Statement on the Passing of Sir Aziz Hadeed KCMG, 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.