The Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, is set to receive an honorary doctor of laws (LLD) degree from UWI during a special visit to Jamaica on July 20. This visit coincides with the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
The ceremony will take place at the E Nigel Harris Council Room at the university in Kingston. UWI is honoring Welby for his significant contribution to reparations and reparative justice.
Welby, who has been ordained since 1992, has a long history of serving in areas of significant deprivation in the Coventry diocese. He has worked on international reconciliation efforts, especially in Africa and the Middle East.
Publicly addressing the transatlantic slave trade, Welby has highlighted the persistent attitudes and mindsets that led to such exploitation in the past, which continue to affect communities worldwide. He believes it is crucial to address these deep-rooted beliefs in order to create a fairer future.
Expressing his gratitude for the honorary degree, Welby said, “It is such a privilege to receive this honor at UWI during my visit to Jamaica. As a church, we stand on the shoulders of giants in the field of reparative justice, and I am humbled to be recognized in this way. I look forward to learning more about the invaluable work being done at UWI in this field.”
For those interested in watching the ceremony, UWItv will be broadcasting the proceedings live on their website www.uwitv.global, Facebook page www.facebook.com/UWItv, and cable TV Channels on Flow. Stay tuned for this distinguished event honoring Archbishop Justin Welby.
