On a star-studded Friday evening in Manhattan, New York, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness took center stage at the 29th Annual “The Legacy Continues” Black-Tie Awards Gala, where he was bestowed the Legacy Award — one of the highest honors granted by the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI). Hosted at 538 Park Avenue, the annual gathering brought together distinguished figures from across the realms of politics, business, academia, and philanthropy, all united by a shared mission to expand access to higher education for Caribbean students.
Holness was not the only honoree of the night; he joined a cohort of outstanding leaders recognized for their exceptional contributions to regional advancement, educational access, and visionary leadership. The award was officially presented to him by a trio of senior academic and foundation leaders: AFUWI Chairman Dr. Cyrus McCalla, University of the West Indies (UWI) Chancellor Dr. Dodridge D. Miller, and UWI Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.
In his introductory remarks ahead of the presentation, Sir Hilary Beckles emphasized Holness’ standing as a democratically elected leader with deep and sustained public trust, noting that the Jamaican people have granted him a governing mandate three times through national elections. In accepting the honor, Holness pushed back against widespread assumptions that a legacy-focused award signals the conclusion of an active political career. Rather than framing the recognition as a capstone to his service, he described it as a validation of ongoing work that continues to move Jamaica forward.
“Legacy is not what you receive but what you build,” Holness told the assembled audience. He went on to note that Jamaica still holds vast untapped potential, and its national development journey is far from complete. The Prime Minister also highlighted UWI’s critical role as a regional educational anchor, stressing that the institution must continue adapting to a rapidly shifting global landscape. He called for a renewed institutional focus on driving growth, boosting operational efficiency, and embedding innovation across all levels of the university.
AFUWI Executive Director Ann-Marie Grant explained the selection committee’s choice to honor Holness, pointing to his consistent leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing education, strengthening Jamaica’s economic resilience, and fostering collaborative development across the Caribbean region — all core pillars of the island nation’s ongoing progress. Grant added that the annual gala serves a dual purpose: it celebrates impactful leadership, and it brings together cross-sector leaders to raise funds for scholarship programs that support Caribbean students enrolled at UWI. All proceeds from the gala are directed toward these scholarship funds, which work to break down financial barriers to higher education across the Caribbean region.
Dr. Cyrus McCalla expanded on the event’s mission, noting that the gala exists to celebrate visionary leaders whose service and forward-thinking have helped shape a brighter future for the Caribbean, while also creating life-changing educational opportunities for talented students from low-income backgrounds.
Alongside Holness, a range of leaders from across sectors were honored for their distinct contributions. Anthony and Gregory Belinfanti took home the Pathfinder Award for Generational Impact in Education, while geographer and academic Dr. Kevon Rhiney received the Pelican Award. Trinidadian-born Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University, was awarded the Caribbean Luminary Award, and Dr. Wayne J. Riley, president of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, received the UWI Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Institutional Impact. Camille Joseph-Goldman of Charter Communications earned the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service and Community Impact, and global technology executive Jacky Wright was presented with the Phoenix Award for Global Digital Leadership. Finally, Dr. A. Norman Sabga, executive chairman of the ANSA McAL Group, received both the Chancellor’s and Corporate Awards for Excellence in Global Business Leadership.
In a statement summarizing the event’s mission, AFUWI emphasized that all awards presented during the gala recognize individuals whose achievements highlight the transformative power of education and visionary leadership, both across the Caribbean region and throughout its global diaspora.