How do you define a luminary?
Some experts say the word describes a person of intellectual, moral or spiritual eminence.
But Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and a former Director of the Pan American Health Organization in Washington, offers an expanded definition which goes a step further than the way Oxford University puts it.
“Luminaries,” he told about 300 guests of the American Foundation of the University of the West Indies in New York on Wednesday evening, “are beacons for students in the Caribbean,” the “leading lights of the Caribbean”.
He articulated that succinct description at the 15th annual The Legacy Continues Award Gala of the foundation at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan and fits the life’s work and careers of the people who were honoured for their contributions to the Caribbean and the United States.
Four of them, Dr Milton Haynes, Basil Paterson, Dr Errol Byer, and Verona Greenland were showered with praise as they were welcomed into what Sir George called a “distinguished class” of Caribbean luminaries.
Haynes, a graduate of Harrison College in Barbados, Fisk University and Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, is a former president of the New York Medical Society and the New York Gynaecological Society.
He is a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at New York University School of Medicine and senior attending OB/GYN specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital, one of the city’s leading medical centres. Haynes served for almost 20 years on the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct.
“I consider it an honour to be singled out in this way and I pledge my support for the University of the West Indies, which provides a great education to students across the Caribbean,” he said.
Another awardee was Dr Erroll Ignatius Byer who, like Dr Haynes, specializes in OB/GYN in New York.
He is the son of Dr Erroll Byer Sr, a prominent obstetrician and gynecologist in the city, and Barbara Byer, a registered nurse, both of whom are from Barbados.
As in the case of Dr Haynes, he received his medical training at Howard University College of Medicine. He is currently the medical director of the Women’s Health Centre and associate programme director in the OB/GYN Department which enables him to be involved in the training of young physicians.
Also joining the class of luminaries was Basil Paterson, an expert in labour law who represents such major unions as the United Federation of Teachers and the 350 000-member Hospital Workers Union, 1199.
Paterson traces the roots of his family tree to Jamaica. He is the father of David Paterson, until recently Governor of New York.
Next was Verona Greenland, founder, president and chief executive officer of the Morris Heights Health Centre.
The American Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars for the UWI’s four campuses, also presented a special award to Byron Lewis, chairman and CEO of Uniworld, one of America’s oldest and largest multicultural advertising agencies with annual billings in excess of US$250 million.
“Growing up in Harlem I received considerable support and guidance from people from the [Caribbean] islands,” Lewis said. “I have always admired people from the Caribbean and the University of the West Indies.”
Professor Harris, UWI’s Vice Chancellor, was effusive in his praise of the Foundation and the awardees while speaking about the years ahead for the premier tertiary level institution.
“We have begun to frame the (strategic) plan that will guide our ongoing development during 2012 to 2017,” he said. “Ongoing curriculum and pedagogical reform aimed at preparing globally competitive UWI graduates, refashioning graduate programmes to be more flexible and ensuring their relevance to regional development, reinvigorating our research and innovation culture, and redoubling research efforts to communities we serve are areas that will continue to receive attention.”
He described the honorees as a “stellar group who have distinguished themselves in a number of disciplines ranging from business, medicine and advocacy.”
Harry Belafonte, the gala’s honorary patron who attended, said that the UWI had done more than its fair share for the development of the region as a whole.
Three students who received Foundation scholarships – Tara Stevens, Arshell English, and Kenzil King – attended the function.
A Barbadian, Kaye Foster-Cheek served as chairman of the dinner.
