Governor General Dame Sandra Mason receiving her scroll from vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles. (Picture by David Garner of XQUIZIT Photos)

Dame Sandra honoured

Article by Sheria Brathwaite

The success story of Governor General Dame Sandra Mason is inspirational and proof that extraordinary people can come from humble and ordinary backgrounds.

This was the essence of the speech delivered yesterday evening by vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, during a special convocation to confer an honorary Doctor of Laws on Dame Sandra for her outstanding contribution to public service.

Deeming the occasion as one more than worthy of celebration, Sir Hilary said Dame Sandra was the epitome of a country girl rising above her circumstances and going on to do remarkable things.

He said: “This is the moment of a country girl steeped in the village culture but steeped also in the dialectics of that village culture; a small place but also a place that has launched a thousand ships into the world.

“Small villages produce enormous minds, minds that are ready to take on the world. An African sensibility, embedded in that village, like all other villages, respect for family, love of your neighbour, conversations about the future, respect for discipline, respect for elders. . .” (SB)

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