St. Thomas -- the future begins Monday for a select group of young people from regional and stateside universities and colleges, who will be attending the fifth annual Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders in the Caribbean on Monday.

According to Summer Institute Director Dr. Solomon Kabuka, about 34 young leaders will begin a two-week crash course Monday at UVI designed to help them hone leadership skills.  "The Summer Institute is designed to prepare students to guide the Caribbean into the 21st century as part of the new global
community." Kabuka said.

The program is open to college juniors and seniors and graduate students.

Along with the two UVI campuses, Tuskegee University in Alabama, and Clark Atlanta in Georgia, and student leaders from regional institutions including colleges in Martinique and hate tea has enrolled in the 1999 program.

Ambassador Simone Molina Duarte, the first secretary-general of the Association of Caribbean states will deliver the keynote address, “Perspectives on Caribbean Integration in the New Millennium,” on Tuesday morning at Chase Auditorium.  Molina Duarte, a veteran of Venezuela’s Ministry of foreign affairs, has represented his country at several regional and international bodies. 

The Summer Institute curriculum focuses on three main areas---global businesses environment, leadership for tomorrow and culture and communication.

Kabuka will teach the global business courses.  Local business leaders such as West Indian Company CEO and President Edward Thomas, Territorial Court presiding Judge Vern Hodge and Archibald Ogden of Tropical Shipping will also be presenting.  Their expertise to the programs, as will UVI President Dr. Orville Kean and UVI Board Chairman Auguste Rimpel, Vice President of Price Waterhouse, who will present the lecture on the challenges of global business environment in the new millennium.

The UVI Summer Institute receives financial support yearly from WICO, the Association of Caribbean Research Institutes and from the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.