The University of the West Indies, Mona extends warmest congratulations to our Principal, Professor the Honourable Gordon Shirley, who has been appointed a member of the Order of Jamaica for excellence in academic and public service. The award was presented at the recently held civic ceremony at King’s House.

Congratulations are also extended to two other members of the University community who received awards namely: renowned poet and Professor Emeritus Mervyn Morris, who has been conferred with the nation’s third highest honour, the Order of Merit, for his distinguished contribution in the field of West Indian Literature and retired Professor John Homi, who has been named to the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (Honorary) for his contribution to the development of Anaesthesia services and training in the Caribbean.

Professor Shirley assumed office as Principal of the UWI, Mona Campus in 2007, responsible for operationalizing the new UWI Strategic Plan 2007-2012. Under his leadership, the Campus has introduced new programmes in science, engineering, agriculture and law in a direct response to the demand for quality academic degrees that drive development and that are available at affordable prices.  UWI, Mona has opened up a satellite Campus in Montego Bay in recognition of the growing demand for tertiary level educational institutions of distinction in western Jamai¬ca and designed to reflect areas of significant growth and development   in the western region.

Under the leadership of Professor John Homi, the DM (Anaesthesia) programme was extended to the other UWI campuses - St Augustine in Trinidad and Cave Hill in Barbados. He was also instrumental in sourcing funding for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), now known as ICU-A, which allowed for localized training of students whereby only select periods at overseas universities was necessary for further training. The various surgical sub-specialties also continued to thrive with the availability of ICU facilities.

Professor Mervyn Morris has been instrumental in focusing attention on several of the region’s writers including Derek Walcott, Dennis Scott. Louise Bennet, Mikey Smith and several others. In addition, he devised and taught the Department’s creative writing courses in prose and poetry. His poetry readings and workshops influenced generations of writers at the Mona Campus and beyond and he became widely known for his readiness to champion the work of younger poets and writers.

The entire University community congratulates Professors Gordon Shirley, Mervyn Morris and John Homi on this tremendous achievement and is proud that Jamaica has acknowledged their years of outstanding and dedicated service.