Virtual UWI gala to honor Mia Mottley & six others
Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley. Photo by George Alleyne
Caribbean Life, JAN. 29-FEB. 4, 2021 11
A virtual fundraising event
on Feb. 21 will be no less
auspicious than 23 years past
that demanded black-tie attire,
VIP pricey table seating from
the American Foundation for
the University of the West
(AFUWI) the organization that
aid in providing scholarships
for students on five university
campuses that comprise the
Caribbean’s premier research
academy.
According to Ann Marie
Grant, “the Legacy Continues”
and following a tradition, a
slate of distinguished honorees
will provide the same protocols
as those upheld prior to the
restrictive initiatives imposed
to thwart the rabid COVID-19
virus forcing social distancing
and postponement of reservations
to a five-star hotel in
Manhattan.
Grant said Barbados Prime
Minister Mia Mottley and
Cedella Marley, heiress of the
Bob and Rita Marley reggae
legacy are among seven distinguished
recipients to receive
awards at the 24th annual.
PM Mottley will receive “The
Legacy Award” and the entrepreneurial
daughter of the king
and queen of reggae music will
receive the “The Chancellor’s
Award For Excellence in Global
Leadership.”
Other awardees include:
Arlene Isaacs-Lowe, global
head of CSR, President,
Moody’s Foundation — “The
Vice Chancellor’s Achievement
Award”
Dr. Jermaine Omar Mc
Calpin, chair, African and African
American Studies Research
Interests, New Jersey City University
— “The Pelican Award”
David Mullings, Founder,
chairman and CEO, Blue Major
Capital Partners — “The Chancellor’s
Award For Excellence in
Business Leadership”
Amanda Seales, actress,
activist, artist and media personality
— “The Caribbean
Luminary Award”
And radio personality, Dahved
Levy “The Trailblazer
Award For Excellence in Community
Engagement.”
The virtual benefit will be
dedicated to the memory of
David N. Dinkins, New York
City’s first and only Black
mayor who was an avid supporter
of the benefit until his
death last year.
Throughout the years, Grant
worked closely with the leader
to elevate the stature of the
UWI. In addition to boasting its
claim as a learning institution
she often insists its “foremost
objective is driving the growth
and development of the regional
economy.”
Grant’s assessment has been
chorused with pride of the satellite
campuses extended from
Jamaica to Barbados, Trinidad,
Antigua throughout its
70 years providing service and
leadership to the Caribbean
region and wider world.
Graduates often relate how
“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.”
Beginning at 6:30 pm
patrons to the gala can log
onto www.afuwi.org to join the
stellar virtual event, which will
likely expand outreach to a global
audience that might otherwise
find geographical and
other restraints.
“Each year the AFUWI has
the privilege of saying thank
you on behalf of the people
in the Caribbean and the
Diaspora,” Professor Sir. Hillary
Beckles, vice chancellor of
UWI said.
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
/www.afuwi.org
/www.afuwi.org
