[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]enver Caezar currently resides in Trinidad and attends the University of the West Indies (UWI). The International Relations Major and former International Affairs Chairperson on the Guild of Students now holds the position of ‘Guild Treasurer’. He loves his country without reservation, and aspires to get into politics (as Prime Minister!) one day, contributing towards the island’s holistic development. The STAR spoke with the Saint Luican native who shared with us some of his plans, and how he hopes to make his mark on the political landscape.
The STAR: What sort of contribution do you anticipate making as a politician?
Yenver: I envision myself working closely with the Ministry of Tourism to help in the formulation and implementation of sustainable tourism strategies and assist in marketing the island’s tourism product to help boost tourist arrivals, since this is our leading industry at the moment.
The STAR: What does your position on the UWI Guild of Students entail?
Yenver: I am currently the Guild Treasurer for the academic year 2017-2018. I was the International Affairs Chairperson in the previous academic year; my duties entailed guiding and supervising the activities of the 11 Island Associations on Campus as well as seeking to represent the interests of the Guild on relevant international issues and at relevant international fora.
The STAR: What’s the Saint Lucian student experience like at UWI?
Yenver: Being a Saint Lucian at UWI is wonderful because firstly it gives me a different perspective of the University community compared to most students. It also gives me the opportunity to meet and closely interact with many other bright and talented Saint Lucians via the Saint Lucian Student Association of Trinidad & Tobago (LUSATT). I served as the president of LUSATT in 2015. Being a Saint Lucian in UWI comes with the feeling that you are a cultural ambassador for your country and that whatever moves you make represent a nation. It may seem like a lot of pressure to ensure that you excel but it is actually a source of motivation, knowing that any successes I achieve are seen as a representation of my country.
The STAR: Do you plan on moving back to Saint Lucia?
Yenver: Definitely. I can’t see myself living anywhere else but in this paradise. I also do not wish to contribute further to the brain drain, which we already suffer from. Many attribute this to the lack of opportunities present but I believe that the responsibility is on those with the acquired knowledge and expertise to revamp the system and create opportunities for the youth so that the same problems of today are not voiced by future generations.
The STAR: What aspect of being prime minister appeals to you?
Yenver: I want to become the prime minister because I believe that it would put me in a position to implement the policies which I believe could help better the country. I also believe that I would be able to promote the true interests of the people when I represent the country at meetings of the relevant international organizations.
The STAR: If you were to be elected prime minister what would you change?
Yenver: There is a lot that I would like to change. However, wanting to change something and actually being able to change it are two completely different things. Nepotism, for one. The efficiency of the public sector is another, but these problems are embedded in our culture and are not as simple to change in the term of one administration. I would, however, like to be meaningfully engaged in the process, which would eventually lead to the desired results.
I also wish to change the fact that many of our brilliant students never get to further their education due to their own financial difficulty but, again, an examination of the country’s resources would need to be conducted to determine to what extent exactly we can create these opportunities. It would be idealistic to say I would create free tertiary level education but the reality facing us is that it is something which is most likely beyond what our GDP
can cater for.I would like for us to try to eradicate some of the perpetual third world problems that we face which are rooted in factors such
as a failure to diversify our economy, but again these are ideas which are easier said than done given our economic situation and the lack of resources. As prime minster, I would have to formulate innovative measures to combat these perennial problems.
The STAR: Do you believe everything you’re currently doing is leading up to that position?
Yenver: Yes, but not in a manner in which it influences what I do intentionally. Everything I do is simply done with good intentions at heart and a willingness to develop not only myself holistically but the upcoming generations as well. The youth are the future and it is of paramount importance that they are influenced positively.
