By Sue-Ann Wayow
CHIEF Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram will receive an honorary degree from the University of the West Indies (UWI) for his outstanding contribution to regional and international development.
In a press release from the university, UWI stated that Dr Parasram will be bestowed the honour along with 13 other eminent persons at its 2021 graduation ceremonies.
Nominations from across the UWI’s five campuses were approved by the University Council, at its sitting on April 30. These 2021 graduands will join a list of over 450 honorary degree recipients conferred by the regional University since 1965, UWI stated.
At the St Augustine campus in October, the honorary graduands will be Dr Parasram receiving the Doctor of Science (DSc), Ray Anthony Holman, musician and educator who will receive Doctor of Letters (DLitt), Sieunarine Persad Coosal, entrepreneur and philanthropist – Doctor of Laws (LLD) and attorney Lynette Seebaran-Suite – Doctor of Laws (LLD).
UWI stated, “The UWI retains this annual tradition of the conferral of honorary degrees even as some of its graduations are expected to again be held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this time during the customary ‘graduation season’ of October-November.”
Last month, a special convocation was permitted to confer an Honorary Doctor of Science degree (DSc) on Dr Ruby Lake-Richards, one of the first 33 medical students who attended The UWI (then University College of the West Indies). Now 99 years old, she is also the first female, UWI graduate from Antigua and Barbuda, UWI announced.
The ceremony hosted by The UWI Five Islands marked the first honorary degree awarded at the University’s newest campus.
In September, another special convocation will be held for the conferral of a Doctor of Laws on Her Excellency Dame Sandra Prunella Mason, GCMG, DA, QC, Governor-General of Barbados, UWI stated.
