Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. Tuesday, September 17, 2024—The University of the West Indies (The UWI)continues its annual tradition of honouring the sterling contributions of a select group of the region’s notable luminaries. The University Council approved the conferral of 13 honorary degrees at the 2024 graduation ceremonies across The UWI’s five campuses. This year’s honorary graduands have had long and impactful careers in the areas of advocacy and activism, medicine, tourism and culture, sport, business, education, science and the music industry.
The UWI’s 2024graduation ceremonies are scheduled to take place betweenOctober12and November 9, 2024. The list of the 2024 ceremonies and honorary graduands follows.
Five Islands Campus – October 12
- Sir Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose of Antigua and Barbuda for contributions to Cricket – Doctor of Laws (LLD)
- His Excellency Ambassador Dr W. Aubrey Webson of Antigua and Barbuda for his work in Human Rights Advocacy – Doctor of Laws (LLD)
Cave Hill Campus – October 19
- Dame Susan Dilys Dougan, Governor General of St. Vincent and The Grenadines for her public service and work in Education – Doctor of Laws (LLD)
- Sir Trevor Hassell of Barbados for his contribution to Medicine – Doctor of Science (DSc)
- The Most Honourable Elton Deighton Elombe Mottley of Barbados for his contribution to the development of Culture and the Arts – Doctor of Letters (DLitt)
- Mr Ralph Taylor of Barbados for his work in the Tourism sector – Doctor of Laws (LLD)
St. Augustine Campus – October 24 to 26
- Dr Maniram Ragbir of Trinidad and Tobago/Britain for his work as a Plastic/ Reconstructive Surgeon –Doctor of Science (DSc)
- Dr Patricia Rodney of Guyana for her work as a Medical Practitioner and Human Rights Defender – Doctor of Science (DSc)
Mona Campus – October 31 to November 2
- Mr Donald Anderson, CD of Jamaica for his work as an Entrepreneur/Market Researcher/Sport Administrator – Doctor of Laws (LLD)
- Mr Monte Blake of Jamaica for his pioneering work in music – Doctor of Letters (DLitt)
- Mr Courtney Campbell of Jamaica for his work as an Entrepreneur/Philanthropist –Doctor of Laws (LLD)
- Dr Conrad Douglas, CD of Jamaica forhis contribution to the development of the Bauxite Industry – Doctor of Laws (LLD)
Global Campus – November 9
- Mr Kirani James of Grenada for excellence in Athletics – Doctor of Laws (LLD)
ABOUT THE HONOUREES
Sir Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose
Sir Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose, affectionately called ‘Ambi’, is a proud Antiguan and Caribbean son whose supreme fast bowling contributed to legendary West Indian cricket in the nineties. Described as one of the ‘greatest pacemen ever’, the 6 foot 8 inches tall sportsman was a somewhat reluctant cricketer in childhood. However, encouraged by his mother, he later became one of the West Indies top fast bowlers and one of Antigua’s four cricket knights.
Sir Curtly’s career started with the All-Saints Secondary School junior cricket team and the Swetes Cricket team in 1984. In 1985, he was selected to play for Antigua’s National Team after which he played club cricket in England for Chester Boughton Hall in the Cheshire League (1986) and for Heywood in the Central Lancashire League (1987) refining his techniques.
In 1988, he returned to the Caribbean and played in the Leeward Islands Cricket regional first-class competition, where he broke the regional record of 33 wickets taken, and set a new record of 35. He was selected for the West Indies Cricket Team in the same year. In total, Ambi played 98 test matches, taking 405 wickets with an average of 20.99; 176 one day internationals (ODIs), and 225 wickets averaged at 24.1.
Some of his career highlights, securing West Indian victories, include seven wickets for one run in 32 balls against Australia at Perth (1992/1993); six wickets for 34 runs against South Africa in Barbados (1992); and the match against England in Trinidad (1994), where he bowled England out for 46 runs achieving six wickets for 24 runs.
Sir Curtly’s contribution to West Indies Cricket is written in history and he was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2011 and later knighted in 2014 in Antigua and Barbuda. In 2016 his autobiography ‘Sir Curtly Ambrose: Time to Talk’ was published. He is currently working with the other three cricketing knights of Antigua to establish the Four Knights Cricket Academy.
Sir Curtly remains passionate about cricket. With a Level III certification in coaching, has served as the bowling coach for the West Indies’ senior men’s team (2014-2016). He has also worked with the West Indies U-19 team and several T20 franchises in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Mr Donald Anderson,CD
In 1975 Mr Donald Anderson founded Market Research Services Limited. In the five decades since he has established himself as the region’s premier expert in the field, having conducted studies in every sector of business including banking and finance, health, consumer products, tourism, construction, housing, manufacturing, travel, and airline business.
His extensive work spans both the public and private sectors, with significant projects including social research for Jamaica’s Urban Development Corporation, the United States Government’s State Department, and consumer studies for major brands such as KFC, Desnoes and Geddes (D&G) and Red Stripe Limited. Since 2001, Mr Anderson has led the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce's quarterly Business and Consumer Confidence Index surveys. His work has also impacted the NGO sector; notably, he has partnered with the World Bank across seven Caribbean nations.
Transferring his professional knowledge, Mr Anderson has lectured at the university level for 35 years specialising in marketing, research methods, and market research. He has also functioned extensively as a leading political polling professional. In 33 years, he has worked in almost all Caribbean islands for incumbent governments and the opposition and has established an enviable reputation for consistently accurate and reliable polling throughout the region.
Over the years, Mr Anderson’s expertise has also extended to sport administration. He has served for over 42 years in senior roles, including Vice President of the Jamaica Olympic Association. He represented Jamaica in seven consecutive Olympic Games, leading as head of delegation on five occasions. He has also served as Chairman of the Government’s Institute of Sports, and the Professional Football Association of Jamaica. Regionally, he has held the position of Director of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation and served on the board of the Caribbean National Olympic Committee. Mr Anderson’s excellence in sports administration was acknowledged with the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) in 2007 as well as the Chairman’s award at the Annual National Sportsman and Sportswoman event in 2017.
Mr Monte Blake
Monte Blake, a Jamaican cultural ambassador, continues a musical legacy established by his father, Val Blake, when he founded Merritone Music in 1950. Merritone was the first sound from Morant Bay, St. Thomas. It started in the post-World War II’s genesis era of sound systems and has pioneered Jamaica’s sound system industry ever since. Now it is the only sound that remains from the original era making it the oldest continuously operating system in the world – the last sound standing.
After Val’s death in 1956, his brothers Trevor, Winston, Tyrone and Monte took the baton, maintaining Merritone’s status as a cultural asset for Jamaica and a valuable subsector of the creative industry for over 70 years. Merritone today has the distinction of a symposium at The University of the West Indies, Mona highlighting its impact on Jamaican music.
Merritone made its Kingston debut at the Wembley Club in 1962. From its inception, Merritone broke down stereotypes associated with sound systems, using music to bridge socio-economic divides and playing from Trench Town to The University of West Indies at Mona. It was innovative, becoming the first sound system with a website and online music selections. It also pioneered live online music and event broadcasts long before Jamaican radio stations embraced the technology.
Mr Blake managed Kingston’s Turntable Club from 1973 to 2000, the longest-running nightclub in Jamaica. The club was notable for hosting high-profile guests, from Prime Ministers to global superstars and was the site of Jamaica’s first live recorded album, ‘Dennis Brown Live from the Turntable Club.’ The Turntable Club is now recognised as a National Heritage Site by the Jamaican Government. After closing the club, Merritone performed at various venues before a decade-long run at the Waterfalls Club.
Following Winston’s death, Monte remains Merritone’s chief selector and Director, organising major events like the Annual Reunion and Homecoming, First Sunday at the Deck and Sunday at the Regency. He also led Merritone’s ventures into Cuba in the 1980s.
Monte Blake is committed to music education and philanthropy. Through his love for photography, he has become Merritone’s historian and archivist. He continues to promote Jamaican music, both in Jamaica and among the diaspora globally.
Mr Courtney Campbell, CD
Courtney Campbell is a well-respected Executive in Jamaica’s financial sector. He currently serves as President and CEO of VM Group Limited and VM Financial Group Limited which has operations extending across the Caribbean, North America, and Europe. Since his appointment to VM Group in April 2016, Mr Campbell has orchestrated a comprehensive transformation of the organisation including enhancements in digital strategy, product offerings, brand identity, and organisational structure. Mr Campbell is a passionate advocate for greater inclusion and financial well-being, which is the founding purpose of VM. He has leveraged the organisation’s cultural beliefs and core values to kindle the VM team’s passion for uplifting Jamaicans.
Prior to his tenure at VM Group, Mr Campbell made his mark as CEO of GraceKennedy Financial Group and spent over 23 years with the National Commercial Bank, where he held several senior roles. The University of the West Indies alumnus holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies (UWI) and an MBA in Finance with distinction from the University of Wales and Manchester Business School. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London.
Mr Campbell’s impact extends beyond corporate leadership into philanthropy and community service. He is Chairman of the VM Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the VM Group; a Corporate Champion for The UWI STAT, Mona Campus; and serves on the Governor-General Jamaica Trust and the Investment Committee of the Council of World Missions. He is also a former Chairman of the National Education Trust (NET) and the United Church Mission Enterprise (UCME).
A strong advocate for education, Mr Campbell has facilitated sponsorship for the Mona Distinguished Lecture Series and oversees the provision of various student scholarships. In September 2023, the Mona School of Business & Management recognised him with the Outstanding Business Leader Award for his ‘relentless contributions to nation-building.’ He also received the Governor General’s Medal of Honour for his exceptional support of the Governor-General’s service to Jamaica; and the prestigious American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) International Achievement Award for his accomplishments in business and his service to humanity. He was, in August 2024, conferred with the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander (CD) for sterling service to the field of Financial Operations.
Dame Susan Dilys Dougan
Governor General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Dame Susan Dilys Dougan has spent her professional life serving her nation and championing development through educational reform. A career educator and civil servant her contributions to national development started at St. Vincent Girls’ High School as a Science Teacher from 1975 to 1997. She held the post of Deputy Head Mistress (1997-2001) and then Head Mistress (2001-2004). As an administrator she restructured the timetable to a nine-period day allowing students greater opportunity for exposure to a wider range of subjects.
In 2004 Dame Susan was appointed Chief Education Officer (CEO), a role she held until 2009. As CEO, she implemented the national policy for universal access to secondary education. Under her leadership significant education sector advancements were also made in the areas of early childhood education, adult and continuing education, and tertiary education. This included amalgamating several tertiary level departments into the St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Community College. She also contributed to many regional education reform initiatives and served as an examiner for the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) for many years.
As Cabinet Secretary (2009-2013) Dame Susan’s contributions included her service as the SVG focal point for many organisations, including the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL). She also represented her country in engagements with CARICOM’s Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), UNESCO, OECS and IDB among others.
In 2010 Dame Susan received her OBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The next year she was honoured during the St. Vincent Girls’ High School’s centennial celebrations by being included on a commemorative stamp. In 2014, Dame Susan came out of retirement to serve as the Governor General’s Deputy and in 2019, she made history when she was appointed the first female Governor General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Dr Conrad Douglas, CD
Dr Conrad Douglas is a celebrated Jamaican applied scientist with four decades of experience in international consulting and environmental management. He founded Conrad Douglas & Associates Limited (CD&A) in 1985, and Environmental Science & Technology Limited (ESTECH), a subsidiary of CD&A, in 1995.
Dr Douglas’ work with several major national and international public and private sector organisations has spanned over 45 countries across North, Central and South America, Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. He has written over 350 major environmental management reports and has published over 40 journal articles. Included among his studies are several sections of the Jamaica Country Environmental Profile and a Plan for a System for Natural Protected Areas in Jamaica. His companies have produced more than 3,000 major reports.
Dr Douglas has conducted important work in the global bauxite-alumina industry. He solved a major surface-colloidal chemistry problem at Alcan, which made the plant inoperable for three weeks, and cost the company US$30 million. He has enhanced the scientific and technological capabilities of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute, providing insights into the Jamaican bauxite sector. He was instrumental in re-engineering the Jamaica-Ukraine alumina deal, which ensured a steady inflow of US$35 million annually.
Outside of Jamaica, Dr Douglas has worked with several United Nations agencies and other multilateral organisations including the Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth Secretariat, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Centre for Development of Enterprise (CDE).
Dr Douglas has lectured at The University of the West Indies, Mona and co-supervised PhD research. He is a past Chairman of the Scientific Research Council (SRC) of Jamaica and a past member of the National Commission of Science & Technology (NCST). Dr Douglas was the Chairman of the 1st Climate Change Advisory Board and was instrumental in establishing the Climate Change Division. He initiated the twinning of the Cities of Portmore and Hagen, the Climate Change Park and the installation of solar panels and training of solateurs at the Portmore Heart Academy. He is a past Chairman of the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) and presently serves as a Director of the National Foundation for the Development of Science & Technology (NFDST).
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to science and technology, industry and public service Dr Douglas has been awarded the Jamaican Society of Scientists and Technologists, C.O. Bloomfield Award for Science & Technology in Industry (1995); the National Honour of Order of Distinction, Commander Class (CD) and the Institute of Jamaica awarded him the Silver Musgrave Medal for science (2024).
Sir Trevor Hassell
Founder and past President of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and past Chairman of the Barbados National NCD Commission, Sir Trevor Hassell has distinguished himself as a regional and international advocate for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). For many years provided regional CARICOM civil society leadership at major United Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) NCD meetings and was a member of the WHO Civil Society Working Group at the third UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs, 2018.
Sir Trevor has held the positions of President of the Caribbean Cardiac Society, President of the Inter American Heart Foundation, Vice President of the World Heart Federation, and Founder President of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados. He has been extensively involved in NCD policy development, wellness interventions and champions civil society engagement and capacity building in the NCD response.
Throughout his career, Sir Trevor has encouraged greater regional institutional involvement in the response to NCD issues in the Caribbean aiming to reduce the health and economic burden of NCDs. This has led to strategic engagements with PAHO/WHO, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the NCD Alliance, the World Obesity Foundation, and the World Cancer Research Foundation.
Retired Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the School of Clinical Medicine and Research, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill; retired Consultant Physician; and a past Director of Medical Services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sir Trevor has for over three decades taught general internal medicine and cardiology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, an accredited, UWI-affiliated teaching hospital. He has also served as Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre (GA-CDRC) for over a decade and was an early collaborator in the Barbados National Registry and the Health of the Nation Study conducted by The UWI’s GA-CDRC. Sir Trevor has published extensively in respected medical journals and has delivered various conference presentations, technical reports, and lectures across his career.
In 2013, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the medical profession and public health in Barbados, Sir Trevor was appointed to the Order of Barbados as a Knight of St. Andrew.
Mr Kirani James
Kirani James is a Grenadian sprinter who specialises in the 400 metres. His medal haul includes gold in the 400m at the World Championships (2011), the London Olympics (2012), and the Commonwealth Games (2014).
Mr James began his athletic career in the small fishing village of Gouyave, St. John, where he joined the SpeedZone club at age 13 and quickly made a mark by setting record times for his age group. His early achievements include gold medals at the CARIFTA Games and breaking Usain Bolt’s U20 400m record. Internationally, he won gold in the 400m at the Commonwealth Youth Games (2007), earned silver at the World Youth Championships (2007) and World Junior Championships (2008), and became the first athlete to achieve a 200m/400m double at the 2009 World Youth Championships. He also won 400m gold at the World Junior Championship in 2010.
He attended the University of Alabama on an athletic scholarship and competed under the coaching and mentorship of Olypmic gold medallist Harvey Glance. Mr James won the NCAA Outdoor Championship title in his first two years and ran a personal best of 43.74 at the 2014 Diamond League where he also took gold in 2011, 2015, 2022 and 2023.
Kirani James is one of only nine athletes to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior levels, and is among the most decorated 400m athletes in history. His accolades include three World Championship medals (2011 Gold; 2015 Bronze; 2022 Silver) and three Olympic medals (2012 Gold; 2016 Silver; 2020 Bronze), making him the first to win three individual 400m Olympic medals. James was Grenada's first and only Olympic medallist until the Paris Games of 2024.
He was named Grenada’s Athlete of the Year four times and was ranked number one in the world at 400m in 2011, 2012 and 2014. In December 2012, Caribbean Journal named James and Jamaica's Usain Bolt co-sportsmen of the year.
Outside of track and field James has a Bachelor's degree in General Business and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Windward Islands Research & Education Foundation (WINDREF) and its Sport for Health programme.
The Most Honourable Elton ‘Baba Elombe’ Mottley
The Most Honourable Elton ‘Baba Elombe’ Mottley, a titan in the culture and media industries, has dedicated almost six decades to his craft. His profound influence is evident in the establishment of Yoruba Barbados, a company he founded to champion the rich tapestry of Barbadian culture.
He has served as Director of Culture at the Barbados Ministry of Information and Culture (1982-1984) and as the Director of the National Cultural Foundation (1984-1986). As a consultant, Mr Mottley has worked with CARIFORUM on developmental plans, policy, cultural festivals, and government ministries responsible for culture and tourism in Barbados, Guadeloupe, and Jamaica. His consultancy work with private entities has included West 104 Radio in Jamaica and the GPD and GHz Group in Florida, researching Telecommunications and Culture in the Caribbean.
Mr Mottley has served on the Advisory Board of the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica, the Board of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, the Council of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, and the Folk Institute of the Antilles, Trinidad.
He has worked as a columnist for the Barbados Nation, a talk show host on radio and television in Barbados and Jamaica, a producer, and a commentator for broadcasts of cultural festivals, including the Crop Over Festival and the National Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) for local and regional audiences for the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) and the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).
Throughout his illustrious career, Mr Mottley has curated diverse works spanning drama, dance, musicals, educational films, and art exhibitions. A prolific writer, he has authored and published several books on Barbadian culture and poetry, namely Identities Volumes 1 and 2, Better Must Come Volumes 1 and 2, and Cover Down Yuh Bucket, an exploration of “Stick Licking in the Caribbean.” He has also published two books of poems—DeCity and Night Song. Additionally, he has produced oral history and music recordings.
Elton Mottley's unwavering commitment to culture has not gone unnoticed. He has been honoured with several prestigious awards, including the Bussa Award for Lifetime Contribution to African Heritage (1991), the Clement Payne Hero Award (2011), and the esteemed Freedom of Barbados national award in 2022.
Dr Maniram Ragbir
An expert Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr Maniram Ragbir has specialised in the field for 30 years. Based at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, he currently serves as Clinical Lead for the North of England Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Service and Director of The North East Microsurgery Training Course. Dr Ragbir is appointed visiting Professor at the University of Trieste in Italy 2024/2025, an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Medical Education at Newcastle University; an Examiner for the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (EBOPRAS); and FRCS (Plast) for the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Leading the field in sarcoma and head and neck reconstruction, he has published extensively and made numerous presentations to learned societies including regionally in Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana and internationally in the UK, Finland, Malaysia, Chile, Iraq, USA, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Pakistan and India. For his research his team has secured £1.45 M in grant funding.
DrRagbir’s repertoire of public service and volunteer work is outstanding. Though based in England, he frequently travels to Trinidad to conduct probono, complex reconstructive procedures that are beyond the capacity of regional surgeons.
Dr Ragbir has also made significant contributions to The UWI in the development of the syllabus and curriculum for the DM Plastic Surgery programme at the Mona Campus. He has gone on to serve as the External Examiner for the first two years of the new programme. Dr Ragbir also assists in training UWI graduates in postgraduate surgery, and lectures at the Caribbean College of Surgeons. In 2024, he served as the external examiner for The UWI MBBS exams on all campuses.
He is actively planning missions to Tanzania, Uganda, and Guyana where he plans for a Plastic Surgery training programme at the University of Guyana and another programme to assist the underprivileged in need of plastic surgery.
Dr Ragbir is the first Caribbean surgeon, and the only UWI alumnus, to have been appointed President of the British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, one of the most prestigious groups of Plastic Surgeons worldwide. He was also recently named an Honorary Member of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India.
Dr Patricia Rodney
Patricia Rodney is a sociologist, Public Health professional, educator, and social justice activist. Dr Rodney obtained her PhD from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, Canada, her Master of Public Health (MPH) from Emory University, Atlanta, GA, and her State Registered Nurse (SRN) from the Royal Northern Hospital, London, England.
Her career spans the disciplines of health, adult education and literacy, social work, and women, gender, and development. While living in Barbados, she worked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Transport Board before joining the Women and Development Unit (WAND), The UWI, Cave Hill, as a Programme Officer, responsible for Grenada and Dominica from 1983 to 1989.
From 1995 to 2010, Dr Patricia Rodney served as MPH Programme Director, Professor at the Department of Community Health & Preventive Medicine, and Assistant Dean for Public Health Education at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) in Atlanta, GA. She remains an Adjunct Professor at MSM. In 2011, Dr Rodney established Partners in Health, Education, and Development (PHEAD), a consultancy through which she continues her international work.
Dr Patricia Rodney, in addition to her other roles, is the CEO of the Walter Rodney Foundation (WRF). Established by the Rodney Family in 2006, the WRF is dedicated to sharing Walter Rodney’s life and works with students, scholars, activists, and communities worldwide, in the spirit of his philosophy of ‘Groundings.’
Since her husband’s assassination in 1980, Dr Patricia Rodney has demonstrated unwavering resilience in her pursuit of justice. On June 10, 2021, the Government of Guyana accepted the 2016 Presidential Commission of Inquiry Report that confirmed a far-reaching, decades-long, state-led conspiracy to assassinate and then cover up the murder of Dr Walter Rodney. The Government of Guyana formally apologized to the Rodney Family and made several commitments to correct the historical record. Dr Patricia Rodney continues to seek reparations on behalf of the Rodney Family, a testament to her enduring commitment to justice.
In 2021, in the spirit of reparative justice, Dr Patricia Rodney delivered the 23rd Annual Walter Rodney Lecture, hosted jointly by The University of the West Indies’ Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) and the Centre for Reparation Research (CRR).
Patricia Rodney is the author of The Caribbean State, Health Care, and Women: An Analysis of Barbados and Grenada 1979-1983 and has published several peer-reviewed academic articles. She is the recipient of numerous awards, most recently the MPH Trailblazer Award on the 25th Anniversary of the MSM/MPH Programme in May 2023; the President’s Award at the 21st Annual St. Martin Book Fair in November 2023; and the Rev. Dr C. T. Vivian Award of Courage from “Let Us Make Man” based in Atlanta, GA, in May 2024.
Mr Ralph Taylor
A visionary in Caribbean tourism and hospitality, Mr Ralph Taylor introduced the all-inclusive concept to Barbados with his acquisition of the Divi Resort in 1991. He rebranded it the Almond Beach Club & Spa and served as Chairman and Managing Director of Almond Resorts Inc. for the next 20 years. In that time Mr Taylor spearheaded the successful expansion of Almond Resorts’ all-inclusive product from one to five hotels with 1,549 rooms in both Barbados and Saint Lucia. Today, he is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arcadia Hotels & Resorts, a new hotel brand that owns and manages the SoCo Hotel in Barbados.
Mr Taylor’s contributions to the Caribbean tourism sector have been widely recognised. In 1995, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association named him the Caribbean Hotelier of the Year for his commitment to industry development. In 2003, the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism awarded him the Caribbean Media Personality of the Year award. Three years later, in 2006, he was awarded the inaugural Barbados Minister of Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to regional tourism.
Mr Taylor has served on numerous boards across the Caribbean. He is a past President and Chairman of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and has also served as Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority, Chairman of the Tourism Development Corporation, President of the Barbados Hotel Association; and Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Minister of Tourism in Barbados.
HE Ambassador Walton Aubrey Webson
Appointed Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in 2014, HE Dr Walton Webson is the UN’s first visually impaired Permanent Representative. Across his career, he has built a sterling reputation as a human rights advocate, championing efforts to improve the lives of children with visual impairments. He served as First Chief Executive of the Caribbean Council for the Blind and continued his advocacy work with Sight Savers International, United Kingdom and Helen Keller International, New York. He also spent 15 years as a Programme Coordinator of the Institutional Development Programme which works to empower blind and visually impaired persons in the African Continent and to improve the organisations that support them. He founded the ‘Africa Forum and Africa Tec Share’ a conference to introduce technology on the African continent to persons with visual impairment. It also reaches families, professionals and persons who are blind in Africa helping them to learn from their own experiences.
From 1992, Ambassador Webson served as an Institutional Development Consultant for the Hilton Perkins International specialising in management and leadership training and policy formulation. As Chief Executive (2011-2014), he led the diversification of Perkins International funding and expanded its partnerships and funding reach in the UK, the European Union and Canada.
In 1991, Ambassador Webson was a speaker at the United Nations General Assembly, presenting at the closing of the Decade of the Disabled. He has also featured on several occasions as a speaker at the World Blind Union General Assembly, (Canada [1996], Australia [2002], South Africa [2003], and USA [2016]). In 2019 he founded and co-led the United Nations Friends of Vision a grouping that was instrumental in advocating for eye health to be included in the outcome statement for world leaders on universal health care (UHC 2019). He authored or led several resolutions at the United Nations including: The Multi Vulnerability Index (2024); Vision for All (2021); Global Challenge to Rid the World of Tuberculosis (2020); Reform of the Resident Coordinator System for SIDS (2019); World Braille Day (2017); and International Sign Language Day (2016). He has also held the post of President of the Boards of UNICEF (2017) and UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS (2020); chaired AOSIS (2022–2023), and functioned as Coordinator and Lead of SIDS4 (2024). In education, he has served as an Adjunct Professor at Wheelock College and Assumption University in Massachusetts and as an Advisor to the University of South Africa.
Ambassador Webson has worked extensively in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa supporting policy development and contributing to the social development of persons with disabilities. His expertise has informed national education policy in South Africa; the child development policy in Saint Lucia; and education for children with visual impairment in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Uganda, and Ghana.
Ambassador Webson is only the fourth recipient of the Louis Braille Gold Medal for outstanding visually impaired persons, excelling globally in service to persons with visual impairment. His authored books and articles include “Empowerment of the Blind” produced in three languages and others focused on the Sustainable Development Goals and Disability as well as NGO management.
