Celebrating Caribbean Excellence – UWI to Honour 11 Visionaries at 2025 Graduation Ceremonies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is set to continue its tradition of recognising exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions to their fields. During the 2025 graduation ceremonies, eleven distinguished graduates will be awarded honorary degrees. These ceremonies are scheduled to take place from October 11 to November 8, 2025, across the five UWI campuses.

This year’s honorary graduands represent a diverse range of professions, each bringing decades of experience and impactful contributions in fields such as Music, Agriculture, Religion, Science and Research, and Aviation. The UWI Council approved the decision to honour these individuals, reflecting the institution’s commitment to celebrating excellence and innovation.

Below is the list of the 2025 ceremonies and the honorary graduands.

Five Islands Campus – October 11

• Professor Paget Henry – Caribbean Philosophy, Sociology and Political Thought – LLD

Cave Hill Campus – October 18

• Lyndon Gardiner – Aviation Sector and Regional Development – LLD
• Pierce Antonio Rudder – “Culturepreneur”- musician, cultural administrator, and entrepreneur – DLitt

St Augustine Campus – October 23 to 25

• Mungal Patasar – Musician and Composer – DLitt
• Professor Niranjan Kissoon – Global Health and Medicine – DSc
• Nigel Lewis Romano – Chartered Accountant – LLD

Mona Campus – October 30 to November 1

• The Late Honourable Donald Wehby-OJ, CD, Business Executive – LLD
• Marcia Griffiths-Music, Culture, and the Empowerment of Women – DLitt
• Bishop Robert Clarke – Preservation of the Revival Tradition – DLitt
• Professor Gene D. Morse – Professor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science – DSc

Global Campus – November 8

• Sir Calixte George – Agricultural Consultant, Telecommunications, Former Minister of Government – LLD

As the regional university prepares to honour these eleven outstanding individuals, the 2025 graduation ceremonies promise to be a celebration of not only academic excellence but also the profound impact these leaders have made in their respective fields. Their stories are a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and transformative change.

MORE ABOUT THE HONOREES

Bishop Robert Clarke

Bishop Robert Clarke is a seasoned spiritual leader and community builder with over 45 years of service in ministry, agriculture, and social outreach. Beginning his career as an Extension Officer in Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture (1973–1982), he empowered farmers through education in sustainable practices, disaster resilience, and modern farming technologies. His work included organising farmer groups, conducting field demonstrations and providing guidance on soil management, pest control, and livestock health, laying the foundation for stronger and more resilient rural communities.

A Jamaican by birth, Bishop Clarke answered the call to ministry early in life. In 1982, Bishop Clarke transitioned to full-time ministry as Pastor of the New Testament Church of Christ the Redeemer, leading spiritual growth, pastoral care, and community outreach for 14 years. In 1996, he founded the New Testament United Holiness Churches of Christ, serving as Bishop and overseeing the spiritual and administrative leadership of the diocese. His duties included ordaining clergy, managing church governance, fostering ecumenical relationships, and championing social justice initiatives.

As Bishop, Dr. Clarke has been instrumental in strengthening church administration, expanding community outreach, and fostering leadership development among clergy. His vision has extended beyond the pulpit—under his guidance, communities have benefitted from mentorship programmes advocating for social justice and at-risk youth, charitable initiatives, and the encouragement of spiritual growth and maturity among church members. Bishop Clarke’s leadership blends pastoral guidance with strategic organisational management, ensuring both spiritual vitality and operational integrity in the communities he serves. His work reflects a lifetime commitment to service, faith, and social transformation, with a steadfast belief that faith must be lived out through acts of love, justice, and empowerment.

Bishop Dr. Robert Clarke has devoted his life to ministry, education, and social transformation, emerging as one of the most respected religious leaders in the Caribbean. His legacy is one of unwavering dedication to God, tireless service to humanity, and a steadfast belief that faith must be lived out through acts of love, justice, and empowerment.

Lyndon Gardiner

Lyndon Gardiner is a visionary Caribbean entrepreneur and aviation pioneer whose bold leadership has transformed regional travel. Born in Bottle Creek, North Caicos, and raised by a mother who nurtured six children alone, Gardiner learned early the values of perseverance and determination that would define his remarkable journey. Inspired by his brother Donnie, an air traffic controller, Gardiner obtained his pilot’s license in the 1980s. By the 1990s, he had secured a commercial Air Operator’s Certificate for InterIsland Airways, beginning as a one-person operation serving as pilot, baggage handler, and fuel attendant.

Recognising the growing private aviation market, he established Provo Air Centre, which became the region’s premier Fixed Base Operator. His commitment to excellence earned Provo Air Centre the “Best Caribbean FBO” award by Aviation International News for five consecutive years.

Gardiner’s vision expanded beyond the Turks and Caicos Islands. Air Turks & Caicos evolved into interCaribbean Airways in 2013, reflecting its dream of regional connectivity. During the 2020 pandemic, while competitors retreated, he boldly expanded southward into seven new countries, demonstrating unwavering faith in Caribbean unity and growth.

Today, interCaribbean Airways is the largest privately-owned airline in the Caribbean, connecting 27 destinations across 17 countries and territories with over 20 aircraft, employing hundreds region-wide. Beyond business success, Gardiner champions community development through the Manville Gardiner Memorial Scholarship at UWI, medical transport partnerships, and disaster relief efforts. His enduring legacy proves that with vision and perseverance, humble Caribbean origins can achieve transformational regional impact.

Sir Calixte George

Sir Calixte George is a distinguished Saint Lucian agronomist, educator, agricultural researcher, and statesman whose career has been marked by exceptional contributions to science, governance, and regional development.

Sir Calixte earned an open scholarship to St Mary’s College, Saint Lucia, excelling in the sciences. He went on to teach there as a Science Master before obtaining a scholarship to read for a degree in Agriculture at the then University College of the West Indies, St. Augustine, which had recently transitioned from being the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture (ICTA).  Sir Calixte was one of the earliest graduates at St. Augustine, obtaining his BSc in 1963 and then earning an MSc in Soil Science from the University of Reading, UK, in 1966.

He returned to Saint Lucia and his career in Agriculture followed, serving as Chief Research Officer, and later Acting Chief Agricultural Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture. Sir Calixte’s expertise also extended to managing agricultural stations and leading farmer training across the Windward Islands in conjunction with the UWI Faculty of Agriculture.

In 1979, he joined the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), where he rose to become the Executive Director of the regional institution. Under his leadership, CARDI coordinated agricultural innovation and capacity-building throughout the Caribbean. He later served as Managing Director of the Saint Lucia Banana Growers’ Association, where he spearheaded the transformation of the Windward Islands Banana Growers’ Association (WINBAN) into the Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting Company Limited (WIBDECO), securing vital export contracts and modernising the industry. Sir Calixte was an activist for workers’ rights and was the President of the Saint Lucia Civil Service Association. His advocacy helped negotiate the largest single salary increase in the history of Saint Lucian civil servants.

In Saint Lucia’s political arena, he first served as Senate President between 1979 and 1982. Between 1997 and 2006, he was Leader of Government Business in the Senate and held varied ministerial portfolios in the Cabinet, including Communications, Works, Transport & Public Utilities; Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry; and Home Affairs & National Security. During his tour of service, he spearheaded the modernisation of numerous sectors, agencies and institutions, most notably the liberalisation of the OECS telecommunications sector: pioneering the establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) and serving as its founding Chair.

His service has been recognised with honours, most notably that of Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCSL). Even in retirement, he has continued to share his wealth of knowledge and expertise in the interest of national development. In 2019, he authored a detailed history of his alma mater entitled “St. Mary’s College: The Caribbean’s Nobel Laureate School” and is presently completing his autobiography, chronicling his lifetime of service.

Marcia Griffiths

Born and raised in West Kingston, Jamaica, Marcia Griffiths has left her mark on the reggae scene over a span of six decades. One of reggae’s most celebrated and enduring voices, Marcia was crowned the Queen of Reggae for her artistry, innovation, and commitment, which helped shape the genre from its early days to the global stage. Starting her musical career in 1964 alongside Byron Lee and The Dragonaires, Ms Griffiths honed her skills under the tutelage of Phillip “Boasie” James of The Blues Busters, and Clement “Coxsone” Dodd at Studio One. Soon, she became a household name in 1970 when she joined Bob Marley and the Wailers as part of the legendary I-Threes singing group. The trio supported Bob Marley and The Wailers on classic albums such as Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibration, and Exodus. Alongside this, her solo success also flourished with tracks like “Stepping Out a Babylon” and a collaboration in 1982 with Bunny Wailer, when they recorded “Electric Boogie,” which sparked a worldwide dance craze: the Electric Slide. This cultural phenomenon remains popular to this day.

Over the course of 60 years in the music industry, Marcia has recorded nineteen solo albums, five duet albums (with Bob Andy), and numerous collaborations, including the Penthouse Records hits like I Shall Sing and Fire Burning. Her ability to adapt to changing times has secured her longevity in a competitive industry. Her contributions have been recognised with top national honours: the Order of Jamaica (OJ) in 2023, the Commander Class distinction in 2014, and the Order of Distinction (OD) in 1994. These accolades highlight her role as both a cultural ambassador and a pioneering woman in reggae.

Beyond music, Marcia is a champion for women’s rights and a role model for countless artists, particularly women in reggae. She has been celebrated as a fashion icon, mentor, and community advocate, especially for initiatives supporting children in Kingston. Her mission, as she states, is not only to entertain but to “reach out to touch souls, to teach, educate, and uplift.”

Professor Paget Henry

Professor Paget Henry, Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Africana Studies at Brown University, has dedicated his career to advancing Caribbean thought and fostering academic spaces for the study of African and Caribbean philosophy. Earning his BA at City University of New York in 1970, Professor Henry pursued graduate studies at Cornell University, where he completed his MA in 1973 and PhD in 1976. His early work involved research on the political atmosphere in Antigua and Jamaica, and then extended to research in Guyana, Trinidad, and Ghana.  Throughout his career, he has specialised in Caribbean Political Economy, the Sociology of Art and Literature, Africana Philosophy and Religion, Race and Ethnic Relations, Poststructuralism, and Critical Theory.

Professor Paget Henry has influenced the Caribbean race and cultural discourse throughout the ages.

An author of several influential books including, Caliban’s Reason: Introducing Afro-Caribbean Philosophy (2000), Peripheral Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Antigua (1985), and co- editor of C.L.R. James’ Caribbean (edited with Paul Buhle-1992), his work weaves together philosophy, literature, politics and sociology within the Afro-Caribbean tradition and identity; expanding the global understanding of the Caribbean intellectual identity.

At Brown University, where he has taught since 1987, Professor Henry has been a mentor and guide to countless students. He has taught courses in Political Sociology, Critical Theory, Comparative Colonial Cultures, and the Socio-economic Analysis of Development, inspiring students to engage critically with issues of identity, power, and liberation.

Beyond his individual scholarship, Professor Henry has played a key role in institution-building within Caribbean philosophy. He has been recognised by The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education as being in the top thirty of most quoted black scholars in the humanities in 2003 and was awarded the Franz Fanon Award of the Caribbean Philosophical Association in 2003 for Caliban’s Reason, for the best book in the field of Africana thought within the previous five years. He has also received the Annual Award for Excellence in Teaching (Department of Sociology, SUNY, Stony Brook) from 1976 to 1979.

Professor Henry’s career reflects a lifelong dedication to advancing Caribbean philosophy, building intellectual institutions, and mentoring future scholars. His work has ensured that the voices of the African diaspora remain central in the global conversation on philosophy, literature, and Society.

Professor Niranjan Kissoon

Professor Niranjan Kissoon is an internationally respected physician, researcher, and educator in paediatric critical care and global health, with a distinguished career dedicated to improving outcomes for critically ill children worldwide.

Professor Kissoon has combined clinical excellence with leadership and has served in senior academic and clinical roles at leading institutions, mentoring generations of physicians and advancing best practices in paediatric intensive care. Professor Kissoon currently holds the position of Professor of Paediatrics and Surgery (EM) at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. He also serves as the President of the Global Sepsis Alliance, Co-chair of the Paediatric Surviving Sepsis Campaign, and Vice-President of the Canadian Sepsis Alliance, and is a founding member of the Caribbean Sepsis and Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance.

Professor Kissoon’s global health work focuses on paediatric critical care and sepsis advocacy and research, for which he has been recognised several times for his outstanding contributions. His advocacy for the timely recognition and treatment of sepsis has informed guidelines and saved countless lives. In 2015, he was awarded the BNS Walia PGIMER Golden Jubilee Oration Award in India, as well as being honoured with the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Master in Critical Care Medicine Award, the highest award given by the Society. In 2018, he received the University of British Columbia Outstanding Academic Performance Award and the “Giving Back: Advancing Medical Excellence” Distinguished Service Award from the University of the West Indies Medical Alumni Association Canadian Chapter, in recognition of his exceptional service in national and international paediatric critical care. In 2020, he was awarded the Drs. Vidyasagar and Nagamani Dharmapuri Award for sustained exemplary and pioneering achievements in the care of critically ill and injured infants and children globally, and in 2023, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of the West Indies.

Through his leadership, scholarship, and advocacy, Dr. Niranjan Kissoon has left an indelible mark on sepsis and global paediatric critical care, embodying a lifelong dedication to saving lives and improving health systems for the most vulnerable.

Professor Gene Morse

Professor Gene Morse has been actively involved in clinical research on viral infectious diseases and therapeutic research for more than four decades. His work in the areas of HIV therapeutics and global health has helped shape policy and optimised research and mentoring in translational research worldwide. Holding the position of Distinguished Professor at the State University of New York (SUNY), Director of the Centre for Integrated Global Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo (UB), and Co-Director of SUNY Global Health Institute, Professor Morse has been instrumental in shaping partnerships and fostering groundbreaking programmes internationally.

Earning his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Buffalo (UB), State University of New York (SUNY) in 1983, he completed a clinical pharmacokinetics fellowship before embarking on a prolific academic and research career. He has held numerous senior leadership roles, including Director of the UB HIV Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Research Professor, Medicine, Pharmacology and Physiology, Centre for Human Experimental Therapeutics, University of Rochester, and Research Professor of Medicine and Public Health, University at Buffalo. A founding investigator of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) AIDS Clinical Trials Group and its Specialty Laboratory Network, he has been instrumental in international partnerships, particularly with The University of the West Indies, and the University of Zimbabwe, fostering capacity building in pharmaceutical sciences and clinical research.

A prolific investigator, Professor Morse has served as Protocol Pharmacologist for numerous NIH-funded AIDS Clinical Trials Group studies. His work spans experience with quality management systems, mentoring, leading clinical trials, and advancing research on traditional and nano-formulated medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases.

His contributions have been recognised with honours such as the Sir Alister McIntyre Distinguished Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Pharmaceutical Sciences, the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity, and, in 2023, he was named Honorary Distinguished Fellow by The University of the West Indies’ International School for Development Justice. He is also the Executive Director of the SUNY-UWI Centre for Leadership and Sustainable Development.

Passionate about mentoring, Professor Morse has supervised numerous fellows, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers worldwide, and his commitment to advancing global biomedical sciences continues to influence health systems and training programs internationally.

Mungal Patasar

Mungal Patasar is a pioneering Trinidadian musician, composer, and cultural ambassador whose career has spanned decades of innovation in world music. A master innovator, he has successfully blended Indian classical traditions with Caribbean rhythms, transforming the steelpan, sitar, and other instruments into vehicles of cross-cultural dialogue. Shaped by the mentorship of esteemed colleagues and the experiences he has garnered through his worldwide travels, Patasar continues to leave a legacy of innovation and positive change.

Receiving an award from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in 1986, Patasar’s journey with music began. He used this scholarship to study music in India. He returned to Trinidad and Tobago equipped with a Bachelor of Music from Banaras Hindu University and a Master of Music from the internationally recognised Prayag Sangeet Samiti, graduating in 1990. His immersion in Indian classical traditions provided the foundation for his lifelong mission: to create music that transcends boundaries.

In 1994, he formed the band Mungal Patasar and Pantar, an ensemble that has since graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Montreaux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Roskilde Festival (Denmark), and the St. Lucia Jazz Festival. Under his leadership, Pantar has recorded four albums, preserving the contributions of original members, some of whom have since passed. The ensemble continues to thrive, blending tradition with contemporary influences to enrich Trinidad and Tobago’s musical landscape.

Patasar’s exceptional contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the Hummingbird Gold Medal (1994), Queen’s Hall Award for Excellence in Music (2009), Cacique Award for Best Original Music (1995), and the First Citizens Maestro Extraordinaire Award (2005). International recognition includes honours from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation- High Commission of India for his outstanding contribution to the preservation and promotion of Indian Culture in Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean Countries (2016).

Guided by the belief that excellence is achieved through collective effort and the sharing of ideas, he continues to inspire musicians to “look beyond the horizons of narrow walls” and explore the full potential of music.

Nigel L. Romano  

Nigel L. Romano is a Chartered Accountant and accomplished financial executive with over four decades of experience in public accounting, banking, and strategic advisory roles across the Caribbean and Asia. He is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago (ICATT). He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI) at St. Augustine with degrees in Management Studies (BSc) and Accounting (MSc).  He also earned an Executive MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute.

Beginning his career with KPMG in 1977, he advanced to Senior Manager before joining Citibank in 1988 as CFO for Trinidad & Tobago. Over the next two decades, he held senior leadership positions across Citibank’s operations in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines, including Regional Director of Quality and Business Processes for the Asia Pacific region, and Head of Citigroup Business Services for 19 countries. Returning to the Caribbean after his service in Asia, Mr. Romano served as Sector Head of Financial Services for ANSA McAL, Director of Finance and Corporate Planning at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and Managing Director/CEO of JMMB Bank (T&T) Limited. Mr. Romano also served as Chairman of the UWI Development and Endowment Fund (October 2017- December 2020), and chaired the National Flour Mills Limited board from 2016 to 2024.

Retiring in 2019, he joined Moore Trinidad and Tobago as Senior Director, Business Consultancy Services, a position he still occupies to this day. At Moore Trinidad & Tobago, he has been responsible for business coaching and consultancy services for a varied clientele.

Mr. Romano currently wears many hats, serving on several corporate boards, bringing deep expertise in financial strategy, operational transformation, and leadership development. His career reflects a consistent record of driving growth, efficiency, and stakeholder value across diverse markets. He currently serves as Chairman of the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute (CCGI), as a director on the board of ANSA Merchant Bank Limited, where he chairs the Audit and Risk Committee, Genesis Insurance Brokers and Benefits Consultants Limited, and the Electrical Industries Group, where he chairs the Commercial Committee.

Pierce Antonio Rudder

Pierce Antonio Rudder is a multifaceted Barbadian cultural entrepreneur who has excelled in music, cultural policy, business, and sport. Throughout his distinguished career, he has seamlessly combined his passion for the arts with astute business acumen, making lasting contributions both locally, regionally, and internationally.

As a musician, Mr. Rudder managed the renowned Blue Rhythm Combo. He served as President of the Musicians’ and Entertainers’ Guild of Barbados (MEGOB), initiating the MEGOB Song Contest and Awards, and producing the Pic-O’-de-Crop Competition from 1981 to 1986. He founded and managed the House of Soca from 1981 to 1995 before becoming Chief Executive Officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) from 1995 to 1998. He was also a member of the Barbados Jazz Band for many years. He performed at the Barbados, Curacao, and Antigua Jazz Festivals, and at the Organisation of American States, Hall of the Americas in Washington. His work in copyright advocacy has been pivotal, negotiating the transfer of rights from the Performing Right Society to the locally controlled Barbados Association of Composers and Publishers (BACAP- before its name change to COSCAP). He has also been active in forming the regional Caribbean Reprographic Rights Organisation Agency (CARROSA), which will comprise the Copyright Association of Jamaica, the Trinidad and Tobago Reprographic Rights Organisation, the Barbados Copyright Agency, the Eastern Caribbean Licensing Authority, and the Belize Copyright Licensing Authority, to strengthen the collective management of intellectual property.

As a sports aficionado, Rudder has been the President of the Barbados Rifle and Pistol Federation for an extended period, representing Barbados at international shooting events, and improving local shooting ranges to world-class standards. He has championed firearm safety, civic partnerships with the Barbados Police Service, and financial sustainability in the sport.

His literary and creative contributions include producing the CD Rush Hour (1997) and publishing Marching to a Different Drummer (2010), a book on Barbadian culture. For his exceptional service to culture, business, and sport, Mr. Rudder was awarded the Gold Crown of Merit (GCM) in 2019. His career reflects a lifetime dedicated to advancing Barbadian identity, promoting cultural diversity, and fostering the creative industries both at home and abroad.

The Late Honourable Donald Wehby

The Honourable Don Wehby, OJ, CD, former Group CEO of GraceKennedy Limited, former Government of Jamaica Minister and Senator, was a steadfast advocate for economic development and institutional excellence, who stood among Jamaica’s preeminent business leaders and public servants.

A Fellow Chartered Accountant with a bachelor’s and master’s degree from The University of the West Indies and advanced executive training at Stanford, Wehby’s career exemplified visionary corporate leadership and dedicated civic engagement across multiple arenas.

His journey at GraceKennedy Limited began in 1995 as Group Finance Manager. He soon rose through the ranks to Deputy Finance Director and then Group CFO, later also assuming responsibility for the Financial Services Division as its Chief Operating Officer. In 2009, he was appointed Group Chief Operating Officer, and in 2011, he became GraceKennedy’s Group Chief Executive Officer. He was also a director on several GraceKennedy boards, including First Global Holdings, GK Foods & Services Limited, and the Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation.

An avid sports fan, Don Wehby was instrumental in Grace Kennedy’s sponsorship of schoolboy cricket in Jamaica, as well as the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletic Championships. He was a member of the Kingston Cricket Club and also served as a Director of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Chairman of its Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee. 

Wehby’s contributions have been widely honoured. In 2015, he became the first Jamaican to receive the International Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Young Caribbean Professional Network. In the same year, he was also the youngest recipient of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica’s Distinguished Member Award. In 2020, he was awarded the Caribbean American Heritage Award for Outstanding Corporate Citizenship. In recognition of his business and entrepreneurial leadership, in 2017, he received the Order of Distinction (Commander Class), and in 2024, he was elevated to the Order of Jamaica (OJ).

The University of the West Indies extends its deepest sympathies on the passing of the Honourable Don Wehby, OJ, CD, on July 26, 2025.

His legacy stands as a testament to strategic leadership, civic responsibility, and transformative vision in both corporate and national arenas. His passing is a significant loss to Jamaica, and he will be greatly missed.