Three days. Six graduation ceremonies. Eight honorary graduands. Six valedictorians. Nearly 4,000 students crossing the stage to take their scrolls of accomplishment. More than 16,000 proud eyes. That was the throb of the St. Augustine Campus as it took its turn to host UWI commencement ceremonies that mark the month of October regionally. Our eight honorary graduates are Justice Jean Angela Permanand, Mr. Norman Sabga, Mr. Gérard Besson, Dr. Marjorie Thorpe, Mr. David Rudder, Justice Ralph Narine, Mr. Rajkumar Krishna Persad, and Mr. Hollis Raymond Charles. Mr. Rudder, performed at his ceremony on Saturday October 24. We asked him what the honorary degree meant to him. “To me it’s the reaffirmation that people are still hearing what I have to say, and a good deal of it seems to be quite relevant,” he said. “It re-energizes the journey.” He had some advice for the students. “Do not limit yourself, search, ask, listen always. Everything is linked in this life.” We asked if he thought we had moved closer to regional integration, and though he did not want to say much, saying he already spoken so often on the subject, his laconic response was eloquent, “No, far from it. The old poisons are still there. Just look at cricket.” (Click here for article)
Photo: Keyon Mitchell |