Holness finally makes UWI Heads of Government Scroll
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness this morning became the third Jamaican graduate of the University of West Indies (UWI) to be honoured by the institution as a head of Government.
Pro Vice-Chancellor of the university and Principal of the Mona campus, Professor Archibald McDonald, did the honours, asking the prime minister to sign the official university book and unveil the plaque on a monument situated in the park area of Irvine Hall with his name inscribed.The university established the park in 2005 to honour past students who are sitting or former heads of government by having their names engraved on the monument.However, despite being prime minister of Jamaica twice since October 2011, Holness was not recognised on the monument until the error was revealed in the local media, during the July 2016 visit of Trinidad and Tobago’s current Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley. Rowley was similarly honoured here during his visit.Following the revelation, the UWI responded that initial overtures were made while Holness was briefly prime minister between 2011 and January, 2012, and that arrangements were being made since he was re-elected in February, 2016.Representatives of the university did not mention the issue during today’s function. But, Holness raised it, colourfully, in his response to a crowd including three former Jamaican prime ministers- Edward Seaga, PJ Patterson and Bruce Golding, who have already been honoured.“Some thought this day would never come. I was one of them,” Holness said, to loud cheers from the audience.The UWI said that Holness is the 23rd head of government to make the list. He was Jamaica’s youngest ever prime minister in 2011.Balford Henry