Frederick remarked. “In war, it’s not about who is right, but rather who is left. So many times, not a lot of people are left after this war.”
The monument stands as part of HWPL’s broader mission, as explained by Destiny Mosley, HWPL’s legal liaison. “HWPL has drafted the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War, which is a legal document that has 10 articles and 38 clauses. Article 10 is spreading a culture of peace and that is why we’re here today.”
The ceremony concluded with officials and students gathering around the monument, symbolizing the unity between educational institutions, government bodies, and international peace organizations in their shared commitment to fostering global peace through local action.
