Honorary Doctorates to be Conferred by UWI on Distinguished Contributors in Medicine, Culture, and Tourism

Three Barbadians will receive honorary doctorates from the University of the West Indies (UWI) as the institution continues its annual tradition of honouring the sterling contributions of a select group of the region’s notable luminaries.

The UWI said it will confer a Doctor of Science (DSc) on regional and international advocate for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Sir Trevor Hassell for his contribution to medicine; a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) on noted cultural practitioner ‘Elombe’ Mottley for his contribution to the development of culture and the arts; and a Doctor of Laws (LLD) on hotelier and tourism executive Ralph Taylor for his work in the tourism sector.

They are among 13 who will be honoured at the 2024 graduation ceremonies across The UWI’s five campuses for their “long and impactful careers in the areas of advocacy and activism, medicine, tourism and culture, sport, business, education, science and the music industry”. The Barbadians will receive their honorary doctorates at the Cave Hill Campus on October 19. Governor General of St Vincent and the Grenadines Dame Susan Dilys Dougan will also receive a Doctor of Laws (LLD) for her contribution to the development of education at that graduation ceremony.

Sir Trevor, founder and past president of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and past chairman of the Barbados National NCD Commission, has been extensively involved in NCD policy development, wellness interventions and champions civil society engagement and capacity building in the NCD response.

For many years, he provided regional civil society leadership at major United Nations and World Health Organisation (WHO) NCD meetings.

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.

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, UWI pointed out.

The “cultural elder of Barbados” who has dedicated nearly six decades to the development of arts and culture, locally and regionally, 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, he worked with CARIFORUM on developmental plans, policy, cultural festivals, and government ministries responsible for culture and tourism in Barbados, Guadeloupe, and Jamaica.

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 and produced oral history and music recordings.

Taylor, who UWI described as a visionary in Caribbean tourism and hospitality, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arcadia Hotels & Resorts, a new hotel brand that owns and manages the SoCo Hotel in Barbados. A trailblazer in the tourism industry, he introduced the all-inclusive concept to Barbados with the acquisition of the Divi Resort in 1991 and subsequently rebranded it the Almond Beach Club & Spa.

For the next 20 years, Taylor led the expansion of the resort from one to five hotels, with 1 549 rooms in Barbados and Saint Lucia. He 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.

(PR/BT)