Terry Gajraj, Komal Samaroo and Nicolette Fernandes among UG 2025 honorary doctorate recipients

Komal Samaroo

Nine persons will receive honorary doctorates from the University of Guyana (UG) in 2025, recognising their contributions to diplomacy, business, sport, engineering, literature, music, agriculture and education. The awards will be conferred during UG’s graduation ceremonies from November 20–22 in Georgetown and on December 6 in Berbice.

Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States, will receive his award at the Faculty of Social Sciences ceremony on November 22. UG cited his work on constitutional mediation, Commonwealth reform and advancing regional governance.

DDL Executive Chairman Komal Samaroo will be honoured on November 21 by the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation for transforming DDL into an international enterprise and strengthening the regional rum sector.

Professional squash champion Nicolette Fernandes will receive her award on November 21 for her international achievements and leadership advocacy.

Civil engineer Egbert “Bert” Carter and Professor Clement Sankat, head of the Guyana Technical Training College, will be honoured on November 20 for contributions to national infrastructure development and technical education across the Caribbean.

Poets Grace Nichols and John Agard, widely recognised in the Caribbean and the United Kingdom, will be awarded on November 22 by the Faculty of Education and Humanities for their longstanding influence on literature and cultural identity.

Agricultural entrepreneur Mohindra Persaud of the Nand Persaud Group will receive his award on November 20 for innovation in rice production, rural development and community investment.

Chutney singer and cultural ambassador Terry Gajraj will also be honoured on November 22 for promoting Guyanese culture internationally and supporting education, health and technology initiatives.

UG said the selection process takes one year and includes multiple research and approval stages. Twenty-seven nominations were reviewed, with nine selected due to limits on annual awards. The university will graduate 3,700 students across 180 programmes, with ceremonies streamed live on its digital platforms.