News Releases

UWI hosts New York Gala Fundraiser

For Release Upon Receipt - March 11, 2008

Mona


Three University of the West Indies (UWI) scientists who brought Nobel Prize glory to the Caribbean received Special Awards at the 11th Gala of the American Foundation of The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) held at the Waldorf Astoria, New York in January 2008. The annual Gala, which is the AFUWI’s stellar event, is intended to develop an endowment fund in the USA for The University of the West Indies. The AFUWI, which was established in 1956, serves as the primary vehicle for the UWI in its capital campaign and fund raising efforts in the USA.

Themed “Light, Liberty, Learning”, the 2008 Gala honoured Professor Anthony Chen, Dr John Agard and Dr Leonard Nurse, three UWI faculty members who are took part in the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations organisation that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice President, Al Gore.

UWI Chancellor, Sir George Alleyne and Vice Chancellor, Prof. E. Nigel Harris, commended the contributions of “distinguished global citizens” such as AFUWI Gala patron, the Hon. Harry Belafonte, O.J.

Luminary Awards were presented to Dr. Rollin Bertrand, CEO of TCL Group of Companies; Winston Bayley, Chief Financial Officer of The University of the West Indies; Minna Israel, Managing Director Designate, RBTT Bank Jamaica Ltd.; Paul Altman, Managing Director, Altman Real Estate; Vincent HoSang, Founder and CEO, Caribbean Food Delights and Stephen Cozier, Vice President for Caribbean and Central America at the Bank of Nova Scotia. Denis O’Brien, Digicel CEO and Founder, won the top corporate award. Mr. Kenneth DeGhetto, retired Chairman of Foster Wheeler Inc. and former chairman of the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies, received an award for his service to the Foundation and the University.

The Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Awards (for persons of Caribbean heritage in North America who are rising stars in their organisations) were awarded to Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League; Reggie Canal, First Vice President of HSBC; Noel Hankin, Sr. Vice President of Moet Hennessy; Ray Goldburn, Executive Vice President of Black Entertainment Television; Colbert Narcisse, Chief Administrative Officer of Merrill Lynch and Roy Hastick, Founder of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.

Successive AFUWI galas have honoured a host of individuals and organisations linked to the Caribbean who have made exceptional contributions to the world around them. They have included Maya Angelou, Colin Powell, Sidney Poitier, Whoopi Goldberg, Johnetta Cole, Cicely Tyson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Al Roker and Dr. Jimmy Cliff. Several companies including AMOCO, ALCAN, Chevron Texaco, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Bank of Nova Scotia, Citibank and Atlantic LNG, have also been recognised.

In 2002, seven Caribbean Prime Ministers were honoured including: The Rt. Hon. P.J. Patterson, Jamaica; Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony, St. Lucia; The Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, Barbados; Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas, St. Kitts & Nevis; Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, The Hon. Patrick Manning, Trinidad & Tobago and Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell of Grenada.

Contact

  • Ms. Marcia Erskine

  • Tel.: 1 (876) 960 3170
  • Email: