The UWI expresses condolences on the passing of distinguished alumnus and honorary graduate, Dr Sir Prince Ramsey.
Regional Headquarters, Kingston, Jamaica, Wednesday, 8 May 2019—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) joins the friends, family members and all of Antigua and Barbuda in mourning the loss of Dr Sir Prince Ramsey. Dr Sir Prince was a graduate of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the then University College of the West Indies in Jamaica and the recipient of an honorary graduate degree from The UWI Open Campus in 2016.
An outstanding humanitarian, Dr Sir Prince dedicated his life to serving the people of his native country as well as the regional community through his advocacy in many areas, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. He was an advocate for family planning and evangelistic in his commitment towards providing medical care for the poor. His medical contribution was not his only strength, as Dr Sir Prince was also a prolific and award-winning calypsonian.
In a citation read at the graduation ceremony during which he received his honorary degree, the Public Orator characterised Dr Sir Prince saying, “He was for the underdog and he demonstrated this with his venture into the world of the calypso. When he returned to Antigua from England, he found out that there were three major calypsonians there—Short Shirt, Swallow and Obstinate. He immediately sought to give the less known calypsonians a voice.”
As a proud alumnus of The UWI, Dr Sir Prince Ramsey kept close ties with the Alumni Association and supported the University’s Global Giving Week events held in Antigua and Barbuda under the patronage of his former classmate, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams.
Extending his condolences on Dr Sir Prince’s passing, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles noted, “Dr Sir Prince was a stalwart in the development struggles of the Caribbean, and the OECS in particular. He was a sophisticated and cultured man, multi-dimensional in his skill sets that enabled him to relate to his society on several levels. In many ways, he was an exceptional citizen who embraced and celebrated Caribbean civilization in his contribution to humanity.”
Principal of The UWI Open Campus, Dr Luz Longsworth, remembers Dr Sir Prince as a passionate advocate for his alma mater. She said, “He was a brilliant but humble man whose commitment to serve his University was ever present. His speech at The UWI Open Campus Graduation Ceremony in 2016 focused on the true meaning of being a Caribbean person and he engaged and delighted the audience with his presentation in song, video and witty repartee. He will be greatly missed.”
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Photo Caption: The late Dr Sir Prince Ramsey (2nd from right) receiving his Honorary Degree at The 2016 UWI Open Campus Graduation Ceremony in St Kitts and Nevis. (Others L-R are: Principal of The UWI Open Campus, Dr Luz Longsworth; Chancellor Emeritus, Sir George Alleyne and Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.)
About The UWI
For the past 70 years The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has provided service and leadership to the Caribbean region and wider world. The UWI has evolved from a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948 to an internationally respected, regional university with near 50,000 students and four campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, and an Open Campus. As part of its robust globalization agenda, The UWI has established partnering centres with universities in North America, Asia, and Africa such as the State University of New York (SUNY)-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development, the UWI-China Institute of Information Technology, the University of Lagos (UNILAG)-UWI Institute of African and Diaspora Studies and the Institute for Global African Affairs with the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences and Sport.
As the region’s premier research academy, The UWI’s foremost objective is driving the growth and development of the regional economy. Times Higher Education has ranked The UWI among the top 1,258 universities in world for 2019, and the 40 best universities in its Latin America Rankings for 2018, and was the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists. For more, visit www.uwi.edu.
(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)
