UWI conferring honorary LL.D. degrees on Bolt, Israel, Jarrett

Thursday, July 07, 2011

SPRINT king Usain Bolt, as well as corporate executives Minna Israel and Earl Jarrett will be conferred with honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degrees by the University of the West Indies (UWI) in November this year.

According to the May 2011 issue of the UWI magazine Mona News, Bolt, Israel and Jarrett are among 20 "regional icons" who will be named honorary graduands for their contribution to regional advancement at the graduation ceremonies to be held on the UWI's four campuses across the Caribbean beginning on October 15.

The Mona campus graduation ceremony is scheduled for November 4 and 5 and will also see Professor Lenworth Jacobs receiving the honorary Doctor of Science degree and Dr Erna Brodber being conferred with the honorary Doctor of Letters degree.

Bolt is the double sprint world record holder and Olympic champion, having posted the fastest times over both distances, first at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (9.69 secs for the 100m and 19.30 secs in the 200m) and at the World Championships in Berlin the following year (9.58 secs over the 100m and 19.19 secs in the 200m).

After his performance in Berlin, the Jamaican Government conferred him with the diplomatic title Ambassador-at-Large. He was also conferred with the Order of Jamaica and was previously invested with the Order of Distinction, commander class.

Israel, a career banker, is president and country head of RBTT Bank Jamaica. Before that she worked for many years as a senior executive of Scotiabank Jamaica.

Israel's contribution to banking in the Caribbean earned her the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies Caribbean Luminary Award and the University of Technology Distinguished Alumni award.

Israel holds a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from the Richard Iver School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and a BSc in Management Studies from the UWI.

Mona News said that Jarrett will receive the Honorary LLD for his sterling contribution to banking in Jamaica.

Jarrett, the general manager of Jamaica National Building Society since 1999, holds both a BSc and an MSc in Accounting and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica.

Mona News reported that he has also held leadership positions at the International Union of Housing Finance, the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust and has been a board advisor to the Inter-American Dialogue Financial Services.

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COMMENTS (10)

Tomlin Paul
7/8/2011

Good news for all.

Charlene Myers
7/7/2011

and then UWI wonders why no one takes them seriously. The UWI graduates need to get together & let their voices be heard, he shouldn't be allowed to walk come november

Wins Diaz
7/7/2011

I am surprised that my alma mater will be conferring an honorary Doctor of Law degree on Bolt. It is prematured and in my opinion the UWI should lose its accreditation. Too much Bolt, There are more deserving unsung heroes who have contributed more within the selection process.

Kerron B
7/7/2011

In any event @Vibz, you do not have to agree with me. Always love the way Jamaican patois is expressive … perhaps that was your point to share with me? All is good. I find way you phrased it is often the expression used for some standing in opposition to such gestures; I am not opposing it, OJ trumps Hon. Doctorate any day for me, so like I said it is moot to discuss the award; and I sincerely congratulate ALL the recipients.

Kerron B
7/7/2011

It seems Gene has dedicated some brain space to a possible alternative view, this is good for any discussion, thanks. Not so sure what Vibz wants me to 'resonate', on top of that “confused”, about what? Don’t go trolling people’s comments looking to pick a fight now. It takes some decades (if ever) to get to these accolades some just take 100 (plus 200) meters others a Grammy Award. My Q is: Are we the only country that does this? And will it all be done for the next 'Bolt' when he/she arrives?

Yard Vibz
7/7/2011

Unnu cuya, den ah how dat deh barefoot bwoy deh ah drive Lamborghini!!!! Despite the unpalatable patois, this should resonate well with the now confused, Kerron B.

Gene Knall
7/7/2011

In response to the comment from Kerron B: Your position is one worth some consideration. There is always the concern whether so many awards could possibly become a distraction but it really all depends on the strength of character of the individual. Let's hope Bolt and his people are taking that into consideration. On the OD, CD, OJ national titles, proper protocol dictates that one really used the most senior one only, so Bolt just needs to use OJ.

Kerron B
7/7/2011

Congratulations to ALL of the Awardees. Let the Limelight and accolades forever follow those who embrace hard work and have honour engraved in their 'DNA'.

Kerron B
7/7/2011

Congratulations to ALL of the Awardees. Let the Limelight and accolades forever follow those who embrace hard work and have honour engraved in their 'DNA'.

Kerron B
7/7/2011

Let me be bold enough to challenge this: Now DONT GET ME WRONG Bolt has achieved much in a short time &more than others before him, that is GREAT. A Hon Doctorate is ‘small’ compared to what has already been bestowed eg OJ, OD. But as a Nation if we can (so often) only find Athletes &Entertainers to hold up our image then we are doomed. Go ahead imagine what could be the worst case scenarios, but I suppose anyone can fail us. It has been too much too soon. DR Bolt OD, OJ, Amb@lrg etc etc ect ect

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UWI conferring honorary LL.D. degrees on Bolt, Israel, Jarrett