CHILL MAGAZINE

 

They are both pursuing degrees in political science – and love politics. And they’re both on the Guild of Undergraduates at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

 

Yes, the similarities – and not just physical likeness – between identical twin brothers, Kevon and Kevyn Henry, are intriguing, fascinating even, as these outgoing personalities are arguably the most well-known ‘lookalikes’ ever to have attended this tertiary institution. Their prominence – individually and collectively – has risen with their election to the student body; Kevon as Guild President and Kevyn as Sports Committee Chair.

 

It’s Kevyn’s third year on the Guild and his brother’s second. It’s been an early taste of elective politics for the 22-year-old Barbadians and what they have quickly realised is that there’s a chasm between political theory and practice.

 

“A political science degree is more theory whereas this [being a guild councillor] is reality. Yes, it is leadership, but it is more a management position and I think this is true of any political post. I’ve come to realise that [what we learn in] political science and being in a political organisation do not necessarily correlate,” acknowledged Kevyn.

 

His twin – Guild President for 2007-2008 – concurred, so much so that, despite having studied politics since he attended the Barbados Community College and having planned on a career that involved politics, he is now considering a change after securing his Bachelor’s degree.

 

His new focus - most likely a Master’s in organisational management.

 

Kevyn too – possibly in that unique harmony some twins share – has decided to shift from politics and is considering a Master’s in international sports management or events management.

 

Already the brothers are carving out their respective management styles on the Guild. Interestingly, the current Guild has happily been devoid of the spectacular and heated clashes with UWI administrators which lit up the media within the past decade. Kevon puts it down to that seven-letter word made famous by soul-singing legend, Aretha Franklin: R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

 

“Being in the position, you have to understand, you have to believe that you are part of University administration. It’s down to your approach. It’s about having basic respect for people, then people will have respect for you – that goes for administration, students, for life in general,” reasoned Kevon.

 

This mannerly approach served the pair well as they fought on behalf of their constituents for longer opening hours in the Campus libraries, bookshop and student cafeteria, and for a more student-centred approach by the entire institution. However, the two admit the job is not over. There’s still some way to go in getting academic, administrative and adjunct staff at UWI to be more understanding in dealing with students.

 

Apart from a controversy-free Guild administration, the Henry brothers are also bent on leaving a legacy that convinces all those associated with the Campus that there is more to the Guild than wild partying. The two are working hard to be the first Guild to institute a model CARICOM assembly at the University. Patterned somewhat on the United Nations assembly model, the brothers see this as a major fillip to integration efforts across the Caribbean. The twins believe their model will deepen appreciation and understanding among students for the regional grouping and its CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) agreement.

 

As with every other Guild objective which they have worked hard to achieve, this project has led to sacrifices within their academic and personal lives.

 

“When you treat the Guild seriously, it becomes like a job or a business,” noted Kevyn.

 

They have faced challenges of juggling their responsibilities while worrying about their ailing grandmother. Also, Kevon suffered a torn calf muscle and battled back-to-back bouts of flu and they have had to sacrifice their strict exercise regime as well as hockey, cricket, volleyball and lawn tennis. Ultimately, they have had to defer graduation until 2009 yet neither would do anything differently.

 

“I don’t know if there’s anything I would have changed. With everything we’ve been through it has actually paid off in terms of my personal development,” said Kevon.

 

While he says that now, the former Guild Vice-President admits he almost didn’t run for the presidency. However, like any good sibling, it was Kevyn who prodded his ‘big’ brother – older by a mere one minute and seven seconds (and Kevon doesn’t let him forget it) – to go for it!

 

Eventually, Kevon jumped into the race and, with only six days of campaigning left in the two-week run-up to elections, the brothers pulled out all the stops to each win places on the Guild Council for another term, aided by friends who they insisted must be publicly recognised: Daniel, Keisha, Stacy, Kimmy and Lisa.

 

Contrary to their election campaign, the brothers stress this Guild is definitely not a two-man show. Drawing on their sporting backgrounds, the Henry boys believe in team effort, in respecting the input of every member of that team, and in being able to tap into individual personalities and draw out the characteristics that will best advance their mandate. While having your brother on the Guild Council with you might seem like guaranteed support, the two don’t hold back on challenging one another if either feels the other is going down the wrong policy path.

 

“Sometimes it’s harder for me being in the position I am in and having my brother on the council,” said Kevon.

 

“I have to be careful not to seem to be pandering to his decisions and unfortunately that makes me seem like I’m reacting harshly (“Way too often!” interjects Kevyn). At the end of the day, you must be able to separate business from family and do what you have to do.”

 

That’s another of the legacies which they want to leave behind as they prepare to demit office in March 2008.

 

Kevon summed up their collective sentiments in the following way: “I want to be able to walk away from the Guild, hopefully, with people saying that I did well and that I left with my integrity intact.”