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Comedian Oliver Samuels, Olympic swimmer Alia Atkinson, cricket legend Desmond Haynes and businessman Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson are among the 14 eminent persons who are to be presented honorary degrees at the University of West Indies’ (UWI) 2021 graduation ceremony.

The eminent Caribbean nationals will receive their honorary degrees for their outstanding contributions to regional and international development.

Among the other honorary degree recipients are physician Dr George Mansoor, cricketer Sir Anderson Roberts, international auditor George Willie, musician Nicholas Brancker, cricketer Sir Gordon Greenidge, musician Ray Holman, medical practitioner Dr Roshan Parasram, philanthropist Sieunarine Persad Coosal, attorney Lynette Seebaran-Suit and poet Linton Kwesi Johnson.

Nominations from across The UWI’s five campuses were approved by the University Council, at its sitting on April 30, 2021. These 2021 graduands will join a list of more than 450 honorary degree recipients conferred by the regional university since 1965. 

The UWI retains this annual tradition of the conferral of honorary degrees even as some of its graduations are expected to again be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this time during the customary ‘graduation season’ of October-November.

Last month, a special convocation was permitted to confer an Honorary Doctor of Science degree (DSc) on Dr Ruby Lake-Richards, one of the first 33 medical students who attended The UWI (then University College of the West Indies). Now 99 years old, she is also the first female, UWI graduate from Antigua and Barbuda. The ceremony hosted by The UWI Five Islands marked the first honorary degree awarded at the University’s newest campus. In September, another special convocation will be held for the conferral of a Doctor of Laws on Her Excellency Dame Sandra Prunella Mason, governor general of Barbados.

The schedule for the 2021 graduation and list of the 14 honorary graduands’ conferrals at those ceremonies are as follows:

Five Islands Campus

Sunday, October 10

Honorary Graduands:

Dr George A. Mansoor (Physician, Educator and Entrepreneur) – Doctor of Science (DSc)

Sir Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts (Former Cricketer) – Doctor of Laws (LLD)

Open Campus

Saturday, October 16

Honorary Graduand:

Mr George S. Willie, CPA, CGMA, CGFM (International Auditor, Leader and Philanthropist) – Doctor of Laws (LLD)

Cave Hill Campus

Saturday, October 23

Honorary Graduands:

Mr Nicholas Brancker (Musician, Reggae Producer) – Doctor of Letters (DLitt)

Sir Cuthbert Gordon Greenidge, KCMG, MBE (Former Cricketer) – Doctor of Laws (LLD)

Mr Desmond Leo Haynes (Former Cricketer) – Doctor of Laws (LLD)

St. Augustine Campus

Thursday, October 28, Friday, October 29 and Saturday, October 30

Honorary Graduands:

Mr Ray Anthony Holman (Musician, Educator) – Doctor of Letters (DLitt)

Dr Roshan A. Parasram (Medical Practitioner) – Doctor of Science (DSc)

Mr Sieunarine Persad Coosal (Entrepreneur, Philanthropist) – Doctor of Laws (LLD)

Mrs Lynette Seebaran-Suite (Attorney at Law) – Doctor of Laws (LLD)

Mona Campus

Thursday, November 4 and Friday, November 5

Honorary Graduands:

Ms Alia Shanee Atkinson, CD (Sport Icon) – Doctor of Laws (LLD)

Mr Gary ‘Butch’ Craig Hendrickson (Philanthropist) – Doctor of Laws (LLD)

Mr Linton Kwesi Johnson (Poet) – Doctor of Letters (DLitt)

The Honourable Oliver Adolphus Samuels, OD, CD (Cultural Icon) – Doctor of Letters (DLitt)