KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—Prime Minister Andrew Holness has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Delaware State University in the United States.
The Prime Minister received the award on Friday, following his address to the approximately 200 doctoral and masters graduates, of which 38 were Jamaican doctoral candidates who participated in an international program put on by the university.
Holness has etched his name in history as the first Head of Government to receive this esteemed honour and to address a commencement ceremony in the 132-year history of the university, a feat that commands our utmost respect and admiration.
The president of Delaware State University, Dr. Tony Allen, said the award was given for Mr. Holness’s service, commitment, and dedication to Jamaica.
In his presentation, Holness urged the graduates to look at challenges as opportunities to be discovered.
“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 stated.
“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,” he reiterated, leaving the graduates and all of us with a profound sense of enlightenment and motivation.
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