Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Academic staff of the University of the West Indies, Mona, in a procession at Friday's graduation ceremony, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre, St. Andrew. Looking on are thousands of graduates, family and friends. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Sir Colville Young, Governor-General of Belize, on Saturday urged graduates of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, to remain in the region and contribute to its development.

"Stay and serve for Caribbean lives and people," Sir Colville said shortly after receiving the honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the UWI graduation ceremony, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC), St. Andrew.

Sir Colville told graduates that while salaries and conditions were more attractive in other countries, they represented the best talents and brains the Caribbean has.

"Without you and your dedicated service, we are indeed 'Children of Sisyphus' ... trapped in despair and poverty," he said.

"You have knowledge; use it wisely and use it well," Sir Colville added.

Colonel Collin L.G. Harris of the Moore Town Maroons also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the UWI. Colonel Harris has had a distinguished career as a leader of a traditional Maroon community. In 1972 he was instrumental in getting the Jamaican Government to recognise and elevate Nanny to the rank of National Heroine.

Roman Catholic priest, Father Richard Ho Lung, Justice Dr. L. Dolliver Nelson, a Grenadian national and former judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and anthropologist Professor Sidney Mintz also received honourary Doctor of Laws degrees at Friday's graduation cermeony.

Some 5,000 students graduated from the UWI this year, but only 1,604 participated in the two-day ceremony. Friday's ceremony graduated 657 students from the faculties of Humanities and Education, Pure and Applied Sciences and Law; 947 students from Social Sciences, the largest faculty, and Medical Sciences, graduated on Saturday.