Wed | Dec 25, 2024

PM gets honorary doctorate from Delaware State University

Published:Thursday | May 16, 2024 | 12:06 AMDerrick Scott/Contributor
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PM Holness (centre), along with Ambassador Audrey Marks and Robert Montague, member of parliament for St. Mary West, share with Jamaican graduates of the Delaware State University at the 2024 commencement ceremony on Friday May 10, at the university’s ca
Derrick Scott
PM Holness (centre), along with Ambassador Audrey Marks and Robert Montague, member of parliament for St. Mary West, share with Jamaican graduates of the Delaware State University at the 2024 commencement ceremony on Friday May 10, at the university’s campus at Dover, Delaware.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness displays his honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters following the presentation by the president of Delaware State University, Dr Tony Allen, at Delaware State University.
DERRICK SCOTT
Prime Minister Andrew Holness displays his honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters following the presentation by the president of Delaware State University, Dr Tony Allen, at Delaware State University.
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DOVER, Delaware:

Prime Minister Andrew Holness was on Friday conferred with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the Delaware State University, a privately governed, state-assisted, historically black land-grant research university in Dover, Delaware.

The prime minister was presented following his address to the approximately 200 doctoral and masters graduates of which some 38 were Jamaican doctoral candidates who participated in the university’s international programme.

The Jamaican prime minister is the first head of government to receive the honour and to address the commencement ceremony in the 133-year history of the university.

In presenting the honorary degree, the president of Delaware State University, Dr Tony Allen, said the award was given for Holness’ service, commitment and dedication to Jamaica.

The university president also shared that he will be expanding the programme to not only serve Africans in the United States, but also Africans in the diaspora.

Holness urged the graduates to look at challenges as opportunities to be discovered, while obstacles are sometimes stepping stones; and our struggles are oftentimes exercises in our quest to move forward and make us stronger.

“Our point of view and our perception may not be the full picture of reality; hence, we can benefit immensely from approaching our problems from a different point of view. To achieve this, we must accept that regardless of how much knowledge we believe we possess, there is still more to learn, so we must open our minds to new ideas,” he told the graduates.

“Our understanding is never sufficient, so we must seek advice and have the patience to listen and learn from the experience of others. Sometimes a different point of view can be achieved by having the humility to step back from a problem. This is how we gain perspective, the holistic view, the ability to see the picture from the eyes of others, the ability to see the picture outside of the frame,” Holness pointed out.

The prime minister was accompanied by Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks, as well as the member of parliament for St Mary West, Robert Montague.