KINGSTON, Jamaica — Three outstanding Jamaicans will be conferred with honorary doctoral degrees from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC).

The three special honorees are business mogul Adam Stewart, who will receive the Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Business Administration Award; Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who will receive the Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Hospitality and Tourism Management Award; and Dr Patricia V Smith, who will receive the Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Behavioral Sciences Award.

They will be presented with the degrees during a UCC commencement ceremony to be held at the National Arena in Kingston on Sunday, July 28, 2024, starting at 11:00 am.

This year’s ceremony will take place under the theme “Arise – take your place”. It is expected that more than 1,000 graduates will be receiving degrees for the first time in the history of the institution.

Stewart is being awarded for his contribution to the hospitality, media, automotive and appliance industries as chairman and chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International, as well as executive chairman of the ATL Group which comprises the Jamaica Observer Limited and Appliance Traders Ltd.

He will join his late father, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, who was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate from the UCC, posthumously in 2022.

Meanwhile, Minister Bartlett is being acknowledged for his contribution to the Ministry of Tourism and the overall tourism industry.

Dr Patricia Smith is being awarded for her success in the field of healthcare and nursing who continues to give back to her community both in the USA and Jamaica.

Applauding the recipients of the three honorary doctorate degrees, UCC President Professor Colin Gyles said, “In conferring honorary degrees, the UCC Executive Council & Board, select persons who represent the core values of our university, have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields of endeavor and have made outstanding contributions to Jamaica.”

Minister Bartlett will also deliver the keynote address at the graduation ceremony.