THE Institute of Education at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, in collaboration with the Faculty of Humanities and Education yesterday hosted a farewell luncheon at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston in honour of Professor Errol Miller, who has retired from the institution after more than 25 years of service.

Education Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson, who gave the main address at the function, lauded Miller for his immense contribution to education in Jamaica and the region. She described him as the “quintessential Christian and human being” whose ideas have been appreciated over the years by Jamaicans and persons abroad.

“Miller is an academic and role model to me personally. He always had generosity of spirit and was willing to share his knowledge with others,” Henry-Wilson said.

She also expressed gratitude, on behalf of the government, for his service to the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) over the years.

“The period he served at the EAC will be indelibly etched in history and our memories,” she said. “He was able to think strategically and was able to negotiate conflicts while ensuring results.”

Meanwhile, vice-chancellor emeritus of the UWI, Professor Rex Nettlford, welcomed Miller to the “zone of obscenity called retirement”, while praising him for the years he spent at the university.

“His years at UWI witnessed his ingenuity and clarity of thought. He was a visionary,” Nettleford said.

“In any position he held, he always found answers to any challenge that arose in that field,” said Nettleford.

Miller, who also served as permanent secretary in the education ministry and was an independent senator from 1984 to 1989, was also described as a stalwart of education in the Caribbean, whose yeoman service has reaped recognition and awards both locally and internationally.

Prior to his retirement, Miller served as head of the Institute of Education at UWI, and to date, has written over 12 academic texts and 30 journal articles.

In recognition of his contributions to the UWI, the Errol Miller Graduate Studies Award was launched, whereby a graduate student at the UWI will be granted $50,000 to help in collecting research data.