–for historic 52nd UG Graduation Ceremony

EDDY Grant and Yesu Persaud, both revered in their respective fields of endeavour at home and abroad, on Saturday made a bit of history as the University of Guyana (UG) first-ever recipients of honorary doctorate degrees.

Grant, who made a name for himself internationally in entertainment; and Persaud, whose reputation in the field of business is legendary, were among the 351 persons who graduated that day during the first of the university’s three convocation ceremonies.

The other 349 graduates were from the Faculties of Agriculture and Forestry; Earth and Environmental Sciences; and Education and Humanities. Valedictorian was Shakti Persaud, who was presented with the President’s Medal as Best Graduating Student.

Grant’s conferral was for ‘Excellence in Music and Civic Engagement’, while Persaud’s was for ‘Iconic Leadership in Business and Banking.’
Sporting his trademark ‘Ringbang’ tam over his salt-and-pepper ‘locs’, Grant told the packed-to-capacity National Cultural Centre (NCC) audience that he owes it all to the woman in his life, without whom he would not have been the man he is today.

DREAM COME TRUE
Known for his typically British sense of humour, he jocularly recalled that while growing up in his native Plaisance on the lower East Coast, he had wanted nothing better than to become a doctor. And here it is today, titular or not, he is a doctor!

He also spoke glowingly of his 50 years of marriage to the love of his life; the woman who gave him hope in times of despair.He seized the opportunity to encourage his fellow graduands to continue furthering their studies and build capacity as they go out into the world of work to shape their futures, since education never stops.

Known also for his eloquence whenever called upon to speak, the internationally acclaimed businessman cum musician, said: “I have never seen myself as nothing; I am Number One, and there is no real education without experience. Your journey through life must be built on such.”

NO TIME FOR RACE
Cutting to the chase, Persaud said it is about time we Guyanese work together to build our nation and cut the talk about race, since a country divided never wins.

He also talked a bit about the struggles he has endured over the years; from the time he left these shores to work and study abroad, to the time he returned and established the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) some 32 years ago and much later, the indigenous Demerara Bank Ltd.

But in all that time, he said, he never forgot his roots; that he came from very humble beginnings and once lived in a ‘logie’, and rose from being a rat catcher on the sugar plantation, to chairman of one of the country’s leading beverage companies, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

Professor David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University, urged graduands to always root for change, no matter the risks; and to always take the long road to success. “Don’t follow the crowd and take the easy way out,” he said.
He also urged that they dream big, as in so doing they would realise their true potential to make a choice for real change in their lives.

BREAK WITH TRADITION
Speaking on the University of Guyana’s decision to break with tradition and confer honorary doctorate degrees for the very first time in its 50-odd-year history, Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith said:

“This historic conferral is part of the renaissance pursuits of the university, which entails rebuilding and rebranding the university, central to which is celebrating exemplars of excellence in order to inspire young and not-so-young citizens.”

According to Professor Griffith, the decision was taken by the University Council, on the recommendation of the UG Academic Board, and unanimously agreed at its 2018 Annual Business Meeting on Thursday, November 8.

Commenting on the subject, the Chancellor Professor Nigel Harris said: “The recognition of individuals who have distinguished themselves through their diverse accomplishments and exemplary service with the award of honorary degrees is a university tradition that dates to the middle ages.

“I share the delight of our University of Guyana in initiating these awards; it represents yet another step in the transformative growth of our university.”
The four recipients who were conferred with the Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degrees this year have all made their mark in their respective fields, these being music, business, philanthropy and Indigenous rights.

The honorary doctorates were bestowed in accordance with the University of Guyana Act, Section 18 (e), which grants the university the legal authority “to confer Honorary Degrees and other distinctions; that is, provided that all degrees and other distinctions so conferred shall be conferred and held subject to any provision which are or may be made in reference thereto by the university.”

Moreover, one of the powers of the Academic Board under Statute 15:2 (d) is “to make recommendation to the Council with respect to the award to any person of an Honorary Fellowship or Honorary Degree or title of Professor Emeritus.’’