UWI Mona students uneasy about campus security

By Racquel Porter    

 

Students of the University of the West Indies say not enough is being done to improve security on the Mona campus.

 

Students have taken to social media platform TikTok to voice their dissatisfaction and highlight a number of incidents that have occurred on campus over the last few weeks, including armed robbery.

 

Guild President Perry Cummings Jr. said the administration has been tardy in its efforts to improve security.

 

Mr. Cummings, while noting that he understands that the university campus is not the safest place, cautioned against misinformation.

 

The Guild President told Radio Jamaica News that a group of students was recently robbed in the vicinity of the Mona Chapel.

 

Mr. Cummings said the students' proposal on safety solutions have been ignored. 

 

"There has been conversation around improving the security, getting more patrolling done. We've not seen that. That's just the reality. I don't think the university is taking this as seriously as they should. I would have submitted reports and proposals as to ways in which the campus can be safer and feel safer for students, and we're yet to see that," he said, reiterating that the university is not prioritising students' safety.

 

Campus registrar Dr. Donovan Stanberry confirmed Wednesday morning that students were robbed in the vicinity of ATMs across the campus over the weekend.

 

Dr. Stanberry said the management is reviewing its security arrangements in relation to deployment. 

 

"We're going to have to focus on those areas where our students are vulnerable, particularly at nights around the ATMs, which you know are obvious targets and so on. And we're going to step up our own patrol. We do have an elaborate security architecture on campus involving private security, that is King Alarm, and the Mona Police, so we have to look on our resources and see how best we can deploy them strategically in the areas," he acknowledged. 

 

Security on the 600-acre UWI Mona Campus has been a longstanding issue, dating as far back as 1974 when students called for improvements.

 

Following a meeting Wednesday afternoon between the university and students, the Guild President told Radio Jamaica News that the administration has committed to increased patrols and communicating more effectively with students.

 

Mr. Cummings has cautiously welcomed the commitments, but urged students to remain vigilant. 

 

"I'm feeling good; I wouldn't say 100% satisfied because until I see these things with my own two eyes, unless we see a reduction in the criminal activity, unless we see these things being prioritised, we are still at square one. But yes, they facilitated us, they engaged us and they gave commitments as well to ensure that we have an even safer campus for the carnival season... [which] is around the corner." 

 

The Guild President also advised students to take advantage of escort services provided by campus security.