Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has received a prestigious honor from Delaware State University in the United States.
Awarded the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Holness was recognized during a ceremony that took place on Friday, May 10. This event marked a significant occasion not only because Holness was the first Head of Government to receive such an honor from the university but also because he addressed their commencement ceremony, making history in the institution’s 132 years.
Jamaicans among doctoral candidates
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Holness spoke to a gathering of about 200 doctoral and master’s graduates.
This group included 38 Jamaican doctoral candidates who were part of an international program offered by Delaware State University.
His presence underscored the strong academic ties between Jamaica and the international educational community, highlighted by this significant number of Jamaican graduates.
Key themes in Holness’ address
In his speech, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the importance of adopting new perspectives to transform challenges into opportunities.
He advocated for a continual learning process and openness to new ideas, which he described as essential for personal and professional growth.
His message encouraged the graduates to seek diverse viewpoints and to learn from the experiences of others.
The ceremony was attended by notable figures including Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, and Robert Montague, Member of Parliament for St. Mary West.
