UWI Statement on the Passing of Sir Aziz HadeedKCMG,CBE

The UWI Five Islands Campus, Antigua and Barbuda, Saturday, May 23, 2026 — The following statement is issued by The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, on the passing of Sir Aziz Hadeed, CBE, Chairman of the Five Islands Campus Council.

The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus joins the people of Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean in mourning the passing of Sir Aziz Hadeed, CBE, Chairman of the Five Islands Campus Council. A distinguished businessman, former Independent Senator, former Cabinet Minister, and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Sir Aziz brought to The UWI the same vision and steady judgment that had defined a lifetime of national service.

Sir Aziz was appointed inaugural Chair of the Campus Council in August 2019, at the very founding of the campus, and was reappointed in 2024 to serve a second term. Over nearly seven years, he guided the Campus through its earliest and most demanding chapters: the launch in 2019, the disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic US$80 million Saudi Fund for Development partnership in 2023, and the institution’s growth from 173 students in its first year to over 1,400 today. He presided over the Council meetings with quiet authority, including most recently the March 2026 sitting held under the theme “Building Beyond Borders.”

Sir Aziz believed deeply in education as the foundation of Caribbean development, and his commitment to access was expressed in the most tangible way possible. Through the personal provision of scholarships, he ensured that well-deserving students who lacked the financial means to pursue a university education were not denied that opportunity. The lives shaped by his quiet generosity stand as part of his most enduring legacy.

“Sir Aziz was far more than a Chairman. He was a true partner in our mission. His close working relationship with the Campus was rooted in a genuine belief that access to higher education is the foundation upon which a just and thriving society is built. He gave not only his name and his resources, but his time, his wisdom, and his heart to the endeavour of bringing The UWI to the people of Antigua and Barbuda and the wider OECS.” noted Professor C. Justin Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus.

His stewardship leaves Five Islands stronger, more confident, and more firmly rooted than he found it. On behalf of the Campus Executive, faculty, staff, and students, the Campus extends its heartfelt condolences to Lady Hadeed, the Hadeed family, and all who mourn his loss.

May his soul rest in peace.

END

About The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus

About The University of the West Indies 

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has played a crucial role in Caribbean development for over 75 years, consistently contributing to the improvement of the well-being of people across the region. 

Established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica, with just 33 medical students, UWI has grown into an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, it boasts five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and its Global Campus, along with international centres in partnership with universities across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Established in 2019, The UWI Five Islands Campus offers over 45 undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in four schools focused in the areas of Business and Management, Health and Behavioural Sciences, Humanities and Education and Science, Computing and Artificial Intelligence. As a part of the leading the leading university in the Caribbean, it is dedicated to addressing the critical issues facing the OECS, the wider Caribbean and the wider world.

Validated by its inclusion in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual rankings since 2018, The UWI has affirmed its position as one of the top universities globally. It stands out as the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured in four of THE’s prestigious ranking lists. The World University Rankings evaluate over 2,000 research-focused universities worldwide, while the Golden Age University Rankings highlight institutions established between 50 and 80 years ago. The Latin America Rankings focus specifically on universities within Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

This recognition has also springboarded the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global online graduate business school aimed at preparing future leaders for sustainable development.

The UWI is an SDG-engaged university consistently recognised among the best in the world. Discover more at www.uwi.edu. 

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]