Chief Guest of this evening Sir William Castell and Mrs. Castell;
Chancellor of Manipal University, Dr. Ramdas M. Pai;
Pro-chancellor of Manipal University, Dr. Subhash Ballal,
Vice Chancellor of Manipal University, Dr. Raj Worrier
Members of the University Board of Management;
Heads and faculty of institutions;
Dignitaries of this community;
Parents and Graduands;

I bring you warm greetings from the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda, our beautiful twin island nation in the Eastern Caribbean, which is blessed with 365 beaches and balmy weather, and where we like to say “the beach is just the beginning to a wondrous experience.” And might I add that Antigua and Barbuda will be the capital for World Cup Cricket in the Caribbean in a few weeks time.

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be in India, and I must indicate that the hospitality extended to me and the other members of my delegation is par excellence. The warmth that you have extended makes us feel right at home.

Reflecting on home and linkage, my mind is cast back to the historical connection that binds our two peoples.

It was over five hundred years ago when Christopher Columbus and his crew set off from Western Europe by sea to reach the Indian region by travelling west. Instead of reaching India, they landed on a number of tiny beautiful islands in the Caribbean Sea. Antigua and Barbuda was one of those islands which came to be known as the West Indian chain of islands.

Some two centuries or more thereafter, Indians from the Indian region began arriving in the West Indies to work on the sugar and cotton plantations that were under the control and dominance of the British plantocracy.

And so the connection all began, which saw us through the era of slavery, colonialism and independence and proud members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

I also feel even more at home knowing that a few miles away the West Indies Cricket team is getting ready to enter into a one-day series of matches with India. With the many talented cricketers assembled, the matches are sure to be exciting ones.

Distinguished Guests:

It gives me great pleasure to speak at Manipal, which is a globally recognized institution of higher learning that is “alive with the electric reverberations of minds at work”. I have no doubt that the young people educated at this great institution will serve their nation and the world at large.

As the nucleus of 53 Educational Institutes, the ambition of Dr. T.M.A Pai to see a multi-dimensional education centre in Manipal has clearly come to fruition. I would especially like to appreciate the vision of founder Dr T M A Pai and its present leaders Dr Ramdas Pai and Dr Ranjan Pai and the entire team working behind them as a family.

I was very delighted to have been given the honour to open the new premises of the KMC International centre this morning. It is a beautiful state-of-the-art structure and is sure to provide all the modern amenities to the faculty and students.

Ladies, Gentlemen and Graduands:

After twenty-eight years of one-party rule, my government, the United Progressive Party Administration, was elected to run the affairs of our twin-island nation in March 2004, by a population desirous of change. On November 1, 2006, we celebrated our 25th anniversary of political independence and my Government has set an ambitious programme that will allow for the empowerment of all in Antigua and Barbuda.

In my Government's contract with the people, “Agenda for Change,” we have clearly stated that we will promote a set of policies designed to upgrade the intellectual capital of the Nation of Antigua and Barbuda. With our “People First” philosophy, our commitment is to ensure every citizen and resident have access to opportunities to better himself or herself educationally and economically.

The challenges have been numerous. However, however with a “People First” philosophy, we have been able to do the greatest of good for the greatest number of people in our society. Our social and economic recovery programmes have been very successful and serve as a model for other countries within the Caribbean region.

Distinguished Guests and Graduands:

My Government firmly believes that it is the people who make our nation great. Consequently, motivating people in our communities to fulfill all our missions, fully developing their talents, freeing them to express themselves, supporting them in achieving their own individual goals and inspiring them to work together in pursuit of our shared vision, is the key to ensuring a vibrant and productive society.

In so doing, we are greatly inspired by the words of Mahatma Gandhi, the pioneer and leader of the Indian independence movement, who said: “We must become the change we want to see.”

For Antigua and Barbuda, this inspirational message is especially true when it comes to investing in education and in our young people.

My government strongly believes that education is the most effective means of empowering its people. Therefore, it is my Government's intention to redouble its efforts in ensuring that the people of our twin-island nation have access to quality education from infancy to adulthood.

Some of our goals in the area of education include:

Upgrading our educational infrastructure;

• Collaborating with our international partners in the offering of scholarships to deserving young Antiguans and Barbudans to study abroad;


• Ensuring and improving access to information technology;


• Strengthening the linkages between our educational system and the development of the tourism sector;


• Building capacities and training our teachers and instructors and;


• Improving opportunities for adult and continuing education.

It is also our intention to upgrade our College to a degree granting institution.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I highlighted those aspects of my government's work because I am cognizant that some of these ideals also drive the work and aspirations of the government of India.

As Tagore, the poet, philosopher, and playwright, Asia's first Nobel Laureate noted, “The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.”

Development and human well being in all countries are directly influenced by the ability of governments to provide access to effective educational and health care systems. Along with ensuring growth and economic development, governments are faced with the challenges of increasing access to education and health care for all.

It is indeed a testimony to the commitment and will of India and its people that India is fast emerging as one of the major economic and intellectual centres in the world, not only in the Information Technology field but also in production of services and goods as well as intellectual, scientific and educational areas.

Distinguished Guests:

With about 350 universities, over 18, 000 colleges and hundreds of national and regional research institutes, Indian higher education and research sector is the third largest in the world, in terms of the number of students for whom it caters. Today, India is declared as the “Knowledge Super Power,” because of the affordable availability of quality education systems.

I think higher education can be viewed as a private good that gives direct benefits to those who participate; but it is also a public good, when people with higher education work and strive towards improving economic, social and civic development at all levels - local, state, national and international.

Private institutions like Manipal which was the first of its kind to be recognized by the Government of India, was also amongst the first in providing courses focusing exclusively on medicine, business, information technology and bio-technology, all areas which will need infusions of skilled expertise and qualified workforce in the present and future years.

Manipal is indeed a global Centre of Learning with a host of educational, medical, banking and industrial enterprises of national repute. Manipal's affiliation with other centers of learning across the globe has facilitated the exchange of knowledge and culture via their student and faculty exchange programmes. Students from over 51 countries worldwide come seeking education in this culturally diverse institute. Manipal's aspiration in providing world-class medical and higher education is proven and visible by your well renowned projects and collaborations in USA, UK, Middle East, Pacific, and South Asia; and in my own country, Antigua and Barbuda.

Your collaboration with our American University of Antigua, College of Medicine has attracted a worldwide reputation for this Medical School, and we are fortunate to have this fast growing Medical School in Health Care Services including the first ISO certified multi-specialty hospital in India.

As an emerging worldwide group in world-class education and health care systems, it is my hope that the name of Antigua and Barbuda will appear in Manipal Group's Map. I have no doubt that this hope and vision is shared by Dr. Ramdas Pai and others in the Manipal fraternity.

Already my government took the step of joining hands with Manipal University in implementing a twinning programe in medicine. This collaboration has achieved the desired result of providing professional education of a high standard to the aspiring youth.

My government would like to see this concept of the twinning programme extended to other branches of professional education to include nursing, pharmacy, communication and tourism to benefit more students making the best use of the infrastructure available on this campus.

I have invited the Manipal University to establish a branch campus in Antigua and Barbuda for this purpose and my government will be very happy to provide the necessary assistance to successfully establish and manage the said institution.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda looks forward to a strong and fruitful relationship with Manipal as we both strive to empower our peoples.

Congratulations to you the graduands. You are very fortunate to have been educated here at Manipal, which should give you the confidence and knowledge to face the challenges of today's competitive world. I wish you a glorious future and urge you to be excessively proud of who you are and what you have achieved. Be proud in knowing that you have walked successfully through the halls of one of the finest educational institutions in the world.

I thank you graciously for your attention.

May God bless our nations and us all.