THE EDITOR, Sir:

I attended the graduation ceremony for the 2007 class of UTech on Saturday, November 3, at the National Arena and was pleasantly surprised that the male/female ratios of graduates was much better than the 18 to 82 that exist at UWI.

An honorary Doctor of Laws degree was very deservingly conferred on one of our most proactive, hardworking and visionary sons, the Hon. Kingsley Thomas. After the conferral in his reply, he made a wide-ranging address exhorting the graduates to assist in nation building not only by working diligently, but by developing their entrepreneurial spirit.

However, the whole moment was spoilt when Mr. Thomas kept mentioning that he was allocated five minutes, while speaking for more than 15 minutes (he mentioned it jokingly on at least three occasions). For someone that is deservingly held in high esteem to show such breach of protocol and indiscipline to a group of potential leaders of the nation was extremely unfortunate. Can he imagine what chaos would have existed at the ceremony if each student had exceeded their quota of two invited guests threefold?

Lapse

However, this lapse on his part was quickly forgotten on the presentation of Jeffrey Davis with his degree in Construction Management. This graduate who is physically challenged has risen from equipment storekeeper at the same institution in the mid-1970s to a degree graduate 30-odd years after. He is also a multiple gold medal winner in past Special Olympics.

I am certain that he, a person from humble background, would be a great inspiration not only to the marginalised male, but also to physically challenged persons. I, therefore, take this medium to big up Jeffrey Davis on his tremendous achievements against great odds and challenge the media to do a feature on this outstanding achiever.

I am, etc.,

AINSWORTH DICK

9 Regal Plaza

Kingston 5