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Sir Calixte George, The UWI Global Campus 2025 Honorary Graduand Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal. Monday, October 27, 2025—On Saturday, November 8, 2025, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Global Campus at its Virtual Graduation Ceremony, will confer an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree on distinguished Saint Lucian agronomist; educator; agricultural researcher; and statesman, Sir Calixte George, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to science, governance, and regional development. Sir Calixte George received a scholarship in 1952 to attend St Mary’s College, the premier secondary school in Saint Lucia, and graduated in 1958. Thereafter, he began his career at St Mary’s as a junior science master and worked for two years before earning a scholarship to pursue a degree in Agriculture at The University College of the West Indies, St. Augustine, which had recently transitioned from the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture (ICTA). Sir Calixte was among the earliest graduates of the St Augustine Campus, obtaining his BSc in 1963 and later completing an MSc in Soil Science from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, in 1966. Upon his return to Saint Lucia, Sir Calixte embarked on a distinguished career in Agriculture, serving as Chief Research Officer and later Acting Chief Agricultural Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture. His leadership extended to managing agricultural stations and coordinating farmer training programmes across the Windward Islands in collaboration with The UWI Faculty of Agriculture. In 1979, Sir Calixte joined the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), where he rose to become Executive Director. Under his stewardship, CARDI coordinated regional agricultural innovation and capacity-building. He later served as Managing Director of the Saint Lucia Banana Growers’ Association, where he spearheaded the transformation of the Windward Islands Banana Growers’ Association (WINBAN) into the Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting Company Limited (WIBDECO). In this role, he secured critical export contracts and modernised the industry. Sir Calixte was a tireless advocate for workers’ rights, serving as President of the Saint Lucia Civil Service Association, where his leadership led to the largest single salary increase in the history of the Saint Lucian civil service. His impact was also felt in national and regional governance. Sir Calixte served as President of the Senate from 1979 to 1982 and later as Leader of Government Business in the Senate between 1997 and 2006. During this period, he also held several ministerial portfolios in Cabinet, including Communications, Works, Transport & Public Utilities; Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry; and Home Affairs & National Security. Notably, he spearheaded the liberalisation of the OECS telecommunications sector, pioneering the establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) and serving as its founding Chair, a landmark achievement in regional integration and development. Sir Calixte’s lifetime of service has been recognised with numerous accolades, including investiture as a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCSL). Even in retirement, he continues to contribute to national and regional development through writing and mentorship. In 2019, he authored St. Mary’s College: The Caribbean’s Nobel Laureate School, a detailed history of his alma mater, and is currently completing his autobiography chronicling his remarkable journey of service and leadership. Dr Francis O. Severin, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal, The UWI Global Campus, welcomes this award and asserts that “…the choice of Sir Calixte should further remind and convince our Caribbean people of the numerous heroes who live among us and who have dedicated their lives to the greater good for the greater number. We salute Sir Calixte for his selflessness and for being an authentic Eastern and Pan-Caribbean public servant.” The UWI Global Campus extends warm congratulations to Sir Calixte George on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to celebrating his achievements at the 2025 Virtual Graduation Ceremony.
