Legendary Jamaican musician Beres Hammond and Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks are among the list of five Jamaicans who will be conferred with honorary degrees from the University of the West Indies this month.
A total of 14 Caribbean nationals will receive the degrees at UWI’s five Caribbean campuses: Five Islands, Cave Hill, St Augustine, Mona, and Global (formerly Open Campus), during its upcoming Class of 2023 graduation ceremonies.
UWI said the annual tradition of conferring honorary degrees, which coincides this year with the regional university’s 75th jubilee celebrations “will commemorate the outstanding contributions made by these individuals to their communities and the wider society.”
At UWI Mona, Beres Hammond, Professor E. Dale Abel, Lascelles A Chin, the founder of LASCO (posthumous), Rachel Manley, acclaimed Jamaican writer, and Ambassador Marks will receive their degrees at the Nov. 3-4 ceremonies.
Beres’ outstanding five-decade career
In a statement, the university highlighted the five-decade career of Beres Hammond, saying that he has “thrilled generations with his smoky-sweet voice.”
“His spontaneous method of composing, and unwillingness to compromise on the quality of his sound, made a home studio the natural choice for many and continues to attract a steady stream of Jamaica’s most talented musicians,” they said in a statement.
Read: Reggae Legend Beres Hammond Spreads Love From A Distance
In 2013, the singer also received the Order of Jamaica for his exceptional and dedicated contribution to the Jamaican music industry.
Marks: A committed nation-building and entrepreneur
Ambassador Audrey Marks will receive the honorary degree for her “unwavering commitment to nation-building is matched by her outstanding record as an entrepreneur,” UWI said.
She is Jamaica’s first female Ambassador to the United States of America, and the first Ambassador to be appointed three times and in two different administrations, having served in the position since 2008.
UWI also made note of Ambassador Marks’ many entrepreneurial activities including the cultivation of a 100-acre farm for banana export, commercial transportation, and real estate development. She also founded Paymaster (Jamaica) Limited, the first multi-payment system in the Caribbean which today serves over 1.7 million customers online and through 200 locations.
“Ambassador Audrey Marks is recognized not only for her pioneering business achievements but also for her outstanding diplomatic representation in the United States and the Western Hemisphere,” UWI said.
Read: Ambassador Audrey Marks receives Woman of Distinction award
Other recipients this year include Antiguan singer Sir Leroy ‘King Short Shirt’ Emanuel (Five Islands Campus); Ian Hickling, Alison Hinds and Trisha Tannis (Cave Hill Campus); Baroness Floella Benjamin, Heather Headley and Lawrence Scott (St. Augustine Campus); Dr Patrick ‘Paba’ Anthony and Dame Janet Gwennett Bostwick (Global Campus).
