Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has issued a stern warning to the University of the West Indies (UWI) administration to not interfere with plans to open a law school at the university’s South campus in Debe.

The campus began being built under the UNC-led People's Partnership coalition government in the 2010-2015 period and was completed in 2019, but never opened.

On May 20, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal toured the campus, which falls within his constituency, and expressed disappointment over its state of disrepair.

He said while some parts of the campus were operational, other parts were "horrific" with 75 per cent of the campus derelict, rusty or overrun with vegetation.

Despite the state of the facility, UWI, in a statement on May 19, said classes would start at the campus in August.

"The campus will be the home of the newly launched Global School of Medicine (GSM) leveraging the world-ranked reputation of the UWI and especially the UWI’s Faculty of Medicine (FMS), to serve primarily international students pursuing the Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme."

However, in an emotive delivery while speaking at the post-cabinet media briefing on May 22, Persad-Bissessar said UWI would not be allowed to dictate the uses for the campus.

“That campus, will house what the government says it will house. The administration will have no say in that. They cannot dictate to us what they want to put there.”

Criticising the plans for the medical school she added, “I don't know where they come up with this thing… Don't we have the Couva hospital? That's what that was for.

“We did the San Fernando Teaching hospital. So what you coming now with some global medicine? Where you get that from?”

She also dismissed UWI’s assertions of an August opening date.

“It will not happen in August. I don't know where and who came up with that, that it is going to be opened in August. Because when the ministers visited the place, it is a total horror story.”

Persad-Bissessar said she would not allow UWI to “sabotage and take over” the government’s plans for the campus.

Govt 'clear' on plans for campus

She said while the initial plans were for a law campus, the government had some additional ideas on how to use the facility.

“We were clear then, and we are clearer now, and ten years later we can do so much more.

“Yes we said a law faculty (and) I talked about doing forensics and law enforcement training (but) now with AI (artificial intelligence) and technology in the world, those are other areas we can explore for training for our children.”

She threatened the university that there would be consequences if they failed to support the government’s vision for the campus.

“I am warning UWI administration do not test me. If we have to do it, I will take that campus back and put it under government control to make sure we complete it and get the job done.”

She lambasted UWI’s administrators and the previous government for not utilising the facility in the years since its completion.

“I think the bigges