Air Jamaica to be Honored by University of the West Indies

Air Jamaica, four Caribbean prime ministers –the Hon. David J.H. Thompson of Barbados, Dr. Dean O. Barrow of Belize, the Hon. Tillman J. Thomas of Grenada and Dr. Patrick A.M. Manning of Trinidad & Tobago- and director and producer Spike Lee are among the list of honorees for the 13th Annual Fundraising Gala of the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI), to be held on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at the Pierre in New York City. Harry Belafonte will again serve as honorary patron.

The Annual Gala is the AFUWI’s premier fundraising event in the United States at which the prestigious Legacy Awards are conferred on notable individuals who represent high levels of achievement within their respective fields of industry and enterprise. There are four award categories: Caribbean Luminary, The Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award, The University of the West Indies Bob Marley Award and The Legacy Awards.

This year’s recipient of the University of the West Indies Bob Marley Award is Emmy Award-winner Spike Lee. This honor is granted to individuals whose contribution to the advancement of arts and culture transcends boundaries of race, color, creed and geographies, uniting people throughout the world in a spirit that embodies the essence of the music and lyrics of the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley, OM. This year, the four Caribbean prime ministers will be presented with the Legacy Awards.

Dr. Edison O. Jackson, former president of Medgar Evers College, CUNY for two decades, will be presented with the Foundation’s Special Award while Air Jamaica and TCW will receive the Corporate Award. Dr. Edison O. Jackson is being honored for his exemplary leadership and innovation in the field of education.

The 2010 Luminary Award recipients include Lowell Hawthorne, Earl Jarrett, Dr. Lesly Kernisant and R “Danny” Williams, while the Vice Chancellor Achievement Award winners are Sybil Chester, Dr. Karlene ChinQuee, Maxine Griffith and Janet Rollé. Usain Bolt, Jamaica’s triple Olympic and World Athletic Champion, will be presented with a special award by the Foundation in honor of his record-breaking performance in the recent Olympics and World Championships.