PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley Tuesday described academic, Professor Kenneth Julien, as an “outstanding son of the soil and revered national icon, a patriot” after the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) named its administrative building after the 91-year-old.
Professor Kenneth Julien (File Photo)Addressing the ceremony, Rowley commended the UTT’s management for the occasion, saying “this will serve as an enduring testament to Professor’s legacy at UTT, and a permanent reminder to future generations of students of the profound impact he has had on the lives of all of us in Trinidad and Tobago”.
Rowley said that Julien had played a pivotal role in the country’s socio-economic development, noting how one columnist had elevated Julien and the country’s first prime minister, Dr. Eric Williams “to the near-deified status with which Americans reference their founding fathers; the British: Winston Churchill and the French: Charles De Gaulle.
“Our history must document Dr. Williams as the great visionary, Professor Julien, as the architect-builder, who along with a team of dedicated public servants, created the modern Trinidad and Tobago and our quality of life, yes, with its glitches and setbacks but comparatively much better than, so…so many other countries in the world.”
Prime Minister Rowley said that it was the synergy of vision, drive and determination that existed between Dr. Williams and Professor Julien that created the foundation for Trinidad and Tobago to be considered later as a “Caribbean Tiger”.
“Now that Professor Julien has retired from public life in his golden years, there is a deeper symbolic significance of this event given the magnitude of his prodigious achievements over the years.
“ Indeed, many eminent persons in this country would echo my sentiments that this country owes Professor Julien a debt of gratitude for laying the foundation for decades of economic prosperity,” Rowley said, extending the governments and his personal congratulations to Julien “on this well deser5ved honour”.
Rowley said that Professor Julien’s career has been a sterling example of ‘country before selff” and that he has been widely acknowledged for his decades of “unwavering, tireless and dedicated service and the advancement of our country’s energy, engineering and education sectors.
“He has been appropriately described by many as a genius, pioneer, stalwart, visionary, trail-blazer, legend, entrepreneur and ‘a giant of a man’. His life is defined by many first-of-its-kind achievements in this country.
“His gentle but effective visionary leadership style: leading by example, has been a source of inspiration and motivation to those who have had the privilege of interacting and working with him.”
Rowley said that throughout this career, Professor Julien has demonstrated integrity and a strong sense of social responsibility, actively engaging with communities and promoting initiatives aimed at improving the lives of individuals across the country.
“Despite the many accolades he has received over the years, I am sure you will agree that Professor continually embodies the qualities of simplicity, compassion and humility.
He has always been approachable and is blessed with a good sense of humour.”.
Rowley said that Professor Julien was appointed in 1974 as chairman of the Energy Coordinating Task Force, leading the planning, development and implementation of the country’s industrialisation programme aimed at monetising the natural gas resources.
“ It was this group that steered the country’s thrust into the global gas market and other diverse industries of methanol, ammonia and power generation,” Rowley said, adding that one of Julien’s most notable accomplishments is related to the establishment of the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in the 1970s and 1980s.
“Over the past decades, the Pt Lisas Estate has attracted numerous foreign investors and created thousands of employment opportunities, contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth, development and the quality of our lives.
“ It also spawned the development of the country’s manufacturing sector, particularly in the areas of petrochemicals and steel production. The Estate spans some 860 hectares and today continues to remain at the heart of the country’s industrial activity.”
Rowley said that Professor Julien came from a humble and supportive family background and that his academic brilliance was at the root of his meteoric rise, augmented by his discipline, focus and commitment to excellence.
He attended St. Mary’s College and then proceeded on scholarship to University in England where he obtained a first-class honours’ bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1962, he obtained a PhD in Electrical Energy Systems from the University of British Columbia in Canada.
He joined the University of the West Indies (UWI) as the first local Engineering lecturer, and just two years later, was appointed the first West Indian Dean of the Faculty, a post which he held for 12 years. He was appointed Professor and Head of Department of Electrical Engineering at UWI in 1970 and remained in that post for 16 years until his retirement in 1996. He served at UWI for some 35 years in total, where a building also carries his name. He was named Professor Emeritus in 1997.
Professor Julien was the first Caribbean national to attain the rank of Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in the United States. He also published extensively in his field and also served as a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University.
