MONTEGO BAY, St James — Minister of Education, Information and Youth Senator Ruel Reid has congratulated the latest batch of the University of The West Indies, Western Jamaica Campus (UWI, WJC) ambassadorial corps, who will, among other things, be tasked with integrating the tertiary institution with communities across the western region.

“I want to congratulate the ambassadors for this great university. We want to expand the university’s population, expand your capacity, your integration with the rest of the western region. Because part of the responsibility of your university is to transform the lives of the citizens of your community,” Senator Reid remarked during his address at the installation ceremony, held last week at Sandals Montego Bay Resort in St James.

The ambassadors, who have a track record of outstanding contribution to nation-building, are drawn from the parishes of Trelawny, St James and Hanover.

They are: former politician, developer and attorney-at-law, Paula Kerr-Jarrett; Sandals Resorts International’s director, Wayne Cummings; Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Gloria Henry; Richard Bourke, a former president of the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce and Industry, now managing director of Amstar; tennis pro and guest services director at Tryall, Richard Ferdinand; VIP Attraction’s David Hall; Artsmart’s Kathryn May; Solo Jamaica’s Laura Mazabel; Royalton White Sands’ Kerry-Ann Quallo-Casserly; MBJ Airports Limited’s Sitara Byfield; Déjà vu’s Rajesh Kripalani; and Chukka’s John Byles.

The ambassadors will serve for two years and will, among other things, visit schools, conduct lectures and workshops, lead delegations, and make critical interventions on behalf of the campus.

“As WJC ambassadors, they will advocate for The UWI Mona — WJC as the preferred choice for global education, professional development, and producing workplace-ready graduates,” Acting Campus Director Patrick Prendergast explained.

“The primary objective is to help the campus advance its economic, social and cultural significance to the development of western Jamaica,” added Prendergast.