Kingston – Sir Richie Richardson. Robert “Lord Nelson” Nelson. Alston “Becket” Cyrus. Dr Joy St John. Adam Stewart. Ambassador Gabriel Abed.
They are among 16 set to receive honorary doctorates when the University of the West Indies (UWI) resumes “in-person” graduation ceremonies between October 8 and November 5 around the Caribbean.
According to a news release from UWI, it will welcome these “16 outstanding global citizens” to its graduation stage this year in keeping with annual tradition across its five campuses, including the UWI Open Campus, which will stage its graduation virtually on Saturday, October 15.
The honorary graduands have been recognised for their contributions to several areas including sport, culture, law, business, and science.
Sir Richie, the former Leeward Islands and West Indies cricket captain, now a respected match referee for the sport’s world governing body, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his contribution to sport when the campus in the Antiguan community of Five Islands, where he grew up, hosts its graduation on Saturday, October 8.
At the same ceremony, Vincentian calypsonian “Becket” will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree for his work as a soca artiste and composer.
St John will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree for her work in medicine and public health leadership, and fellow Barbadian Abed will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his entrepreneurship and pioneering of digital currency when the UWI Cave Hill campus in Barbados stages its graduation on Saturday, October 22.
Noted calypsonian Lord Nelson will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree for his contribution to the culture and calypso at the UWI St Augustine graduation, which will be held over three days from Thursday, October 27 in his native Trinidad & Tobago.
Adam Stewart, son of deceased founder of Sandals Resorts, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his work as an entrepreneur and philanthropist when the UWI Mona graduation is staged over three days from November 3 in his native Jamaica.
UWI said the 16 honorary graduands will join the ranks of a prestigious list of fewer than 500 people who have been awarded since 1965.
(AR)
