PM Douglas hails contribution of UWI at Jazz concert in Maryland

From left: Ruddy Spencer, ambassador of Barbados to the United States, His Excellency John Beale, Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, St Kitts and Nevis prime minister, Honourable Denzil Douglas, St Kitts and Nevis ambassador to the United States of America, Her Excellency Jacinth Martin-Henry, and chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Sir George Alleyne, enjoy a photo opportunity. – Contributed

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas in brief remarks at an evening of Jazz featuring Barbadian saxophonist, Arturo Tappin, and Jamaica’s guitarist and composer, Ernest Ranglin, OD at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland on Friday, September 23 urged patrons to support the outstanding tertiary level regional institution.

“The UWI is an outstanding institution. It has produced some of our finest scholars, doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, along with several prime ministers who now lead some of our Caribbean countries. The university needs your support and I urge you all in whatever way you can to support this outstanding Caribbean institution,” said Prime Minister who was in Washington D.C. attending meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

Dr. Douglas also commended the organisers for staging what he described as a Caribbean musical treat.

AFUWI’s chief executive officer, Ann Marie Grant, said the primary mission of the organisation is to aid the development of the UWI. This was the second fund-raiser to be held jointly by the organisations to benefit the growing number of students who are at risk because of challenging economic circumstances. She revealed that five tuition scholarships have been awarded to students from the proceeds of last year’s event. This year, they are hoping to do more.

It was staged jointly by the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI), and the University of the West Indies Alumni Association of Washington DC (UWIAA-DC).

The concert was held to raise funds for the scholarship programme for needy students at UWI. It was held under the patronage of the Chancellor of the UWI, Sir George Alleyne.

The Caribbean musical duo took the audience on a musical ride rendering hit after hit that had the crowd applauding and shouting loud “Encores!”

Among the other guests present were: Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Sir George and his wife Lady Alleyne, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency, Audrey Marks, Ambassador Richard Bernal and his wife Margaret, Ambassador of Barbados, His Excellency John Beale, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda, Her Excellency Brenda Mae Lovell, Ambassador of St Kitts and Nevis, Her Excellency Jacinth Martin-Henry, Director of Alumni Relations – UWI, Celia Davidson Francis and, from the office of the Mayor of Baltimore, Erica Blake.